Tipperary environmental group highlights important changes in rules for hedgerow removal

Alan Moore from the  Tipperary-based Hedgerows Ireland group is drawing attention to important changes to the rules around hedgerow removal that were introduced by the Department of Agriculture last year and which have implications for all landowners in receipt of BISS (Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme).

In addition to the requirement on landowners to pre- plant twice the proposed removal length of hedge, the rules now state that hedges ‘cannot be removed apart from in certain limited exceptional circumstances’ These exceptional circumstances are clearly outlined under three headings: Building work, Road Safety issues and Farm Safety issues. In all three circumstances the exemption is limited to the minimum length necessary.

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The handbook specifically states that ‘removing a hedge or landscape feature between two fields is not considered exceptional circumstances’ and goes on to explain that established landscape features have a greater value in providing wildlife habitats, biodiversity and carbon sequestration relative to those that are newly established.

Where hedges are removed under these exceptional circumstances, it is mandatory for twice the length of hedge to be pre-planted in the vicinity of the removal i.e. within the farm/holding where the feature was removed. You can only replace like with like ie hedge for a hedge and the hedgerow species used must be typical of native hedgerow species combinations found in the townland.

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Amended regulations are outlined in the Explanatory Handbook for Conditionality Requirements which can be found on the Teagasc website.