ALARM: Kildare's hedgerows are disappearing

Concern has been expressed about hedgerows disappearing within County Kildare.

Hedgerows support an abundance of flora and fauna and also have a role in preventing soil erosion.

Independent councillor Pádraig McEvoy said significant quantities have been lost.

Although the importance of hedgerows has been recognised in the county development plan, a report provided to a Kildare County Council meeting outlined the rate of loss.

Cllr Mark Leigh

The total length of hedgerows recorded in a 2022 survey within and 181 kms grid

was approximately 114.3km. In 2006 the same area contained 121.2 kms of hedgerow. This indicates that 6.9km of hedgerow has been removed over a 16-year period. This represents an annual removal rate 0.5% of Kildare’s hedgerows per year since 2006. Much higher than an EPA estimate of between 0.16% and 0.3%.

Agriculture was responsible for over 41% of hedgerow removal since 2006. Conifer afforestation was also responsible for 41% of hedgerow removal/loss. Road and residential development were the next leading contributors to hedgerow removal at 11%.

18.6% of hedges were classified as species-rich for woody shrubs in 2022.

The average number of shrub species per 30m strip was 2.96 (2.45 for native species only). 

This is below that of 2006, when an average of 3.62 species were recorded in sampled hedges. 12.4% of hedges contained only 1 species, this is an increase from 2006 when only 6% of hedges had only one woody shrub species. 

These results point to less diverse hedges overall. Hedges with less than 4 species were more common in 2022 when compared with 2006.

26% of the hedges where trees were recorded had just one tree species in 2022, in comparison to where 31% had only one tree species. Hedges in 2022 were more likely to have three or more tree species in the canopy than in 2006. This points to an overall but slight increase in tree species diversity.

Cllr McEvoy said the total length of hedgerows recorded in the 2022 survey within the 18 1 km grid  squares sampled was approximately 114.3 km. In 2006 the same area contained  121.2 km of hedgerow.

This indicates that 9.6 km of hedgerow has been removed  over a 16-year period, representing an annual removal rate 0.5% of Kildare’s  hedgerows per year since 2006 - much higher than an Environmental Protection Agency estimate of between  0.16% and 0.3%. He added that agriculture was responsible for over 41% of hedgerow removal since 2006. Conifer  afforestation was also responsible for 41% of hedgerow removal/loss. Road and  residential development were the next leading contributors to hedgerow removal at 11%. Some 18.6% of hedges were classified as species-rich for woody shrubs in 2022. The  average number of shrub species per 30 m strip was 2.96 (2.45 for native species  only). This is below that of 2006, when an average of 3.62 species were recorded in  sampled hedges. 12.4% of hedges contained only 1 species, this is an increase from 2006 when only 6% of hedges had only one woody shrub species. These results  point to less diverse hedges overall. Hedges with less than 4 species were more  common in 2022 when compared with 2006. 

He added: “From a planning perspective, rural farmland overlays onto zoned and transitional  lands subject to future zoning. The review of regulations should be scoped with granularity to acknowledge pressure may well be resulting in removing hedgerows  and vegetation before submitting planning applications under the guise of land  improvement/ agricultural use.”

Cllr Mark Leigh noted that off the 379 EIA screening applications nationally for hedge removal and land improvements, between 2017 and 2023, 320 were approved. 

Proposals were for the removal of 112 kilometres of hedgerows within 2,067 hectares of land. 

Of these, only two applications were reported for County Kildare. 

“The report on the motion today indicates that 9.6 km of hedgerows were removed over a 16-year period,” he said.

 He asked for clarification about what resources are allocated to promote and assess applications for removals.