'Hedgecutting contractors praised for their professionalism at FCI Conference'
At the Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors Ireland (FCI) annual conference in Portlaoise on December 4th, Alan Moore of Hedgerows Ireland paid tribute to the high standard of work by professional contractors on farms and roadsides around the country.
In his talk entitled 'How to deliver a sustainable hedgerow', Alan summarised the characteristics of 'ideal' hedges and the various challenges encountered in achieving these. He reviewed research which shows that taller, wider and denser hedges are better for carbon storage, biodiversity, shelter shade and flood control. Cutting hedges on an alternate year or even three yearly rotation allows flowers and fruit for pollinators and birds but this can be a difficult option for contractors where there is heavy growth.
A good alternative is an annual light cut leaving intermittent bushes to grow into trees which will provide feeding for wildlife. In either situation it's important to raise the cutting height a little each time to gain hedge height and prevent damage to the growing points which can ultimately kill the hedge.
Alan also praised the common practice by contractors of leaving older hedges untopped with only side cutting or 'breasting' to keep electric fences working and to allow the passage of machinery. He said that from a biodiversity point of view every farm should aim to have a range of different hedge types and he encouraged a 'mindset change' by some landowners away from extreme neatness to embrace a more relaxed cutting regime which can still be practical and look great while at the same time provide better results all round. He said that roadside hedge cutting remains an area of controversy and that some contractors he has interviewed report being verbally abused and reported by members of the public who don't realise that under the powers of the Roads Act there is a statutory obligation to maintain road safety and trim back verges and hedges throughout the year in situations where visibility is impaired.
However he said that a more conservative approach to roadside cutting should be encouraged by local authorities to conserve healthy trees and hedges in situations where visibility and safety are not an issue.
In photo, L to R
Michael Moroney, Director of Research Farm Contractors Ireland (FCI) Ann Gleeson Hanrahan,FCI and Alan Moore, Hedgerows Ireland.