Sir, – Ellie Byrne’s letter “Hedgecutting and nature” (June 27th) raises an issue that is the subject of regular messages to our group, namely roadside hedgecutting, especially during the nesting season.
While there can be no question of the need to maintain road safety, we hear of many cases of excessive and severe flailing of hedges, and the removal of healthy trees where the safety justification appears questionable.
It is our understanding that such practices are often driven by letters from local authority engineers, which threaten landowners with fines and imprisonment for noncompliance with Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993. These communications make no allowance for judgment or assessment of safety, either by landowner or appropriately qualified professional and often vary in their interpretation of the Roads Act from county to county.
The powers of the Roads Act necessarily override the protection of nature conferred by the Wildlife Act in this area. However, the current heavy-handed approach by local authorities is causing unnecessary habitat loss. It also leads to unfortunate interactions between the public and hedge- or tree-cutting contractors who are often unfairly abused for carrying out this work.
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In our submission to the National Nature Restoration Plan we are recommending clear standardised national guidelines for roadside hedge and tree management that will strike a balance between safety and nature, and distinguish between the requirements of minor roads versus major routes. These would reflect and build on key elements of the 2021 guide to the management of roadside trees issued by the Department of Agriculture . This document recommends a “balanced and appropriate approach” to roadside vegetation and crucially advocates for a proper assessment of risk.
Our roadside trees and hedges are a wonderful national asset and deserve a matching management strategy. – Yours, etc,
Dr ALAN MOORE,
Secretary, Hedgerows Ireland,
Fethard,
Co Tipperary.
