Is summer really here?

The saying, "Ne'er cast a clout till May is out" is thought to refer to the hawthorn blossom, not the month. It was good advice that summer hadn't really arrived until the blossom was in flower.

Our hawthorn has been in full flower through late May and early June. Surely there can be no more pleasant sight and smell than that of the whitethorn flowers. If hedges are left untrimmed, the bloom becomes the berries or haws, which provide valuable food for birds over the autumn and winter.

It has been most encouraging that farmers have been observing the field boundary requirement of Cross Compliance, which states that hedge cutting is not permitted during the bird nesting season from 1 March to 31 August. This is to avoid damaging birds, nests or chicks and complies with the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.

Roadside hedges are an exception to this rule. It is the landowner's responsibility to ensure that motorists' visibility is not impaired and that the movement of pedestrians is unhindered by hedge growth. This may involve trimming on a more regular basis.

For further information on hedgerow management and regeneration of hedges on farmland, contact Countryside Management staff at your local DARD office.

Hawthorn in full blossom, early June