Biodiversity In Our Hedgerows
Brian Finch, Countryside Management Branch, DARD
Farm hedges contain a diverse range of plants and animals.
The more diverse the plant species within the hedge the more wildlife they are likely to attract. Farmers throughout Northern Ireland under DARD agri-environment schemes are carrying out a range of hedge restoration works to increase and enhance the quality and biodiversity of their farm hedges.
Over 70 percent of our farm hedges are dominated by hawthorn, however other common species include blackthorn, holly, hazel, dog rose, elder, whin and honeysuckle. At this time of year the berries and fruit provide rich pickings for a range of resident farmland birds and winter visitors such as the redwing and fieldfares.
Participants in DARD agri-environment schemes are required to manage farm hedges to maintain and enhance their biodiversity value and can carry out hedge restoration works such as coppicing, laying or replanting as part of their annual management plan.
Hedge laying is by far the best for improving hedges followed by coppicing. The less destruction and disturbance to a hedge during the restoration process, the quicker the flora and fauna will return. However, not all hedges may be suitable for laying or coppicing and hedge replanting may have to be undertaken.
This year throughout NI at least 600km of hedges will be restored using these techniques.
Noel Lockhart from Killylea, Co. Armagh has completed 200m of field boundary restoration on his farm over the past year and recognises the benefits of his work both in regenerating stock proof barriers and to the farm biodiversity.
For a practical demonstration on hedge planting and management, farmers are welcome to attend a Field Boundary Management Workshop run by the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (CAFRE). In addition, workshops are also held by CAFRE on hedge restoration which covers both hedge coppicing and laying. These workshops are held on farms throughout Northern Ireland this winter. For further information on these workshops contact CAFRE’s Greenmount Campus, tel: 028 9442 6879.