November 4th 2016 Ireland’s wildlife is under threat from a proposed law making its way through the Oireachtas right now. It will extend the time allowed to cut hedges and burn scrub. Much of Ireland’s biodiversity rely on hedges and scrub to survive and it will have a damaging impact Read more…
August 9th, 2016 Four leading Irish conservation groups have joined forces in a campaign aimed at convincing the Minister responsible for Natural Heritage, Heather Humphreys T.D., to maintain the closed period for hedge cutting as it currently stands: from the 1st of March to the 31st of August. BirdWatch Ireland, Read more…
July 29th, 2016 The Environmental Pillar have reiterated that it remains illegal to routinely cut hedges during the month of August. In a statement released yesterday, the advocacy coalition of 28 Irish NGOs have reinforced that under the Wildlife Acts, it is illegal to routinely cut hedgerows during the closed Read more…
June 3rd 2016 Minister Heather Humphreys has relaunched her controversial bill to allow farmers burn scrub and cut hedgerows for longer in the year. Wildlife campaigners say the changes have no scientific backing and will devastate Ireland’s wild bird and mammal populations who live on the margins of farmland. It Read more…
The days may be getting noticeably warmer and the evenings getting longer.
But it is more important this year to remember that the laws around the hedge-cutting season HAVE NOT CHANGED. And it is now illegal to cut hedges until September 1st. Hedges are exceptionally important for wildlife. They are valuable refuges for birds, wildlife, wildflower, shrubs and much more and we must protect these incredible natural resources.
In an effort to break the silence on the topics of environment and climate change thus far in the general election campaign, Young Friends of the Earth and The Environmental Pillar hosted a hustings at Wynn’s hotel in Dublin, last night. If achieving trending status on twitter is anything to go by, this was certainly achieved and #GE16Environment finally made it onto the agenda.
Phenomenal support has been received for a campaign to resist changes to the Wildlife Act. Over 14,400 people have signed a petition to stop proposed changes to the time of year farmers are allowed to cut hedgerows and burn scrub.
