08 September 2023

Leave a new thorn tree in 2023

With September 1st being the start of the hedge cutting season, the request to all farmers and contractors cutting hedges is to leave one thorn tree in every topped hedge, Catherine Kenna, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist, tells us why this is important.

In practice, this will be a small clump of thorn saplings chosen by the hedge cutter and left uncut. They need to be marked so that next year they can identified and retained. Within a few years, they will provide flowers for bees and fruit for birds, which are not found on the body of a topped hedge.

For farmers in Nitrates Derogation, this is one of the hedgerow options. However, many think they do not have a thorn tree, but topped hedges comprise most thorns – whitethorn or blackthorn and either may be retained.

During Hedgerow Week 2023, this was demonstrated at hedge planting and management events on Teagasc farms. Contractors Tom Butler in Kildalton, Alex Horan in Grange, Richard Cassidy in Ballyhaise, and Shane Igoe in Athenry successfully retained a small bunch of thorns in topped hedges. Contractors will do whatever farmers want – as long as they know. Teagasc Machinery Specialist Francis Quigley stressed the need for a conversation between farmers and hedge cutting contractors. What contractors need to do, when the farmer rings to ask them to come along and cut the hedges, is to ask the farmer in what way do they want the hedges cut? Do they want thorn trees left in their hedge or do they want extra height or width in the hedges?

Contractors take pride in their work and want to do a professional job. The challenge is to change the perception of a ‘well-kept’ topped hedge from neat, level, and short back and sides to a taller, wider and denser hedge containing thorn trees. Achieving this is better for biodiversity and for carbon.

The aim of Hedgerow Week is to share knowledge between farmers, contractors and the general public to inspire an appreciation for healthy hedges. While bigger is better, diversity is desirable and only healthy hedges will deliver for biodiversity and carbon.

More on hedgerow management

Also read: Coppicing and hedge laying actions under ACRES

Also read: Successfully establishing your ACRES hedge