28-04-2025
Young farmers learn about planting and managing hedgerows
Members of the South Tipperary Macra young farmers discussion group recently took part in a farm walk focused on hedgerows.
The event, entitled 'Making hedges pay for themselves' was held on Michael Murphy's drystock farm at Carrigawillin near Clonmel.
The walk was led by Alan Moore from Hedgerows Ireland and highlighted the techniques around new hedge planting, along with management strategies.
Alan Moore from Hedgerows Ireland
Michael and his son Pat have been planting new hedges over the last 15 years to add shelter and definition to the farm.
The hedgerows include a mixture of whitethorn interspersed with hazel, holly, and other plants.
The farmers have also included some standard oak trees along the hedge lines to add character, shelter, and biodiversity.
(L-R) Michael Murphy (farm owner at Carrigawillin) showing his oak forestry plantation to Aaron Cooney and Michael O'Loughlin
The farm walk heard that the new hedges have been allowed to gain a little height each year since planting and as a result have achieved a good dense structure.
The farm is bounded by ancient hedgerows which are side cut up to about 3 metres to keep electric fences working but higher up are allowed to produce annual flowers, fruit, and nuts for the plentiful wildlife in evidence on the farm.
Alan Moore said that the the take home messages from the walk included that when planting, use a good mixture of native hedge plants and use plants grown in Ireland from Irish seeds to avoid imported disease and genetic unsuitability.
The farmers were advised to raise the cutting height each year a few centimetres and consider a rotation of every second or even third year cutting of some hedges to allow more flowers for pollinators and winter food for birds and other wildlife.
They were also urged to leave some bushes intermittently to grow into trees.
