Hedgerow Week 2023 will run from Friday 1st September to Friday 8th September to highlight the cultural and ecologic importance of our native hedgerows.

We’re all very proud of the rural character of Ardclough and enjoy the natural environment we get to live in, whether we’re out there farming in it or just appreciating the beauty and wildlife in our local area.  We’re lucky to have the amount of tree cover and hedgerows that we have, let alone the Canal and all that it brings.  Even in Ardclough though and even in the last 10 years, we have lost hundreds of metres of hedgerow and tree cover and the decline continues.  Across the country, it is estimated that we are losing about 6,000km of hedgerow each year.

2nd September 2023: Booked out – Hedgerows Ireland will be running a Hedge Walk locally this Saturday (2nd Sep 2023). Unfortunately this is already booked out, but if you’re interested in learning more about the ecological importance of our hedgerows, better ways to manage them for biodiversity or how to integrate that into a farm environment, keep an eye on hedgerows.ie or follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.  The hedge walks occur regularly around the country.

5th September 2023: Booked out – Newbridge Library will be hosting ‘What’s in a Hedge?’ – a talk be Éanna NíLamhna and local ecologist Mary O’Connor on Tuesday 5th September @ 6:00pm.  The event is booked out but you can find out more about it and join a waiting list for tickets at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/newbridgelibrary/971256

7th September 2023: Still available – Celbridge Library will be hosting ‘What’s in a Hedge?’ – a talk by Éanna NíLamhna and tree folk-lore specialist Niall MacCoitir on Thursday 7th September @ 6:00pm.  It’s a free event, but booking is required.  You can get more information about the event and register for tickets at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/celbridgecommunitylibrary/962796.

Hedgerow Week is organised by Teagasc and the Heritage Council.  Teagasc’s list of Hedgerow Week events around the country is available at https://www.teagasc.ie/environment/biodiversity–countryside/farmland-habitats/hedgerows/hedgerow-week-/.

And just in case you can’t get out to any of the events or just need to hear more, the ‘In your Nature’ podcast will be running an episode on hedgerows during that week too.