Irish Minister for the Environment John Gormley has issued a reminder to local authorities, public bodies, contractors and private land owners of their responsibilities under the Wildlife Acts relating to restrictions on the destruction of vegetation, including hedgerows, on uncultivated land.

These restrictions do not apply to hedgerows on cultivated land such as garden hedges. Section 40 of the Wildlife Act, 1976, as amended by Section 46 of the Wildlife Amendment Act 2000, restricts the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction by other means of vegetation growing on uncultivated land or in hedges or ditches during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife, from 1 March to 31 August. This is subject to certain specific exceptions. It is the case that, in most instances, it is required by law that work to hedgerows is carried out outside this period.

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He said: "My Department has recently reminded local authorities and various public bodies of the responsibilities in this area under the Wildlife Acts. I consider that it is possible, in most cases, to schedule and carry out work to hedgerows outside this period."

The Minister accepts that in some cases, trimming may be necessary,during the prohibited period, on grounds of public health and safety, notably when new road hazards are detected that require hedge trimming or vegetation clearance.

He added: "In Ireland, where there is a low cover of native woodland, hedges are of exceptional importance in providing habitats and corridors for maintaining wildlife diversity, particularly for birds, but also for wild plants and other ecologically important organisms that provide food and shelter for birds."

The Minister is seeking the assistance of the public in bringing to attention any alleged unlawful cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction, by reporting details to the Gardai or to the local National Parks and Wildlife Service office of his Department. Reported instances will, as far as practicable, be investigated.

The Minister confirmed that it is his policy to prosecute those found to be in breach of this legislation, public bodies included. The Minister takes a particularly serious view of infringements by local authorities, given his Ministerial responsibilities in relation to local government and the wildlife staff of his Department are paying particular attention to this area. In recent years the National Parks and Wildlife Service have brought a number of successful prosecutions for breaches of Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts against both individuals and local authorities.

(VB/JM)