ICMSA calls to cut hedgerow restrictions by a month

The ‘closed period’ restricting hedgerow cutting should be reduced by a month, the ICMSA has claimed.

At present, hedgerows cannot be cut from March 1 to August 31 for fear of disturbing nesting birds. The ICMSA wants this period shortened by a calendar month, to run from March 1 to July 31.

Pat Rohan, ICMSA farm and rural affairs chairman, has made a submission to the National Parks and Wildlife Service seeking hedgerow law changes. He cites research proving that birds have left their nests by the end of July.

“No one can say that farmers have been anything but incredibly positive about maintaining the environment and protecting the wildlife our environment supports,” said Mr Rohan.

“Over 40 million hedgerow plants have been planted through REPS and AEOS and nearly 10,000km of new hedgerow planted in the last 20 years.”

He said the closed period in the 1976 act was amended and extended by the Wildlife Amendment Act 2000. He says this change has since been overtaken by the latest research. The legislation now measurably lags behind the reality in a way that was imposing a large cost on farmers, he said.