How the lowly ditch could help save our planet

For years, environmentalists have warned of the damage wrought on nesting birds and habitats from the destruction of the country’s rural hedgerows and woodlands. And now scientists say the lowly ditch could even be critical to the survival of the planet.

New research shows hedgerow and woodlands in Ireland could make a significant contribution to reducing the amount of carbon in the Irish environment.

Dr Kevin Black of Forest Environmental Research and Services Ltd has found that hedgerows and wooded areas are a “small but significant carbon store.