To suggest hacking down hedges is just an act of eco vandalism
The heritage of the Irish countryside is its beautiful hedges with yellow, white and red blooms and fruit throughout the year.
Orders from up-on-high Brussels allowed hedges to be cut back to the ridiculously low height of 1m. What can grow in such a hedge and provide for bees, insects, birds and human beings I wonde?
Don’t forget how our farmers have already cut down trees and hedges on their fields’ borders as part of their ever increasing profit chasing.
They also spray weedkiller wherever possible and many roadside dwellers kill all growth. Lawnmowers are going up and down roadside verges every week to make sure no wild flowers or weeds can provide nourishment to bees and insects or give joy to passers-by.
Every May I delight in the elegant cow parsley growing on the verges, and my car was never scratched by them.
But yes, where there a drivers view is hindered on bends and junctions such hedges have to be cut.
But now the Cork County Council wants to cut hedges and trees down so hauliers can drive faster on roads which are too small for big lorries anyway.
The council also wants to ignore the Wildlife Act and extend the cutting season so more cowboys with blunt cutters can slaughter more of the beautiful and important trees and hedges.
May I propose to Cllr Paul Hayes to first clear all council land of ragworth, which under the Obnoxious Plant Act, is his and all property owners’ duty unless they want a €500 fine.
And if the councilor is so concerned about tourists he might also start an eradication program of the Giant Hogweed which spreads in an alarming way along our rivers. Any hiker or fisherman coming into contact with it with can suffer serious burns.
Also, why do large lorries have to thunder down our small roads and over our fragile bridges? It means the councils have to fill in potholes year in year out.
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