*Rural hedgerows in County Clare || Credit: Barry O’Loughlin
A €25,000 SCHEME has been launched to support landowners and community groups in cutting roadside hedgerows across Clare.
Clare County Council is inviting applications to its Community Hedge Cutting Grant Scheme, which aims to support hedge maintenance along the local road network while promoting biodiversity-friendly practices.
The scheme provides funding of €75 per kilometre of hedgerow, subject to eligibility criteria and the availability of resources.
Applications are open until October 2, 2026, with works to take place during the upcoming autumn and winter seasons.
The scheme also supports the trimming of overhanging trees and is intended to help landowners meet their responsibilities under Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993.
It was first piloted in Clare in 2013 and was the first scheme of its kind in Ireland.
Senior Engineer with Clare County Council Cyril Feeney said the scheme, alongside the council’s ongoing hedge cutting programme, would help address overgrown hedgerows on local roads.
“Our objective is that by the start of the nesting season in March 2027, much of the worst-affected local roads in the county will be significantly enhanced in their capacity to accommodate traffic, while sustainably managing hedgerows for biodiversity and wildlife through best practice,” he said.
Mr Feeney said landowners had a responsibility to manage growth from roadside boundaries, with the scheme intended to help offset some of the costs associated with hedge cutting.
“From a road safety perspective, it is important that this responsibility is acknowledged and embraced by roadside landowners,” he said.
He also urged landowners to take account of Wildlife Act requirements, particularly in relation to nesting birds and hedgerow protection.
“We are urging that hedgerows be lightly trimmed to protect their structure, adopting a triangular ‘A’ shape and avoiding cutting too deeply into the hedgerow,” he said.
Application forms are available on the Clare County Council website and from council offices at Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis.
–Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
