National Hedgerow Week wraps up with a foraging walk in Kilkenny

A dedicated event for hedge cutting contractors was held at Teagasc Kildalton College recently, where industry experts spoke on hedge cutting machinery and safety considerations.

Dr Catherine Keena, Countryside Management Specialist with Teagasc, delivered a comprehensive overview of the benefits of the biodiversity value that hedgerows provide.

The event was part of National Hedgerow Week, an annual week run by Teagasc and The Heritage Council to highlight the value of hedgerows.
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It is also an opportunity to bring together farmers, ecologists and the public to discuss hedgerows from a variety of perspectives. Events ran nationwide from Friday, August 29 and included demonstrations on how to plant and manage hedgerows, how to maximise their benefits for biodiversity, and how to provide hedgerows with seasonal care.

Hedgerows are essential habitats for many bird species in Ireland; 35 of the 110 regularly recorded countryside birds nest in hedgerows, they also offer shelter, food, nesting sites and song perches for many other bird species. Hedgerows provide cover and protection not only for birds but for mammals and insects on the move as hedgerows act like movement corridors. All nine species of bats use the hedgerow as corridors for foraging and recent studies relating to barn owls have proven that barn owl’s movement and foraging patterns are linked with the presence of hedgerows.
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Kilkenny County Council also organised a foraging walk and talk with Monica Fleming along the mass path of Dunmore on the outskirts of Kilkenny City, an event funded by the Heritage Council to celebrate hedgerows. Monica led two groups along the mass path to explore the variety of plant species in the hedgerow and to identify the masses of autumn fruits on display. She gave details of the health benefits of rosehips, and suggested ways that elderberry and sloes could be great additions to a drink’s cabinet.

Bernadette Moloney, Biodiversity Officer with Kilkenny County Council, joined one of the foraging walks and thanked Monica for her extensive knowledge. This marked the last in-person biodiversity learning event for 2025 by the Biodiversity Officer but Bernadette was keen to suggest other learning opportunities available.

The Kilkenny Library Service continues to runs events throughout the year and she suggested keeping an eye for events being ran for the upcoming Sustainable Development Goals Week later in the month. Bernadette was also highlighted the Sign Post Webinar Series by Teagasc who run weekly webinars on Friday mornings which are all recorded and are also available as a podcast.

While many webinars are specific to farming, there is a diverse range of topics that may interest the wider community. On September 12, for example, the guest speaker is Professor Grace McCormack from University of Galway and his presentation will be on the native Irish honey bee. For further information on the Teagasc Sign Post Series, log onto teagasc.ie.