Council decision to extend hedge-cutting period in Kilkenny criticised

A decision to extend the period when hedges across county Kilkenny can be cut back has come in for some criticism.

The council on Monday backed a motion to allow for an extension on the grounds of road safety.

At the moment landowners can’t cut back hedges or trees along the roadside between March the 1st and the end of August each year for the safety of wildlife.

However, Pat Durkin of Birdwatch Ireland says he doesn’t think there’s any real need for this extension as councils already have permission to cut back hedges when road safety is in question.

And he says this will certainly disrupt wildlife.