CAFRE celebrates National Hedgerow Week, 4 – 10 May

Date published: 5 May 2026

Hedgerows are a long‑standing feature of Northern Ireland’s farms and continue to deliver practical benefits. Well managed hedges provide vital shelter for livestock, reduce wind exposure, protect soils and help slow water movement during periods of heavy rainfall. These functions support farm productivity while contributing to wider environmental goals.

Niamh Woods, Biodiversity Technologist at CAFRE, explains: “Hedgerows are working assets on farms. They help improve animal welfare, reduce soil loss and support pollinators and farmland birds, all while maintaining strong field boundaries. Good hedgerow management benefits both the farm business and the environment.”

Across CAFRE farms, hedgerows are managed using best‑practice approaches, including moving away from annual cutting towards three‑year rotational cutting on suitable hedges. Allowing hedges to flower and fruit improves hedge structure and provides food and shelter for wildlife, while maintaining dense, stock‑proof boundaries.

CAFRE also supports the establishment of new hedgerows where they can replace gappy boundaries, link habitats or provide additional shelter. Students gain practical experience in planting and managing mixed native species hedgerows, ensuring future land managers have the skills needed to meet modern environmental and farming demands.

“Teaching students how to establish and manage hedgerows effectively is essential,” Niamh adds. “Effective hedgerow management delivers long‑term benefits for both farms and the wider environment.”

The 2026 theme, ‘Hedges Are Trees Too’, encourages land managers to recognise the long‑term value of hedgerows as living features that contribute to sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.

CAFRE encourages farmers and land managers to use National Hedgerow Week (4 – 10 May) as an opportunity to review hedge condition and plan future management or restoration.

Further guidance on hedgerow establishment and management is available in the business support area of the CAFRE website, under Biodiversity.