It is a legal responsibility of all landowners and occupiers adjacent to public roads to maintain trees and hedges so that they are not a hazard to people using the road.

Hedge Cutting should only be carried out during the period from 1st September to the end of February.

It is an offence under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976 to cut or destroy any vegetation growing in any hedge during the period 1st March to 31st August.

Report Illegal Hedge Cutting

To report hedge cutting that is taking place outside the permitted times please contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) or An Garda Síochána with details of where the offence is taking place https://www.npws.ie/legislation/irish-law/restrictions-cutting-hedgerows

There are exemptions to this restriction and these can be read at the link below to the consolidated version of Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts.

https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/general/section-40-wildlife-acts-consolidated.pdf

Tree Felling

The following information comes from The Forestry Act 1946.

Under Section 37 of the Forestry Act 1946, it is unlawful to uproot any tree over ten years old or to cut down any tree, unless notice is given in writing, in accordance with the Act. This notice must be given in the form of a Felling Notice.

This does not apply if the tree is:

• uprooted or cut down under the authority conferred by a limited felling licence or a general felling licence and during the period during which such authority is exercisable.
• standing on land held by the Minister for the purposes of this Act
• standing within 100 feet of any building other than a wall or temporary structure
• cut down under section 34 of the Local Government Act 1925 or section 98 of the Electricity Supply Act 1927
• uprooted or cut down by a local authority in connection with road widening or improvement schemes or, building or constructional work
• certified by a local authority as dangerous to road traffic on account of age or condition
• uprooted or cut down by direction of the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs on the ground that it is a danger or obstruction to telegraph or telephone wires.

If you have any doubts in relation to tree felling, contact should be made with the Felling Section of the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture & Food, Johnstown Castle Estate, Co. Wexford. Tel: 053-9160174