County Leitrim’s hedgerow network is a huge asset to the county, being valuable in terms of the predominantly livestock-based agricultural systems, wild flora and fauna, water quality, landscape, carbon sequestration and employment. In the summer of 2006 field recording of hedgerows was carried out using what was then the standard methodology in 16 sample 1 km squares distributed evenly around the county, covering approximately 1% of its total area. The focus of the survey was to record information on the extent, species composition, structure, condition and management of hedgerows.
Subsequent to that survey the Hedgerow Appraisal System (HAS) was developed by Woodlands of Ireland, (Foulkes et al, 2014) which has become the standard recording methodology for hedgerow surveys in the Republic of Ireland.
During the summer of 2023 the same area as in 2006, (and where possible the same individual hedgerows) was re-surveyed using the Hedgerow Appraisal System. Results from the 2023 County Leitrim Hedgerow Appraisal Survey were compared, as far as possible, with those from the 2006 Survey to assess trends in the extent, status and condition of hedgerows.
For the full report please click on COUNTY LEITRIM HEDGEROW APPRAISAL SURVEY REPORT 2023