Did you know?
Hedgerows have only been growing in Ireland since the 18th and 19th centuries.
Hedgerow
Courtesy of Pete Birch
Courtesy of Pete Birch
Hedgerows were planted to mark out different fields and town-lands.
Hawthorn and blackthorn were very popular as hedgerow plants. They grew very quickly into thick bushes. This stopped cattle from straying.
Between the 1960s and 1980s a lot of hedgerows were dug out. This was because the tractors were bigger and they needed more space.
Today, hedgerows are home to lots of different plants and animals. They are one of the most important habitats in Ireland!