Even though hawthorn and blackthorn are the traditional native hedgerow plants, many other species are also growing naturally in hedgerows today. For example, a flash of bright pink and purple fuchsia flowers is a very common and pleasant sight in hedgerows.
Blackbird enjoying the bush's red berries
The blackbird lives in Ireland all year around. It is mainly a woodland bird but it is often sited in back gardens and hedgerows all over the country.
Copyright Mike BrownBlackbird enjoying the bush's red berries
Copyright Mike Brown
Copyright Mike Brown
Blackbird enjoying the bush's red berries
The blackbird lives in Ireland all year around. It is mainly a woodland bird but it is often sited in back gardens and hedgerows all over the country.
Copyright Mike Brown
Leylandii is another hedgerow tree that is quite new, as it only first started to grow at the end of the nineteenth century.
There is such a huge variety of shrubs and trees growing in hedgerows that they are now the breeding ground for about two-thirds of our birds e.g. thrushes, blackbirds, chaffinches etc.
Did you know that between March 1st and August 31st, it is illegal to cut any plants that are growing in hedgerows? This is to help protect the natural lifecycle of hedgerows, including all the animals as well as the bushes!