Hedge Cutting Season Now Open – Appeal To Landowners, Farmers And Householders

Date: 31-08-2023

A call for landowners, farmers, and householders to ensure their roadside hedges and overhanging trees are cut and maintained so that motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians can travel safely on our roads, has been made by Mayo County Council.

The hedge cutting season is open from the Friday, September 1, 2023 and remains open up to Thursday, February 29 2024.

Mayo County Council is calling on landowners / occupiers and householders in rural and urban areas, to ensure that roadside hedges are cut and maintained so that motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians can travel safely on all roads and similarly over hanging vegetation in urban areas be cut back from footpaths and at junctions. We would also like to thank them for their continuous work within communities making our roads safer in Co. Mayo   

Tom Gilligan, Director of Services with Mayo County Council said: “We have had numerous representations from road users concerning the overgrown state of hedgerows and also overhanging trees along some of our rural roads and the serious road safety issues that can result."

“While we would like to compliment the many landowners who maintain their roadside hedges, there is also a significant number of landowners / occupiers and householders who fail to cut and maintain their roadside hedges which can result in road safety issues on those roads. 

“We are calling on them to be more proactive over the next few months to ensure that their roadside hedges and overhanging trees are maintained properly as they are obliged to do under the law.”

Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 places responsibility for the maintenance of roadside hedges on the owners/occupiers of the adjoining lands.

The season when hedge cutting is permitted under the Wildlife Act is between the start of September and the end of February the following year.

This year Mayo County Council is planning to step up its awareness campaign at the start of September to remind landowners of their hedge cutting responsibilities.

Mayo County Council also carries out a verge cutting program on its road network. If you have any further queries in relation to hedge cutting in a particular area, you are advised to contact the relevant Municipal District Office.