National Hedgerow Week 2026

National Hedgerow Week is a partnership between Teagasc and the Heritage Council. The week aims to raise awareness of the importance of hedgerows for biodiversity, farming, climate and heritage.

When: Friday, 28th August to Sunday, 6th September 2026

Events are free to attend and are open to all. The events scheduled for the week are organised by Teagasc, Local Authority Biodiversity Officers, hedgerow organisations and others.

Please see below for upcoming events.

Programme of Events:

National Hedgerow Week Farm Walk at Woodview House and Farm

Date: Saturday, 29 August 2026

Time: 3.00pm

Location: Woodview House and Farm, Randalstown, Donaghpatrick, Co. Meath

Join Meath County Council Biodiversity Officer and Hedgerows Ireland's Mark McDowell for a gentle farm walk exploring the environmental and biodiversity benefits of traditional hedgerow management.

Woodview Farm contains a mix of old and recently established hedgerows, including a number that have been traditionally hedge-laid, providing an opportunity to see how hedgerows respond to sustainable management practices.

Topics will include:

Traditional hedge-laying
Hedgerow biodiversity
Environmental benefits of hedgerows
Hedgerow management techniques

Suitable for children aged 7+ (must be accompanied by a parent/guardian).

Booking is essential. Click to book.

Hedgerow Week Walk

Date: Monday 31st August

Time: 7-8pm

Location: Gonzaga College, Ranelagh, D.6, Dublin

Join Hedgerows Ireland for this walk. Meet at carpark, access from Sandford Road only.

Queries: info@hedgerows.ie.

Farm Walk: Hedgerows, Biodiversity and Agroforestry

Date: Friday, 4 September 2026

Time: 5.30pm

Location: Leitrim Village, Co. Leitrim

Join Leitrim Organic Farmers Co-op, Leitrim Sustainable Agriculture Group, Leitrim County Council and Hedgerows Ireland for a farm walk exploring the many benefits of hedgerows for farming, biodiversity and the environment.

Topics will include:

Hedge cutting demonstration
Hedgerow biodiversity
Hedge planting
Agroforestry

Booking Details:
Contact Gerry McGourty at 086 329 4037.

Hedgerows: Quantity, Quality & Value Webinar

As part of the programme, Teagasc will host a Signpost Series webinar on 4 September 2026 at 9.30am with Neil Foulkes, Hedge Conservation and Management Consultant.

Neil will explore the value of Ireland's native hedgerows, approaches to assessing hedgerow quality, and how farmers could potentially be recognised and rewarded for maintaining high-quality hedgerows.

Explore the Benefits of Hedgerows Articles

Throughout National Hedgerow Week, we'll be publishing a series of articles exploring the many benefits of Ireland's hedgerows, including biodiversity, climate resilience, water quality, cultural heritage and sustainable land management.

Check back throughout the week to read the articles, and follow The Heritage Council and Teagasc on social media as each article is released.

Explore more

All Ireland Heritage Skills Programme

A collaboration between The King’s Foundation, The Heritage Council, the Department for Communities’ Historic Environment Division (HED), National Museums NI (NMNI) and Construction Industry Training Board NI (CITB NI) which aims to elevate individuals within the construction sector to become experts in their chosen craft.

The programme is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund (UK), thanks to National Lottery players with further support from The Heritage Council and Department for Communities (NI).

Advisory Committee on the Restitution and Repatriation of Cultural Heritage

Expert committee tasked with advising the Government and preparing national guidelines on the restitution of cultural objects in Ireland that may have been illegally or unethically elicited or traded.

Environmental Science Kits for Ecological Recording (ESKER)

A pilot partnership project with Library Services nationwide to make available Ecological Recording Equipment to the public.

The pilot has now ended, but kits will remain available for use in the County Libraries listed below.