Clare landowners and community groups invited to apply for Hedge Cutting Scheme 2025
The initiative will provide €25,000 to cut hedges on the local road network over autumn and winter
Clare County Council are encouraging landowners and community groups to apply for the 2025 Community Hedge Cutting Grant Scheme.
The initiative will provide €25,000 to cut hedges on the local road network over autumn and winter. It is complemented by the Council's ongoing hedge cutting programme.
Applications are being invited from communities and groups before September 30 of this year. Each one will be assessed and a grant of €50 per kilometre of hedgerow will be paid, subject to certain conditions and available resources.
Clare County Council says the scheme will provide some financial assistance to communities that undertake hedge cutting and the cutting of overhanging trees. It will assist landowners in complying with their responsibilities under Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993.
Cyril Feeney, Senior Engineer, Clare County Council, said, "We are confident that this scheme, complemented by the Council's ongoing hedge cutting programme, will be of benefit in dealing with this issue. Our objective is that by the start of the nesting season in March 2026, much of the worst affected local roads in the county will have greater capacity to accommodate the traffic that uses them, while sustainably managing hedgerows for biodiversity and wildlife."
"The Roads Act 1993 states that growth coming from the roadside boundary or the land protected by the roadside boundary is the responsibility of the landowner," added Mr. Feeney. “From a road safety point of view, it is important that this responsibility is acknowledged and embraced by roadside landowners. The Community Hedge Cutting Grant Scheme is intended to provide support to offset some of the costs associated with hedge cutting.”
“The works will also take cognisance of the requirements of The Wildlife Act, having a particular regard to hedgerow management and nesting birds. We are urging that hedgerows be lightly trimmed to protect the structure of the hedgerows adopting a triangular A shape height on the hedgerows and to avoid overcutting too far into the hedgerows," he concluded.
Application forms are available online here and from the offices of Clare County Council, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis.