Kildare County Council Reminds Landowners and Occupiers of Nesting Season Obligations
Protecting Nesting Birds and Ensuring Road Safety
12th February 2025: Kildare County Council would like to remind landowners and occupiers of the restrictions on cutting hedges and clearing vegetation on uncultivated lands from 1st March to 31st August. These restrictions are in place to protect nesting birds, as outlined in Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976, amended by the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 and the Heritage Act 2018.
Hedgerow cutting is permitted from September to February, when hedgerows are dormant.
Landowners and occupiers of properties adjoining public roads, are required under the Roads Act 1993 to ensure that trees, shrubs, hedges, or any other vegetation on their land, do not pose a danger to people using or working on public roads.
The maintenance of roadside trees, hedges and other vegetation, is the responsibility of the landowner on whose land they are growing. It is essential to ensure that these do not become hazards to road users, or interfere with road maintenance. All reasonable care should be taken to ensure the safety of road users during maintenance work.
