The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) marked National Hedgerow Week, which runs from 4 to 10 May, by emphasising hedgerows' role in agriculture and environmental protection across Northern Ireland farms.

Hedgerows offer shelter for livestock, reduce wind exposure, protect soils and slow water movement in heavy rain. Niamh Woods, Biodiversity Technologist at CAFRE, stated that hedgerows serve as working assets on farms by improving animal welfare, cutting soil loss and aiding pollinators and farmland birds while keeping field boundaries intact.

On CAFRE farms, management follows best practices such as shifting from annual cutting to three-year rotational cutting on appropriate hedges. This allows hedges to flower and fruit, enhancing structure and providing wildlife food and shelter alongside dense, stock-proof boundaries.

CAFRE supports planting new hedgerows to replace gaps, connect habitats or add shelter. Students receive hands-on training in planting and managing mixed native species hedgerows to equip future land managers for environmental and farming needs.

Niamh Woods noted that teaching effective hedgerow establishment and management provides long-term gains for farms and the environment. The 2026 National Hedgerow Week theme is 'Hedges Are Trees Too', which prompts land managers to value hedgerows for sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.

CAFRE urges farmers and land managers to assess hedge conditions and schedule management or restoration during the week. Guidance on hedgerow establishment and management appears in the biodiversity section of the CAFRE website's business support area.