Cavan Hedgerow Survey

Cavan Heritage Office has appointed Flynn Furney Environmental Consultants to undertake a hedgerow survey in County Cavan over the coming months.  Funding to undertake this survey has been secured through the National Biodiversity Action Plan Funding 2023.     

Project Background  

The key objective of the project is to gain an overview of hedgerows in County Cavan in terms of extent and condition from a biodiversity, historical and cultural perspective which will then inform any conservation priorities. Crucially this project aims to provide baseline information on hedgerow functionality and health. 

A standardised Hedgerow Appraisal System (devised in 2013) is being used to assess each hedgerow sample area. This methodology assesses the historical and management criteria that has led to each hedgerow’s current condition. These include its construction, context, condition and management. The methodology also outlines the floristic composition of the hedgerow including its constituent tree layer, scrub layer and ground flora layer.  The sample size that we are using is 25 km2 which is selected through a semi-randomised process.  

How the surveys are carried out  

Surveys are carried out in teams of two workers.  We use mobile technology to upload the data that is recorded in the field.  This makes the task of gathering data much swifter.  We score hedgerows under a variety of headings including historical significance, species diversity, structure, connectivity and landscape significance.   

The survey data will be useful now to provide an overview of Cavan’s hedgerows but will also be invaluable baseline data against which any future surveys may be compared.  The findings of the survey will be made available to the general public later this year.