New biodiversity project to focus on county Longford hedgerows

Longford County Council has said it is pleased to announce the start of a new biodiversity research project focusing on County Longford hedgerows, the first such survey to take place since 2006.

This research project will assess the condition of important wildlife habitat and help to better understand the extent and condition of the county’s hedgerows from biodiversity, historical and cultural perspectives.

The research will inform future conservation priorities.

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The first such research to take place in close to two decades, the project will assess hedgerow health and functionality, and how this might have changed since 2006.

Surveys will be carried out by a team of two ecologists from 16-20 June over 12km.

Hedgerows will be scored on historical significance, species diversity, structure, connectivity, and landscape significance.
Mobile technology will record the data in the field.

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A standardised Hedgerow Appraisal System will assess each hedgerow sample area and the historical and current management that has led to each hedgerow’s current condition.

This includes hedgerow construction, context and condition. It will also look at its flowering composition, including its tree, scrub and ground flora layers.

The collected data will be valuable now and into the future for comparison with any further surveys.

It is anticipated that survey findings will be presented at an event later this year.

Longford County Council extends thanks to all of the farmers and landowners who are allowing access to their lands for the purposes of this survey.

It was announced in May last year that the Longford Hedgerow Project had received a total of €25,296 in funding from the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF).

At the time, then-Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, stated, “Local Authorities play a vital role in addressing the biodiversity crisis.”