A chara, – I would like to reassure John Farrelly (July 20th) that hedge cutting has been exposed as environmental madness. Under the Wildlife Acts, 1976 (2000), it is an offence to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing in any hedge or ditch from March 1st to August 31st.
However, whilst on holiday in Leitrim and Sligo I noticed that the councils were busy mowing the wild grass verges before there comes the chance to seed and that they were hewing the hedgerows with scant regard for the birds that were trying to fledge their chicks. Now perhaps it is that the west no longer wants the wild, or that rules or regulations or laws need not apply over there. Much more likely though, is that the filled coffers from the property tax need to be emptied before any upcoming council budgets; Oliver, after all, would not have dared to approach looking for more porridge with a bowl half full.
Needless to say, excuses will be proffered that these hedgerows and wild grass verges needed to be cut for health and safety reasons.
Meanwhile motorists must use their “see round the corner glasses” to discern the severity of any upcoming bends in the road due to the lack of signage. – Is mise,
FIONN MALLON,
Balscadden Road,
Howth, Co Dublin.
Sir, – Why are so many of our roadside verges, at this time of year, strimmed to look like deserts? How much more colourful and attractive and beneficial they would be if our wild flowers and grasses were allowed to grow in profusion and bring joy to our insects, our birds, ourselves and our visitors alike! – Yours, etc,
NIAMH LENNON,
Frankfort Park,
Dundrum,
Dublin 14.