A close-up of binders woven on top of a laid hedge.

About Us

Read more about us and our objectives.

Hedgerows Ireland is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, which does not have a share capital and was founded in 2004 by a group of hedge layers and other interested individuals. The organisation was previously called the Hedge Laying Association of Ireland. We are an All-Ireland organisation with Directors based both in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. We are a member of the Irish Environmental Network and the Environmental Pillar and also receive funding from the Heritage Council.

Our Vision

A network of native hedgerows across Ireland managed in a nature-friendly way in order to sequester carbon, protect biodiversity, and provide shelter and water quality benefits.

Our Mission

Raising awareness about the value and appropriate management of hedgerows; promoting the craft and profession of hedge laying; and documenting our hedgerow heritage.

Our Strategy

Sharing knowledge through social media, talks, and hedge walks; organising hedge laying training days; and working with other environmental groups to create policy and legislative change.

Membership

Support our work and become part of a community passionate about hedgerows managed for nature, with online members meetings and opportunities to ask questions.

Become a Member
A photo of Mark McDowell standing in front of a hedgerow. He is a white man with white hair, wearing a green jumper and jacket with black trousers.

Mark McDowell
Hedgerow Expert & Public Relations Officer

Mark is an accredited hedge layer, native hedgerow consultant and journalist. He has been involved with the organisation since it started in 2004 and with traditional hedgerow management since 1998. Mark is also a ferry survey coordinator for the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. He has a keen interest in all of Ireland’s wildlife and holds a Diploma in Field Ecology from University College Cork.

Clive Lyttle
Chairperson, Board of Directors

Clive is the co-owner of Welig Heritage Crafts with a demonstrated history of working in the arts and crafts industry. Clive was the All-Ireland Hedge Laying Champion in 2021! He is also a skilled basketmaker, willow weaver, and wood-turner. He is also passionate about Photography, Contemporary Art, Art Education, Art, and Drawing. Clive studied Biological Sciences and Ecology at the University Of Ulster, Coleraine.

A photo of Adrian Fitzpatrick standing in between tree stems with a hedgerow in the background. He is a white man wearing a green cap, glasses, dark green t-shirt and a hi-vis.

Adrian Fitzpatrick
Director

Adrian is the Sustainability Manager at National Museums Northern Ireland. He became interested in hedgerows and hedge laying in the mid-1990s through the Conservation Volunteers from Ulster University. Adrian lives in south Belfast with his wife and son and shoal of White Cloud Mountain Minnow. When not reducing carbon dioxide or hedge laying, he likes to relax with a paddle in a kayak.

A photo of Chris McCarney standing in the Environmental Pillar stall. He is a white man with grey hair, wearing a green-shirt and grey pants and holding a Hedge Code poster.

Chris McCarney
Director

Chris and his brother keep a few cattle on the family farm in Eskra, Co. Tyrone.  He studied agriculture at Queen’s University Belfast and currently works in education services at Oxford Island for ABC Council. Chris hopes to establish a facility at Lurgan for hedgerow management and foraging events. He is also developing cross-border projects about the role of hedgerows in tackling biodiversity loss in the Irish countryside.

Anne Brown
Director

Anne is a primary school teacher and runs an Equine Facilitated Learning programme with her family of donkeys. Her farm also includes sheep and goats and is a registered Social Farm with Rural Support to help young people and adults with mental health and learning disabilities. Anne focuses on a variety of traditional agricultural and farming methods that includes hedgerow management and horticulture techniques to enhance the biodiversity of the farm. 

Eamonn McLoughlin
Director

Eamonn has been a qualified hedge layer for 20 years and involved with Hedgerows Ireland since its inception.

He is also a stonemason and runs a small nature-friendly calf-to-beef farm in Offaly, where he hosted the 2021 All-Ireland Hedge Laying Championships. Eamonn is taking part in the ACRES scheme to take further environmental actions on his farm.