Hedgerows Ireland maintains a list of its members that carry out hedge laying works. This list is arranged in alphabetical order and is not a complete list of hedge layers in Ireland.

In order to maintain professional standards of work, members are expected to achieve a professional qualification through the National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC)(UK), or equivalent.

NPTC Assessor – Has proved competence over and above basic standards. Can assess candidates to a basic standard.

CLIVE LYTTLE

I have been teaching traditional countryside skills including hedge laying and drystone walling for over twenty years. After joining the hedge laying society (now Hedgerows Ireland) I attained my hedge laying qualification in 2008 and continue to work in the countryside, teaching and laying hedges. Full public liability insurance for teaching and contract work. Area – Ireland North and South / NPTC AO20 Cert / Insurance / Provides Training

Address: Welig Heritage Crafts, 63 Cloughey Road, Nunsbridge, Portaferry, BT22 1NH Co. Down Contact: 0044 427 71542 / 0044 7732600907 / clivelyttle@btinternet.com

EAMONN MCLOUGHLIN

Area – Midlands / NPTC AO20 Cert / Insurance / Provides Training

Address: Tinnamuck, Moate, Co. Westmeath  Contact: 05793 36209 / 00 353 86 3482951 / eamonnmcloughlin64@gmail.com

EMMETT DOLAN

Area – Offaly / NPTC AO20 Cert / Insurance.

Address: Kilcormac, Birr, Co. Offaly Contact: 086 3022806 / dolan.emmett@gmail.com

EOIN DONNELLY

Master hedge layer with 40 years’ experience of working on all types of hedges, in a number of styles. Training can be arranged on a one-to-one or group basis. Powerpoint presentations and talks given to interested groups. Consultation service available. Area – Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wicklow, Kildare, Laois, and Dublin / NPTC AO20 Cert / Insurance / Provides Training

Address: The Bodgers Hovel Coolgarrow Enniscorthy Co. Wexford Y2 A5V6 Contact: 087 1262490 / thebodgershovel@gmail.com

JAMES CARROLL

Area – Dublin and south-east / NPTC AO20 Cert / Insurance

Address: Chapel Lane, Glenealy, Co. Wicklow  Contact: 0404 44849 / 00353 86 8464515 / James@stickman.ie

JOE GOWRAN

Area – Covers area 40 mile radius of Drumcliffe, County Sligo / NPTC AO20 Cert / Insurance / lapsed NPTC Assessor

Address: Drumcliff South, County Sligo Contact: 071 9145504 / 00353 87 7428084 / joegowran@gmail.com

JOHN MCKEON

Area – Monaghan, Meath, Cavan / NPTC AO20 Cert / Insurance / Provides Training

Address: Annadrumman, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan, A75 PD23  Contact: 042 9740926 / 087 1462790 / johnmckeon51@eircom.net

MARK MCDOWELL

Area – Leinster / NPTC AO20 Cert / Insurance / Provides Training

Address: Rathgar, Dublin 6 Contact: 00 353 85 1645 990 / macdubhghaill@hotmail.com

PAUL MCNALLY

Area – Mayo (and nearby) / NPTC AO20 Cert / Provides Training

Address: Derrynacanna, Ballintober, Claremorris, Co. Mayo  Contact: 094 9030665 / 086 8613968 / pmcwoodman@gmail.com

PAUL O’HAGAN

Area – Northern Ireland / NPTC Assessor / Provides Training / DARD demonstration farm .

Address: 1 Brackagh Road, Moneymore, Magherafelt, Co.Derry BT45 7RR Contact: 0044 796 31871 / paul.ohagan3@yahoo.co.uk

RICHARD MARKHAM

Area – Will travel / Runs a small tree and hedge care business, concentrated for over 10 years on hedge laying in Ireland/ Provides Training

Address: Birr, Co. Offaly Contact: 087 746 5025 / info@treeandhedgecare.ie

STEVE BASS

I have been NPTC accredited since 2008 and also have the Coillte Chainsaw Safety Certificate. I provide a service for farmers in agri-environment schemes and take on private contracts. I laid over 800 metres of hedges in Ireland covering all counties. Area – Will travel / NPTC AO20 Cert / Provides Training

Address: Brackloon, Shrule, Co.Mayo Contact: 087 9175183 / stevebasswoodworker@gmail.com

THOMAS BAKER

Area – Down & Antrim / NPTC AO20 / Insurance

Address: Holywood, Co Down, BT18 0BZ Contact: 07850544545 / info@landscape-care.co.uk

MIKE CARSWELL

Supply of hedge stakes and binders from coppiced woodland. The stakes are 5ft not pointed, mostly hazel, with some other hardwoods mixed in, both stored dry from previous years and freshly cut each year. Binders are a minimum of 6ft long and bundled in 30’s. Orders for stakes and binders can be guaranteed if placed before Samhain, last orders for freshly cut material is the winter solstice. After that, only stocked material is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Also available: cleft and round sweet chestnut stakes and posts all year round – price on request. Mike Carswell is a professional coppice worker and greenwood worker. He has more than ten years of experience in utilising traditional methods to produce sustainable woodland products. A graduate of the Bill Hogarth Memorial Apprenticeship Trust, Mike is fully qualified and insured in coppice restoration, felling and conversion of raw materials. He has knowledge of ecological impacts and the heritage of woodland management in Ireland.

Cost: 50c/50p per stake, with a minimum order of 100. Binders €15 for bundle of 30. Collection/Delivery: Collection preferred from Wicklow, near Glenealy, but happy to discuss delivery. Website: http://wicklowcoppice.com/ Phone Number: 085 2246967

CLIVE LYTTLE

Supply of willow cuttings for basket-making, hurdles making and binders if you wish to grow your own. All coppice materials are sustainably grown and cut from or near my own smallholding on the Ards Peninsula, County Down. Clive is a basketmaker, green woodworker, dry stone waller, hurdlemaker, greenwood chair maker, spoon carver, roundhouse builder and thatcher as well as a hedge layer. He supplies timber for chair making, large bean poles and other coppice produce, stakes and binders for hedge laying, large willow rods for living willow features and all types of willow cuttings from basket making to biomass.

Cost: £1 per 5ft hazel stake. Some hazel binders available, but mostly willow binders at £1 each. Collection/Delivery: Collection on Ards Peninsula, County Down. Delivery can be discussed. Contact: 0044 427 71542 / 0044 7732600907 / clivelyttle@btinternet.com

The cost of laying a hedge is usually based on what length of the hedge can be laid each day. This will require a site visit from an experienced hedge layer. Hedges vary so much in condition that it is not possible to give a general price for this work. However, costs are estimated to start at £15/€17-20 per metre for a straightforward hedge (e.g. one that is a few years old, 3-4m in height, but has not been flailed or laid previously). You can reach out to an accredited hedge layer using our list above to arrange a preliminary site visit and get an exact quotation.

Some of the factors that will influence the cost are :

– Size and number of stems 
– Amount of brambles, etc. to be cleared 
– Fencing/wire to be removed 
– Amount of ivy 
– Ground conditions 
– Access to the site 
– Disposal of brash 

Landowners looking to have hedges laid are advised to request a written quotation for the work. 

Hedge laying, as part of a long-term management programme has been shown to a be more cost-effective boundary option than standard fencing. Hedges also give many other benefits that fences do not – shelter, wildlife, visual amenity, etc. Read more in our “The Value of Hedgerows” section. Farmers may apply for hedge laying funding under the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES).

Meyen, S. (1997) “Cost comparison of boundary options” Unpublished report produced by Donegal Farm Relief Services Ltd. for Crann