Clearing land.

Farls

Can somebody here point me in the right direction as to where the department of environment or the local councils stand on clearing land. This would involve stubbing whins and piping the odd drain and removing a ditch or two.

Is there only certain times of the year you can do this? If so when would they be? Also whats the stance on burning said bushes? I'm in the county of Cavan by the way and not in reps or anything else!

Caoimhín

Burning is a big No No. As far as i know, it is now illegal to burn ANY sort of vegetation.

I cant be sure, but technically it is illegal to cut any hedgerow from March to October due to nesting birds, but im not sure if this applies to furze/whines in open fields.

Besides, i have found that burning only removes them temporarily. The best way of clearing them is to get a digger and pull them, root and all, out of the ground. These can then be wind-rowed or if possible, buried.

Farls

Caoimhín wrote: »

Burning is a big No No. As far as i know, it is now illegal to burn ANY sort of vegetation.

I cant be sure, but technically it is illegal to cut any hedgerow from March to October due to nesting birds, but im not sure if this applies to furze/whines in open fields.

Besides, i have found that burning only removes them temporarily. The best way of clearing them is to get a digger and pull them, root and all, out of the ground. These can then be wind-rowed or if possible, buried.

I was expecting something like that! Can't see whins being much addition to birds but guess I'll have to sit tight till october time comes around again! Cheers

roosterman71

I cleared loads of hedges a couple of years back. Trees, bushes, evrything went and no one said anything. Having said that, it was mainly done during the winter. REPS though wanted more hedging planted so have 2500 new whitethorn bushes sown since along the land boundry.

I buried all the bushes and things in drains I was filling in. The rest was left where the new M7 is going and the council took care of it

As already stated, burning is a big no no. If possible, chop up some of the timber (if its suitable) and burn it for heating in your house. I got alot of nice warm evenings during the winter after doing this.

Caoimhín

roosterman71 wrote: »

Trees, bushes, evrything went and no one said anything.

Just something that may be of interest lads;

Under the 1946 felling act, ANY tree over the age of 15 years old requires a felling licence to knock, unless it is within 100 ft of a building.

It would be very unusual for a forestry inspector to kick up about it on farm land, but if a nosy neighbour reported it to the Guards, you could end up in front of the judge. I have come accross NPW rangers, who have a pathological dislike for farming, report any scrub clearance to the Guards.

Oldtree

You leave yourself exposed to legal action for felling any tree over 10 years of age (with a number of exceptions)

see here

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/treefelling/legalrequirementsfortreefelling/

Cover yourself by applying for a felling licence

see here for application

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/treefelling/treefelling/

Give them a ring and talk it through they are more than helpful. then fill in the appropiate form along with copies of maps of the areas and get the local garda sargent to sign your application, and take a copy. Send it on yourself to the department. they will then issue a prohibition notice as a standard. The local forestry inspector will then meet you on site and discuss your needs. Provided he/she agrees, licence will then follow. Process usually takes about six weeks.

Someone who didn't do this:

http://archives.tcm.ie/westernpeople/2007/12/12/story39070.asp

Error/ignorance of the law..... my bum!

Farls

roosterman71 wrote: »

I cleared loads of hedges a couple of years back. Trees, bushes, evrything went and no one said anything.

I see this a lot around all times of year, my neighbour was reported last month for the same by a nosey neighbour...I just want to know what the legal standing is on such things. It looks as though you basically can't do feck all with your own land! I'm missing about 20 feet of a border around 3 fields due to whins, land was rented for time out of mind and I've just got it back now and want to clean it up.