Ballyhoura Development CLG, with thanks to the Heritage Council, is proud to share the success of the Community Heritage Grant-supported project “Ballyhoura Corridors: Securing Our Future Hedgerows.”

Running throughout the autumn, this community-led initiative focused on the protection and rejuvenation of hedgerows—vital features of Ireland’s cultural and environmental landscape. Through community engagement, education, and hands-on training, the project has inspired widespread action and awareness about the importance of safeguarding these living corridors for biodiversity, wildlife, and sustainable land management.

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Celebrating Community and Conservation

The Ballyhoura Corridors project officially launched in August during National Heritage Week with an interactive, family-friendly event featuring hedgerow crafts, local produce displays, and an educational biodiversity walk led by an Environmental Expert. The day brought people of all ages together to celebrate the role hedgerows play in connecting nature and community across the Ballyhoura region.

At the heart of the project were two Hedge-Laying Workshops, held in both Limerick and Cork, which showcased this traditional skill deeply rooted in Ireland’s natural and cultural heritage. Participants learned how to restore and maintain hedgerows, ensuring their health and longevity while enhancing biodiversity and protecting vital wildlife corridors.

“This transformative project will have a long-lasting impact and has shown there is a great passion here in Ballyhoura to protect biodiversity and the environment,” said John Scanlan, Project Lead at Ballyhoura Development CLG. “Through these workshops, participants have played an active role in securing our future corridors.”

Long-Term Impact

The skills and knowledge gained through the workshops are already being carried back into local communities, where participants are applying what they’ve learned to their own hedgerows, farms, and community spaces. The project’s short-term activities have laid the foundation for long-term environmental benefits, empowering people to continue protecting and managing these essential natural assets.

The Community Heritage Grant not only supported the delivery of workshops but also provided tools and materials to help participants apply their new skills in practical, lasting ways. This ensures that the benefits extend far beyond the workshops themselves—helping to preserve and rejuvenate the hedgerow networks that connect communities across Ballyhoura.

Find out more about the initiative: 

Ballyhoura Corridors: Securing our Future Hedgerows