Carlow Catchments Hedgerow Survey Results & Ash and Elm Research Updates in Ireland

Join Woodlands of Ireland for a lunchtime webinar to mark the first day of National Biodiversity Week 2026 and learn about two elements of native tree cover in Ireland.

The first presentation will be focused on the ‘Carlow Catchments Hedgerow Survey’ with Neil Foulkes and Joe Gowran. And the second presentation will be focused on ‘Ash and Elm in Ireland: Protecting and Restoring Our Native Trees Together’ with Dheeraj Rathore of the Teagasc Forest Development Department. 

Carlow Catchments Hedgerow Survey:

This presentation will look at the methodology applied and some of the key findings from the 2025 field survey, with some unexpected results on the frequency of Spindle. The project was initiated by Shane Casey, Biodiversity Officer for Carlow County Council.

You can find out more about the Hedge Project at the following link: https://www.woodlandsofireland.com/project/hedge-project/

Ash and Elm in Ireland: Protecting and Restoring Our Native Trees Together: 

Dheeraj will give details on how Ash and elm are iconic parts of Ireland’s landscape, yet both face serious threats from disease. This webinar presentation will explore why conserving these species matters for biodiversity, heritage, and future forests, what research is underway to support their recovery, and how citizens can play an active role in identifying and protecting resilient trees.

You can find out more about the AshForFuture project at the following link: https://teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/research/ashforfuture/ 

Event Details:

🕥 Time:1pm – 2pm

📍 Location: Online through Zoom. Register for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/47YBlhj1TTSc2zhPW1z2qg  

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

About the Carlow Hedgerow and Other Woodlands Project (2024 – 2026):

Woodlands of Ireland have been commissioned by the Carlow County Council Biodiversity Officer to run a three year project looking at how the county’s hedgerows and other wooded lands can contribute to improving water quality and biodiversity. Year 2 involved a field survey of hedgerows and other wooded lands in the Burren and Mountain river catchments. The survey results report was presented to the Council in February 2026. Public engagement activity will take place locally in the coming months.

During the summer of 2025 field recording of hedgerows was carried out using a bespoke methodology based on the standard methodology of the Hedgerow Appraisal System of 95 hedgerows in two river catchments, the Burren and the Mountain. These samples were selected from 49 1km x 1km squares (40 in the Burren catchment and 9 in the Mountain catchment). The squares and hedges were identified on the basis of having the potential to impact positively on water quality based on Environmental Protection Agency Pollution Impact Potential mapping. Reports from the project will be available from Carlow Co Co once the project is finalised.

You can find out more at the Hedge Project.

Information to Note:

• The webinar will be recorded and uploaded to the Woodlands of Ireland website.

Woodlands of Ireland is grateful for the core funding we receive from the Heritage Council, National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.