Kilmessan venue for All-Ireland hedge laying championships this weekend

Tom Rowland's farm at Grangeboyne, Bective, Kilmessan, will host the All-Ireland Hedge Laying Championships this weekend. Hedge laying is the art of cutting hedgerow stems partly at near ground level so that they will bend without breaking and will continue to grow.

Hedges are largely man made features of the countryside. Much of our current hedgerow network has been established for over 100 years. Many of the hedgerow stems are at the end of their natural life span and since most hedgerow species, especially whitethorn, don't reproduce well in the shade many are dying out.

This year's All-Ireland Hedgelaying Championship will take place from 9.30am to 5pm on Rowlands at Grangeboyne.  MEP for Ireland East, Mairead McGuinness, will present awards on Saturday to those deemed Ireland’s Hedge Laying Champions.