Landowners Urged to Cut Overgrown Hedges Before End of February
Landowners have until end of February to cut roadside hedges before seasonal restrictions begin. Report overgrown vegetation to your local authority.
The Road Safety Authority and local authorities are calling on property owners to trim roadside hedges by the end of this month to prevent dangerous obstructions for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
Under the Wildlife Act 1976, hedge-cutting is prohibited from 1 March to 31 August each year, except where overgrown vegetation creates a road safety hazard. The RSA and County and City Management Association warn that poorly maintained hedges force vulnerable road users onto roads and block drivers' views at junctions and bends.
Sam Waide, Chief Executive of the RSA said landowners should act now to ensure compliance and avoid potential enforcement actions by local authorities:
"Overgrown hedgerows can pose a road safety hazard. We all have a role to play in making roads safer, and landowners must take responsibility. Inaction could endanger lives."
The warning comes as the legal hedge-cutting season draws to a close. From 1 September to 28 February, landowners can trim roadside vegetation on their property. Outside these dates, cutting is prohibited unless the growth presents a clear safety risk.
Barry Kehoe, Chair of the CCMA Transport, Infrastructure and Networks Committee and Chief Executive of Westmeath County Council said local authorities balance road safety with biodiversity protection:
"Landowners and residents living along public roads have a clear responsibility to ensure that trees and hedges on their property do not create a hazard for people walking, cycling, or driving. If overgrowth is obstructing visibility, encroaching onto the roadway, or masking road signs, landowners should take prompt action to address it."
Mr Kehoe added that members of the public should report road safety concerns caused by overgrown vegetation to their local authority, which can then engage directly with the relevant landowner.
Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 places responsibility for maintaining roadside hedges on property owners and occupiers of adjoining lands. Local authorities remain responsible for roadside verge maintenance.
The RSA emphasises that proper hedge maintenance ensures clear sightlines at junctions, prevents obstruction of road signs, and keeps footpaths and cycle lanes accessible, particularly on rural roads where visibility is critical.