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Climate Science
Hedgerows offer vital shelter and shade for Irish livestock
As National Hedgerow Week 2026 concluded last week, renewed attention has been placed on the underappreciated ecological and practical value of hedgerows across Irish farmland. These living boundaries provide essential wind protection, thermal regulation, and heat stress mitigation for livestock—particularly vulnerable newborns—while also supporting biodiversity and climate resilience across the countryside.
Source:
Teagasc Agricultural News
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⏱️ 2 min read
Hedgerows, long overlooked as mere field boundaries, are now recognised as indispensable assets for livestock welfare and climate adaptation on Irish farms. During National Hedgerow Week 2026—a collaborative initiative led by the Heritage Council and Teagasc—their multifaceted benefits were spotlighted, especially in light of increasingly volatile weather patterns and rising summer temperatures across the country.
Livestock routinely seek refuge beneath dense hedgerows during wet, windy, or excessively warm conditions. This natural shelter reduces energy expenditure needed to maintain body temperature, thereby supporting immune function, growth rates, and overall productivity. For newborn animals—whose limited energy reserves and heightened vulnerability to hypothermia make early-life conditions critical—hedgerows act as life-sustaining microclimates, offering protection across all seasons when managed to retain dense, low-growing structure.
Shade provision has grown markedly more important in recent years, as prolonged heatwaves and higher humidity levels elevate the risk of heat stress in cattle, sheep, and other farm animals. A well-established hedgerow can create a sheltered zone extending up to three times its height, significantly reducing direct solar exposure and lowering ambient temperatures in adjacent grazing areas. Farmers are encouraged to prioritise hedgerow management that maintains height, density at ground level, and species diversity—practices that enhance resilience for both animals and the wider ecosystem. Further guidance and resources are available on the official Heritage Council and Teagasc websites.
Livestock routinely seek refuge beneath dense hedgerows during wet, windy, or excessively warm conditions. This natural shelter reduces energy expenditure needed to maintain body temperature, thereby supporting immune function, growth rates, and overall productivity. For newborn animals—whose limited energy reserves and heightened vulnerability to hypothermia make early-life conditions critical—hedgerows act as life-sustaining microclimates, offering protection across all seasons when managed to retain dense, low-growing structure.
Shade provision has grown markedly more important in recent years, as prolonged heatwaves and higher humidity levels elevate the risk of heat stress in cattle, sheep, and other farm animals. A well-established hedgerow can create a sheltered zone extending up to three times its height, significantly reducing direct solar exposure and lowering ambient temperatures in adjacent grazing areas. Farmers are encouraged to prioritise hedgerow management that maintains height, density at ground level, and species diversity—practices that enhance resilience for both animals and the wider ecosystem. Further guidance and resources are available on the official Heritage Council and Teagasc websites.