Coolmore company fined €100,000 for hedgerow removal
Coolmore company Shem Drowne Ltd has today (Friday, March 13) been fined €100,000 for the removal of hedgerows in Co. Tipperary.
In December, the company pleaded guilty to four charges brought by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) in relation to the destruction of over 1,000m of hedgerows.
Justice Deirdre Browne issued the company with fines totalling €100,000 at Clonmel Circuit Court today.
Under environmental regulations, landowners must apply for screening if they wish to remove any hedgerow over 500m in length, or if removal of any field boundary would result in the creation of a field over 5ha in size.
Coolmore
A statement issued today by Coolmore said that Shem Drowne Ltd is "deeply sorry for the removal of hedgerows on lands at Ballygerald and for the unacceptable breach of a prohibition notice".
"The landowner has cooperated fully with the investigation, acknowledged the internal process failings that brought it about and has implemented rigorous new protocols to ensure these cannot recur.
"In mitigation of the breach the landowner has made a €30,000 contribution to community and sustainability initiatives via Native Woodland Trust and Saint Vincent de Paul," the statement added.
Coolmore said that "this breach is entirely at odds with the broader sustainability and biodiversity efforts of Coolmore which has use of these lands".
"On average one in every five acres farmed by Coolmore is protected for the natural environment and wildlife.
"Coolmore is also investing millions of euro in renewable energy and agri-tech initiatives to ensure its activities are strongly climate positive and to promote sustainability efforts across the agri-sector," the statement added.
Around 50% of Coolmore lands are grassland fields, 90% of which are below 5ha in size. The stud farm also has over 600ac of woodland.
Coolmore said it has engaged a "leading national expert to advise on environmental matters" who has helped in the development of a sustainability plan.
Since Ballygerald, Coolmore confirmed that it has not carried out any hedge removal and that it is compliant with all regulations and procedures in relation to hedgerow management and removal.
The statement outlined that there are 900km of hedgerows on Coolmore farms and it plants an average of 8km of new hedgerows each year.
Hedgerows Ireland
Hedgerows Ireland has welcomed the court proceedings, which it said "sends a clear message that environmental laws apply to everyone".
Speaking outside the court, Alan Moore, secretary of Hedgerows Ireland, who was a witness in the case, said:
"We would have expected a higher fine given the extent of the hedgerow removal and the fact that Coolmore breached a prohibition order one year after the initial offence, but we nevertheless believe the sentence sends out a strong message that the environmental regulations work."
He added that "mature native hedgerows are vital wildlife corridors, major flooding defences and carbon stores".
"They protect soil and provide shelter, shade and definition to the countryside. They are often historic boundaries and part of our heritage.
"When they are removed there are very serious consequences for the landscape," he said.
Moore said Hedgerows Ireland "warmly welcome Coolmore’s newly stated commitment to the preservation and enhancement of existing hedgerows using best practice guidelines".
"Hedgerows Ireland acknowledges the support extended by Coolmore to community and sporting enterprises in Tipperary and beyond.
"Today, we are formally repeating our request to meet with John Magnier and his representatives to discuss a more sustainable approach to landscape management, and to request Coolmore input into a Tipperary hedgerow rejuvenation project in conjunction with our group," he said.
