Looking into a Ditch

Looking into a Ditch
Norman Influences and Ireland’s Landscape Heritage

Ireland’s landscape is characterised by fields enclosed by mature hedgerows, forming a pattern comparable to the bocage of Normandy in France. This distinctive landscape reflects a lasting Norman legacy, as open grasslands transform into networks of smaller fields bordered by thorn hedgerows.

These hedgerows play an essential role in the environment and in rural life. They provide shelter for livestock, support biodiversity as ecological corridors, help manage flooding, and contribute to carbon absorption.

Waterford City and County Council Heritage Office hosts a seminar, Looking into a Ditch: The Natural and Cultural Heritage of our Norman Hedgerows, during National Hedgerow Week in autumn 2027. The event explores both the cultural and natural aspects of hedgerow landscapes in Ireland and Normandy, including townland boundaries, placenames, hedge schools, and ecology. It also examines the impact of hedgerow loss in the context of climate change and biodiversity decline.

The seminar is followed by a field visit showcasing best practices in hedgerow management across Waterford and the south-east region. 

Practical information
Admission: Free

Cooperation Ireland / France
Partners: SETU, Teagasc, The Heritage Council, Le Havre