ACRES Scheme – Planting a New Hedge
Price range: €8.75 through €12.00 inc VAT
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The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES)
ACRES is Ireland’s new agri-environment climate scheme under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan. This new €1.5 billion flagship agri-environment scheme is a farmer-friendly scheme to help address biodiversity decline while delivering an income support for up to 50,000 farm families in Ireland.
Your_Guide_to_the_ACRES_Co-operation_Approach_2025.pdf
Sold by the metre, based on a single row of 7 plants per metre. Each bundle being graded to give a uniform plant size and the very best quality. Each mix contains 60% Whitethorn and the remaining mix a minimum of 4 qualifying varieties, if you want to add Ilex aquifolium (Holly) there is a supplement included. Optional Guard and Cane included at €2 per stem discounted price.
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- Detailed Information
- Description
- How many plants do I need?
- Planting
- Aftercare
- ACRES General Verses ACRES Co-operation
Detailed Information
ACRES APPROVED
60% HAWTHORN and at least 4 other native species from the mix below
Priced per metre, per Single row (7 Plants)
Crataegus monogyna (60%) Hawthorn (Irish) 40-60cm
Alnus glutinosa (10%) Common Alder 60-90cm
Corylus avellana (10%) Hazel 40-60cm
Betula pubescens (10%) Common Birch 60-90cm
Rosa canina (10%) Mountain Ash 60-90cm
Quercus robur (10%) Oak 60-90cm
Pinus sylvestris (10%) Scotts Pine 40-60cm
OPTIONAL
Ilex aquifolium (Holly) 40-60cm (+€1.25)
What is the ACRES Scheme?
The ACRES Scheme (Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme) is a €1.5 billion environmental programme introduced by the Irish government under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Running from 2023 to 2027, the scheme is designed to support farmers who take steps to protect biodiversity, improve water quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on their land.
ACRES encourages practical, nature-friendly farming practices. These include planting native hedgerows like whitethorn, sowing multi-species grasslands, protecting existing habitats, and managing field margins and watercourses.
The ACRES scheme is a flagship agri-environment climate initiative in Ireland, aimed at addressing biodiversity decline and providing income support for farmers. It is part of Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan and is designed to support farmers who implement approved environmental actions on their land. The scheme offers various payment options, including ACRES General for individual farmers and ACRES Co-operation for collaborative projects. Farmers can earn up to €10,500 annually for specific actions that benefit the environment, such as planting native hedgerows, sowing multi-species grasslands, and protecting existing habitats. The scheme also supports the creation of small native forests on farmed land through the Native Tree Area (NTA) Scheme. For more information on how to qualify and apply for the ACRES scheme, farmers can visit agfood.ie or consult with advisors.
What Qualifies for the ACRES Scheme?
To qualify for ACRES, farmers must commit to implementing a selection of approved environmental actions on their land. These actions include, but are not limited to:
- Planting native hedgerows (e.g. whitethorn/hawthorn)
- Creating species-rich grassland
- Establishing tree belts or native orchards
- Protecting existing habitats and stone walls
- Creating buffer zones along watercourses
- Reducing chemical fertiliser use
How many plants do I need?
ACRES APPROVED
60% HAWTHORN AND 4 OTHER NATIVE SPECIES
Priced per metre per single row
40-60cm = 7 plants per metre
60-80cm = 7 plants per metre
80-100cm = 5 plants per metre
120-150cm = 5 plants per metre
Planting
When planting, we recommend adding a sparing amount of bone meal to the soil. Rootgrow is also very effective for speeding up establishment. If you have a good supply of horse manure, this can be used provided it is well rotted and crumbly., Mix it in well, and don’t use too much.
We have a useful How To Plant a Hedge guide with lots of tips on getting the best from your plants. We also send a printed copy with your plants, so you have it to hand.
Aftercare
Like our other hedgerow mixes, ACRES Hedging is best trimmed from August onwards when nesting birds have fledged. With any luck, you may be able to persuade a neighbouring farmer to trim it back with his flail hedge trimmer, which is much easier if the hedge is a long one and just as good as cutting by hand.
If you have any other questions about our ACRES Hedging Plants, please do drop us an email, or call our team of hedging experts on +353 44(0)9606864
ACRES General Verses ACRES Co-operation
The difference between ACRES General and ACRES Co-operation
General: available nationally (outside of the high priority geographical area defined for the ACRES Co-operation approach) and offers a range of actions for individual farmers, both targeted and general.
Co-operation: available to farmers in defined high priority geographical areas, and involves results-based payments as well as bespoke farm and landscape actions. Contracts have been awarded for the management of Co-operation Projects (CP), and farmers will be supported by new teams, who will develop local action plans for their zones.
Check out map of each of the zones and the teams who will manage them:
