Mr. Michael Hickey:

The basis of any good hedge is a good blackthorn. Whitethorn, blackthorn, hazel and a bit of everything you would have. Unfortunately, ash is now a huge problem in Ireland. In Monaghan it makes up something like 75% of the trees of any kind of size. Alder now has a disease and these are symptoms of the problems we face in the environment now. People are beginning to recognise this.