This year's National Hedgerow Week will kick off from Friday (August 28), with live events and social media content to "celebrate one of Ireland's most valuable natural resources".

National Hedgerow Week is an awareness-raising initiative for hedgerows and their role in biodiversity and farming.

It is a partnership between the Heritage Council and Teagasc, and will run from this Friday to September 6.

The series of events will bring together farmers, ecologists and members of the general public.

Teagasc described hedgerows as "an integral landscape feature", saying they are "living habitats that support wildlife, protect natural resources, shelter livestock, and connect us with our heritage".

According to the advisory body, maximising the benefits from hedgerows "can prove challenging".

Teagasc and the Heritage Council will be sharing a series of articles exploring benefits of hedgerows, including biodiversity, climate resilience, water quality, cultural heritage, and sustainable land management.

There will also be a series of live events in which Teagasc, local authority biodiversity officials, and hedgerow organisations will engage with the public to raise awareness of "the importance of hedgerows".

Speaking ahead of the week's programme of events, Teagasc environmental specialist Ivan Kelly said: "National Hedgerow Week is an opportunity to celebrate the importance of hedgerows from a biodiversity, climate resilience, water quality, cultural heritage and sustainable land management perspective.

"Hedgerows are woven into Ireland's landscapes and protecting and managing them carefully ensures they continue to benefit both people and nature for years to come," Kelly added.

Catherine Casey, head of climate change with the Heritage Council, said: "We are pleased to partner once again with Teagasc to highlight the value of our native hedgerows.

"They are a core part of our heritage and are nature corridors through the countryside. How we manage them can greatly enhance their environmental value," Casey added.

She said the week of events "provides a great opportunity for conversations on the vast benefits of hedgerows and the best ways to manage them between farmers, landowners, community groups, and the general public".