Ripped out hedgerow alarms Hillsborough residents

Nessa Callaghan, Secretary of Hillsborough Village Committee, said the organisation has been inundated with complaints from people concerned that a "wild life habitat was disturbed during the nesting season".

Mrs Callaghan said: "This is a wildlife plantation containing a badger sette, fox with cubs and nesting birds but the hedgerow was ripped out to create a road for coaches to enter the rear of Hillsborough Castle. Residents directly opposite were not informed and have expressed amazement that a garden festival promoting horticulture and the outdoors and as guests in our village would leave such a scar as a reminder of their visit."

She continued: "The organisers have stated that they intend to reinstate the hedge row but what about the gravel road - it was once a habitat for wildlife and will the hedging be ripped out annually to faciliate future events?"

Claire Faulkner, Organiser of the garden show, commented: "The Garden Festival is an enormous boost to the area and I am delighted that it is able to contribute so much to the local economy. Obviously we try to ensure as little disruption as possible to residents with so much traffic coming in over the three days.

"This year we got permission to make a temporary entrance off the Moira Road to create a one way system to improve the traffic flow.

"In doing so we removed some laurel which we are replacing this week with a new laurel hedge."