TOP TIP

WHITEFLY CONTROL
An effective way to reduce a whitefly infestation is by vacuuming. Portable car vacuums are reckoned to be ideal way of doing this. The domestic vacuum may just eat all of your plants at the same time if you’re not careful! A.K. by e-mail (I think a disclaimer here would be a good idea)

Horticultural.

GET INTO THE SHADE

GET INTO THE SHADE

Move outdoor pots into the shade whilst you are away on your holidays. Stand them in large shallow saucers with a small reservoir of water. Wrapping clay pots in polythene/bubble wrap helps to keep the moisture in too. The council here in Buncrana have introduced the reservoirs on to their hanging baskets this year. They really make a difference ensuring that the plants do not dry out in between watering once or twice a week. Unfortunately we do not have the baskets on the main road at the end of our estate anymore. We did have two of them but the lads deemed it far to o dangerous to water them with the cars rushing past. I know how they feel, I cut the grass on the verge by the side of the main road and you take your life in your hands when the lorries and vans speed by. If you don’t have the reservoirs baskets then a bottle with the bottom cut off pushed into the soil will do a great job when it is filled with water. An associate of mine who produces baskets for sale will not sell them to anyone unless they have a proper watering system. He has his reputation to think about!

Horticultural.

PONDS

Continue to remove blanket weed and duckweed using a net or rake. Pile the weed by the side of the pond for 24 hours to allow pond life to crawl back into the water and then put on the compost heap. Keep an eye on aquatic and marginal plants, removing faded flowers and yellow leaves, and cutting back where necessary.

Make sure that the fish have enough water and if the sun gets too hot, put some shade over an edge of the pond to give them some cool shade. Aerate the water in hot sticky weather by leaving fountains on overnight and top up the water regularly.

Shallow water features or those with water washing over cobbles can become green very quickly in summer weather. Algaecides may need applying more frequently than in normal ponds. If you do not want to spend the money or are worried about pollution the clear out fallen leaves and debris regularly, this will help to keep down algal growth. There will be fewer nutrients available from rotting organic matter.

Horticultural.

INSTANT HEDGE

Photo: The real thing!

I am always looking out for new plants and garden ideas that can be stored in my database of photos for future reference. Unfortunately I find that I am going out without my camera since I bought one that is too large to fit in my pocket. I have been finding myself repeating the words “If only I had my camera with me” It makes a change though because before this my much repeated phrase was “I’ll just get my gloves” I have been looking at some new innovations for the gardens this week. It’s probably always been the case but I must say that some of the ideas for the outside space are getting a bit bizarre. I noticed speakers for the garden made to look like rocks. (Rock music I suppose). It is good to see that the outdoor heaters are fading from popularity this year though. Not only were they a waste of energy, they were very ineffective as well. Talking of instant gratification how about this for an idea.

INSTANT HEDGE
If you have an unsightly chain link wire fence and fancy something a bit different, try this new idea. The fence is a easily disguised using strips of wire covered in hairy, green plastic, a bit like a giant pipe cleaner. The strips are simply pushed through the chain link. Although it sounds like a great idea, like there is no need for watering, there are a few downsides. Firstly they are made out of plastic, which isn’t that desirable, and secondly if kids get wind of the fact that they pull out the fence, you will have some very large pipe cleaner creations around the garden. It isn’t available here yet, the American market are test-driving it first. It will probably be here soon enough though .





Horticultural.

ME AND MY MOTOR -PADDY MORGAN

Paddy Morgan, like a lot of car enthusiasts, sees Ford cars as innovators of new technology over the years. I used to have a 1964 Ford Zephyr myself some years ago and it was one of the most comfortable cars I have ever driven. The downside I suppose was the fact that you had to get under the car with the grease gun every few thousand miles and lubricate the moving parts. There were no sealed units then!

Name: Paddy Morgan
Address: Creeslough
Car: 1982 Ford Granada 2.8 ghia

How long have you had the car?
A little over two years now.


How long have you been involved with vintage cars?
I have been interested in old cars since I was a child. I have been actively involved with vintage cars for 20 years now.


Did you restore the car yourself?
The car didn’t need restoring as it is still in its original condition.


Any plans to change?
As a matter of fact, yes!. I have the car up for sale at the moment. (Anyone interested can phone Paddy on 087 9063195


Is it reliable?
Extremely reliable. Ford were well ahead of the competition in the 1980’s and their technology was very advanced. The cars ran very well even though there were no computers to regulate the workings of the engine.


Best thing about the car?
The Granada was (and still is!) a luxury car so the ride is very comfortable. It comes into its own on log journeys and just soaks up the miles.


How often do you wash it?
It gets a lot of washes because white tends to show the muck.


Any modifications?
No, as I said earlier, the car is in original condition, weren’t you listening?


If you were the Minister for Finance what would you do to help motorists?
Lower road tax,( although it doesn’t really effect old vehicles)


What would you really like to be driving around in?
I still have a soft spot for the old Ford Anglia 105. They were great road and rally cars and even Harry Potter drove one!

BOLTING ONIONS

Why have my onions bolted? H.B. Carn

It's to do with cold temperatures at a critical period in their growth. We've had a few cold wet days over the past month, which may have upset their cycle. Chances are they are the red variety; these are very prone to it.

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DRAINPIPE PLANTING

I saw on a gardening programme that plants can be started in the greenhouse using a long drainpipe/guttering then sliding then into a trench in the garden. Does this work? Cheers Ray by e-mail

It’s an old Geoff Hamilton trick, especially useful for peas... which can then be slid off into a prepared trench the same shape as the guttering, with minimal root disturbance. It sounds easy but there has been a lot of trial and error in the method. Use a pipe about two feet long and don’t put holes in it. The roots go into the holes and stop the soil being slid out. You can use the method with most plants and flowers. If you get the roots quite well developed there shouldn’t be any bother as it comes out in one piece like a grass sod.

Horticultural.

STRAW BERRIES

The warm weather has given a great boost to the veggie plot. There has been a rush on questions about the garden too. Let’s get straight down to it!


Should I put straw under my strawberries to stop them rotting? Will it blow away in the wind? BT by e-mail

I was in an allotment recently and someone had put each of their strawberries into their own jar. This was to give them their own mini greenhouse I think or maybe it was the first steps to making jam!

The time to put straw under the strawberries is when the fruit has formed. As long as it is round the entire plant. Straw is like unravelled knitting, it not only holds itself together, but the leaves and fruit also pin it down. So unless you are in a really windy spot, it should stay put. A friend of mine grew the fruit very successfully in old tyres filled with soil. With two plants per tyre we could make a use of all of the old ones littering the peninsula.

Horticultural.

STRAWBERRIES

NEW STRAWBERRIES

New strawberry plants can be planted between now and early September, 15-18in apart, with a 12 inches between the rows. Plant them in soil, which has been really well enriched with manure or old compost. I saw a very pleasing display recently where the strawberry plants were planted into a copper water cylinder with holes cut in the sides. The plants were growing well and showed no signs of slug damage. This will be down to the fact that slugs do not like copper and also because the cylinder was raised up on bricks to clear it from the ground.

Horticultural.

LATE SUMMER IN THE FRUIT GARDEN

The summer sunshine was ideal for fruit growing. Some fruit was knocked back a bit because of the lack of water. The content of fruit is mainly water so if they are deprived of this then problems arise. I saw indications of erratic watering recently on some apple and pear trees. The fruit had been dry for a while then when the sudden rains came the fruit expanded and the skins split. It isn’t just apples and pears that are affected by this. Tomatoes are very sensitive to irregular watering and their skins split very easily. After a very short space of time bacteria sets in and the fruit becomeq inedible. The secret is to keep a constant supply of water to the fruit trees and bushes even if they have been established for a few years


FRUIT CARE

Water:

Water fruit trees and bushes in dry weather. Large established trees shouldn’t need any extra water – but fruit on a very dwarfing rootstock, and trained fruit, particularly when trained against a wall, may well do. If your fruit tree is not already mulched after watering lay a thick mulch of organic matter around it. This will help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Containers: Don’t forget that container grown fruit relies on you for nearly all of its water supply. Water daily, even when it rains, as rain can bounce off leaves rather than soaking the soil. If you are going to be away for a few days, move containers into the shade, if practical, to reduce water loss.

Peaches: If you are lucky enough to grow wall-trained peaches and nectarines in the conservatory, prune them immediately they have fruited. Cut out the shoots that have borne fruit, and any dead wood. Tie in replacement shoots.

Reduce fungal diseases: Prune plum and damson trees after fruiting. Cut out any material that is dead or diseased. Pruning plums at the correct time of year will minimise the risk of infection by fungal diseases. Vigorous growth in the summer reduces the chances of spores of this disease gaining entry through pruning cuts

Blackberries: Continue training new canes of blackberries. Watch out for thorns! Train the young shoots to wires against a fence or wall in one direction and the older fruiting canes in the opposite direction. Tie in with twine. This method makes picking and pruning simple.

Blackcurrants: Prune blackcurrants any time between now and late winter. Remove up to one third of the bush each year, cutting out the darkest, oldest wood in favour of young growth, which will bear most fruit next year. Start with low growing shoots to prevent next year's fruit from dragging on the ground. Overall, aim to maintain an upright shape and open habit in the centre.

Apples and pears: Harvest early apples and pears. A reliable way of telling if a fruit is ripe or not is to cup the fruit in your hand and twist it gently. If it is ripe the fruit will fall into your hand. If not leave on the tree to ripen further. Early crops of apples and pears do not store for long so are best enjoyed not long after picking.

Raspberries: Continue pruning summer fruiting raspberries. Cut out the canes that have borne fruit this summer and tie in the canes that have grown this year. Any new canes that are weak should be cut out, rather than tied in, as it is unlikely that they will bear much fruit.

Trained fruit: Prune trained fruit trees now. Cordon apple and pear trees need to have side growths from the main stem cut back to 8cm. The shoots that were cut in the same way last year will have produced side shoots. Prune these back to 2.5cm. Summer pruning encourages fruit bearing spurs for next year. Prune esplaier and fan-trained trees in the same way.

Finish off: Finish off summer pruning of cordon and fan trained gooseberries and redcurrants.

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NURSERIES

One of the joys at this time of year is getting out and about to the garden centres and nurseries to see what goodies are available. I must confess I am not a great customer when it comes to parting with money for plants. Like a lot of gardeners I tend to rummage about in the reject pile or opt to grow things from cuttings or seed. The thought of forking out loads of euro for something you could grow yourself seems a bit daft. Much the same way that say, an accountant would ask someone else to do their books for them. Or a plumber would get someone in to fix their pipes. You know what I mean. Occasionally though we do need to buy plants in bulk if we need them straight away or there is a planting job that needs more mature plants, or like me you are without a greenhouse. This is where nurseries come in handy. The plants are generally of a very high standard and you can get them in bulk, which is ideal for large planting schemes. Of course nurseries are great as well if you just need a specimen plant or some bedding plants to start off the summer pots. I was down at Mac’s Landscaping Nursery in Ballymagan on the Illies road the other day and that is just what John, the proprietor is stocking. He has a vast range of high quality, hardy shrubs and some young annuals for sale. He is also starting to make up containers and filling baskets with colour too. Just up from the Big House pub, John has put in a lot of time and energy to create a very accessible retail outlet. He has also just had delivery of great quality perennials in pots for us to choose from. Pop down there to see his stock, you won’t be disappointed. John is a busy man landscaping the far reaches of Donegal so if you want to catch him in phone 0863907072.

Horticultural.

A STROLL IN THE GARDEN - CLAIRE NELSON

This week we are in the garden of Claire Nelson from Buncrana. Claire has a keen interest in the garden and over the years has included some lovely features like a fountain and a real thatch sun canopy. Her garden incorporates a barbeque area as well as loads of places for the children to play. The planting has been chosen to withstand the rigours of footballs!

How long have you been working on the garden?
About nine or ten years. It was just a field when we moved in.

What is your favourite plant?
I have a few but I love the Pieris ‘forest flame’ and the Acer, Japanese maple trees.

What is your favourite feature in the garden?
The girls would say the trampoline, but I love the swing seat with the clematis Montana hanging over the trellis above. It is so calming on hot days.

What is your favourite season and why?
Wintertime! It sounds daft but it gives us time to have a rest and hopefully catch the mid-week movie!

What work gives you the most pleasure in the garden?
Probably weeding believe it or not. Getting the place tidied up is very rewarding and it feels great when it’s done.

Any irritations in the garden. How do you cope?
Snails. Everyone’s pet hate! I can’t bring myself to destroy them so I usually just pick them up and take them to a nice green patch, as far away from the garden as possible

What is your best gardening tool?
A good hose. It takes half the time to water all of the plants on a summers evening.

Top Tip for spring?
Take time to enjoy the garden.

Any plans for the future?
If I only knew! We will continue to enjoy the pleasures we have ….Que,sera,sera!


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ME AND MY MOTOR-COLM MCLAUGHLIN

Name: Colm McLaughlin

Address: Colm is from Derry but the car is stored in Newtowncunningham.

Car: 1928 Ford model A. (The car that supersedes the Model T)

Colm is an active member of the Donegal Vintage and Classic Car Club

How long have you had the car?
I have owned it for about seven years now. The last owner before me was the actor Robbie Coltrane.

How long have you been interested in vintage cars?
Well over eighteen years now.

What got you interested in old cars?
I read every type of vintage car book and magazine for years before I finally decided to buy the real thing.

Did you restore the car yourself?
It was in really good condition when I got it and I have maintained it ever since.

Is it reliable?
Yes. The 3.2 litre engine just keeps on going.

Any plans to change?
Yes. I am always changing my cars. This car is up for sale too! (Anyone interested can contact Colm on 04871 264650)

Are parts easy to source?
Very, there are over 100,000 of the Model A’s still on the roads in America. You can get most parts for the car easily on next day delivery, and they don’t cost the earth.

Best thing about the car?
The open air!

How often do you wash it?
Only occasionally. I just give it a quick rub down with a sponge.

If you were Minister for Finance what would you do to help motorists?
Reduce the tax on petrol and give more of the money to petrol retailers!

What would you really like to be driving around in?
I am always driving around in my ideal car!

SILAGE PLASIC

Photo's : Silage wrap for recycling around Inishowen.

NEWSPAPER MULCH

Ian
I was told that in order to keep down weeds in the herbaceous border in an environmentally way, first cover the ground with a thick layer of newspaper, and then cover with bark chippings. I would like to try this, but I have a number of clusters of both snowdrops and daffodils in the border, do you think that this layer of newspapers and chippings would keep them from coming up in the spring. Joyce by e- mail


Reply
I have heard of daffodils growing through asphalt before so you would think that a few sheets of newspaper wouldn't be a problem. I have found that putting a mulch down like this will stop annual weeds but the docks and other perennials will keep pushing through (spuds too).
Paper loses its strength when it is wet so the stronger plants push through. The paper will probably be nearly rotten by the time the spring comes too and the worms will eat through it. That is why it is a good idea to put a thick layer of paper down, as the weeds will come through in no time otherwise. I think what I mean to say is that you could put a really thick layer of paper in areas you know there are no bulbs and in the area where the bulbs are cut the layers down to the thickness of a daily paper. There will probably be a few weeds come up but they will pull up no bother. I have found that unless weed block webbing is put on the ground you will probably have to do a bit of weeding every year and add more bark mulch too. Best of luck and remember not to use coloured magazines!

Horticultural.

OLDEST GARDENER?

STILL GOING STRONG AT 103

A 103-year-old Dorset gardener reckons he is Britain's oldest worker. Jim Webber started working on the land aged 12 and has clocked up 91 years since. And in all that time the great-grandad has never had a holiday. Widower Jim turns out in all weathers to tend a half-acre garden at his local New Inn pub in Stoke Abbott. Jim, who still has a full driving licence, arrives on his Ferguson tractor carrying all his tools - including a chainsaw. He refuses to charge more than €5 euro an hour and, when asked when he's going to retire he jokes: "When I get old." Jim, who ran a farm until 1975, said: "I tried stopping work but I was bored and miserable. If I feel tired a drop of whisky soon puts me right." Mary Ward, 47, who runs the New Inn with husband Richard, said: "Jim's amazing. He's always mowing, digging up tree roots or pruning and tidying." Jim's daughter Kathy, 68, said: "Father has barely stayed in bed past 4am for 100 years. He just loves his work and can't sit still for a minute."

Horticultural.

ME AND MY MOTOR-HAZEL BROWNE

Hazel Browne from Lenamore in Muff steps into the motoring spotlight this week. Hazel is the very active Scout Leader in the Muff Scout Group. Her vehicle therefore needs to be very versitile. One minute it could be being used for shopping, the next it is used for climbing hillsides checking out walking routes for the many hikes that are organised throughout the year for the scouts. The pick up section is used for farm duties as well as carrying around sleeping bags and hiking boots. Because of this Hazel’s choice of car, the Mitsubishi double cab pick up, is a mixture of practicality and rugged off road abilities.

How long have you had the car?
Five years now.

Any plans to change?
No, I am happy with the one I have. (If you do sell it Haxel can I have first refusal! Ian)

Is it reliable?
Very, despite being used for very rough duties. Some people say that I am quite demanding from a vehicle but the Mitsubishi is very strong.

Best thing about the car?
It carries one tonne in weight and it pulls like a train!

How often do you wash it?
Confessions! I never wash it, thankfully my husband takes care of the cleaning.

If you were the minister for finance what would you do to help motorists?
Increase the tax on vehicles that are used for posing in such as the Toyota Amazon or the Range Rover Sport. (My husband told me to say that!)


What would you really like to be driving around in?
I think a new Mitsubishi L200 would do just fine.

GREEN WEDDINGS

Planning weddings are a complicated affair. I remember when I was best man at a wedding I made the error of not checking the car arrival times to pick up the bride for the joyous trip from home to the church. It ended up with me driving like a maniac through a busy town in my own car, to get her to the church on time. Thankfully the bride was seen as being fashionably late and rather dishevelled for the experirience.

Weddings are a big affair and are as different as the couple getting married. More and more couples are now opting to go for a ‘Green ‘wedding now instead of a white one. It starts with invitations being sent on recycled paper then gets more involved.

Every aspect of the wedding can be a real drain on natural resources, if you think of the amount of energy used to bring everyone to the one place for the day for example. Generally people come from all over the globe for such an event.

Here are some ideas. You might not agree with all of them but incorporating just a few into a wedding could make a big difference to the environment (and your pocket!)

Wedding cars could offset their omissions by investing in tree planting campaigns. Food and drink consumed on the day can come from local sources and if not it could be bought from Fair Trade companies. A woman I know in England made all of her bouquet arrangements by using her mothers home grown flowers. Jessica also used a dress from Oxfam, which might not suit everyone’s idea of a perfect wedding but it did save a lot of money and energy. Talking of saving energy, the weddings would save on heating costs if they were held in the summer months

Other items from a wedding could also be environmentally friendly. Presents can be from local manufacturers or dare I say it, recycled from the guest’s homes! The confetti could come from recycled paper or a locally grown grain. The honeymoon could also be a green affair by staying local or, like the car hire, find a way of offsetting the carbon emissions. And don’t forget to make the cake locally too!

Environmental.

ECO -LABELS

If you are anything like me you probably find all of the information labels on products a bit daunting and hard to understand. Take for instance plastic products. There are dozens of different quality grades and finding out if it can be recycled can be a bit of a grey area. Electrical goods are getting better at displaying the amount of energy that they consume and thankfully most decent wooden products on the market have labels to let you know that they are from sustainable sources.

The introduction of the European Eco-label, hopes to make choosing green products a bit easier. The label is administered by the European Eco-labeling Board (EUEB) and receives the support of the European Commission, all Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA). The Eco-labeling Board that has initiated the scheme includes representatives from industry, environment protection groups and consumer organisations

The intention of the flower design is to give consumers a guide to easily identify greener products and services. It is a voluntary scheme designed to encourage businesses to market products and services that are kinder to the environment The European Eco-label is part of a broader strategy aimed at promoting sustainable consumption and production. All products bearing the "Flower" have been checked by independent bodies to comply with strict ecological and performance criteria.

TOURISM
The EU Eco-label scheme is open to any product or service, except food, drink, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. There are currently twenty-three product categories, which can receive this award, ranging from home appliances, cleaning materials, and mattresses to office supplies, gardening, Do It Yourself products and more interestingly tourist accommodation services. B+B’s, hotels and self-catering accommodation can be assessed for how they operate. If they are seen to be recycling and reducing waste etc they will be awarded the flower too.

Consumers are beginning to recognise that they can make a positive difference and actively help to protect the environment by buying products that inflict less damage upon it. The EU Eco-label scheme is seen as a simple way of helping you to make informed choices about the products that you buy. The Flower logo is recognised all over Europe and covers a wide range of product groups making it easier to distinguish products that appear to be less harmful to the environment.

REDUCED IMPACT
While no human activity is completely “environmentally friendly”, there are always opportunities to reduce the impact that certain products have upon the environment. The EU Eco-label scheme has therefore drawn up a set of environmental and performance criteria for judging products. Only if products meet all the criteria can they be awarded the EU Eco-label. These environmental criteria will take into account all aspects of a product's life, from its production and use to its eventual disposal (cradle-to-grave approach). I still feel as though we have to be careful when buying products with this label though. Detergents and chemicals can be bought with this flower sign. The EU Eco-label is awarded to products that only need to be guaranteed to be at least as efficient as conventional products. The products could still contain chemicals that would be damaging to the environment. Most cleaning products however seem to be surpassing conventional products by cleaning at lower temperatures and using ingredients that will cause limited harm to aquatic life, soil and the air etc but it is by no means an indication that the products are totally eco-friendly. It looks good, but is the initiative enough? Maybe not, but it is definitely a step in the right direction.

Environmental.

ANTS IN THE GARDEN

I tune in to Highland radio every other Thursday to listen to Gareth Austin from the Lifestyle Garden Centre in Newtowncunningham give advice on gardening issues. Gareth has a very easy manner and I am always amazed at the amount of horticultural knowledge he manages to store in his head. Usually if I am asked a question I have to get on the interweb and spend an hour finding a solution. The internet is a great source of information for us gardeners but it can be a bit of a problem as I have recently found out. I joined a couple of forum pages (the BBC and the Irish Gardeners site) and my family are forgetting I live in the house. I have been weaning myself off them this week as they are far too time consuming. I do like answering questions though, even if I have to constantly refer to the oracles. If you have any please send them in to me (I can pass them on to Gareth to answer then take the credit!)

One question I could answer this week was about ants.

Ian
I have ants in the garden, are they a problem? N.K. by e-mail.

Reply.
Ants turn over more soil than earthworms so to have some in the garden is beneficial. They also clear up debris and dispose of some pests. But they also farm aphids by putting them on suitable plants and milking them for honeydew. Ants also keep other predators away. They can also nest in the roots of plants, in pots and under lawns, loosening the soil and creating their own drainage tunnels to take rainwater away rapidly from the nest, so the plants die of drought. They also bite or sting if disturbed - do not poke a stick in the nest then watch them climb it, they'll be climbing your legs at the same time - to attack. If you've got any problems with ants, then mix a small bottle of clove oil with a large watering can of water and soak the nests. Don't make it stronger or it will burn the plants. At that strength, any slight yellowing of grass will soon vanish - so will the ants!

Horticultural.

SHEEP WOOL INSULATION

I see the All Ireland sheep shearing championships were held this month in County Galway. The event highlights the fact that here in Ireland there is a vast amount of raw wool available to turn into commercial products. Locally, wool for clothing may not be in as much demand as it used to be, and now farmers are selling some wool to be used as home insulation products. There are many benefits in using natural sheep’s wool insulation, the most significant points being that:

- Wool can absorb moisture and still retain its superior insulation properties

- Wool has a naturally long lifespan and will extinguish itself in event of fire

-Wool is perfectly safe to both the end user and the environment.

The only other products in wool insulation are borax and natural rubber. Borax is a naturally occurring salt and acts as a pest-repellent by stopping the development of beetles, moths, ants and cockroaches. Borax also enhances the fire rating of construction materials as well as preserving the materials over time. The natural rubber forms a porous coating that helps retain the memory of the wool.

Wool insulation has a very low conductivity which means it is very difficult for heat to pass from one side to the other, this factor makes if far more energy efficient than other products on the market. It is good to know that sheep’s wool is now being used for all types of house insulation. You can use it for loft insulation, under timber floors, in the internal and external walls as well as in the attic. The Co-op in Carndonagh has more details.

Photo: Francis Doherty from Linsfort helps out with the sheep

Environmental.

BIO FUEL CONCERNS

The European Union has warned that the targets set out for Green Fuels will accelerate the destruction of the rainforests and force indigenous people from their land. The bio-fuel industry is a multi billion-dollar industry and at the centre of a worldwide movement to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Biofuels derived from agricultural products such as wheat corn, sugar cane and other crops are a key issue and a balance has to be made between the fuel production and the ecology of the planet. Done right, it could mean that it will be the farmers who will benefit.

Environmental.

A STROLL IN THE GARDEN - MARION LYNCH

This weeks featured garden is Marion Lynch. Marion’s garden is full of intrigue and splendid features that look great at any time of the year. Marion is a worthy winner of the Best Garden Award in the Buncrana Tidy Towns gardening competition (four times at the last count)! Marion is an inspiration to gardeners across the peninsula.

How long have you been working on the garden?
Twenty years so there have been many changes over the years.

What is your favourite plant?
I love all plants but if I had to choose it would be Mahonia charity, Fatsia Japonica, lilies and geraniums.

What is your favourite feature in the garden?
The gazebo and water fountain. It’s just beautiful to sit in the gazebo in summer with a nice cup of tea looking up at the Fahan hill with the sun setting to the sound of the fountain. It’s just brilliant!

What is your favourite season and why?
Summer. Beautiful flowers, birds singing and washing in the birdbath and the butterflies collecting nectar.

What work gives you the most pleasure in the garden?
The flowerbeds, planting and weeding. I enjoy deadheading and feeding too.


Any irritations in the garden. How do you cope?
Slugs and our cat. Broken egg shells around the base of plants keep the slugs at bay. The cat is more of a problem!

What is your best gardening tool?
I have two. A small rake and a watering can.

Top Tip for spring?
Plant marigolds through the flowerbeds to get rid of whitefly. They don’t like the smell. “Boy oh Boy” is the best.

Any pans for the future?
I will be planting more flowering plants in a new bed at the bottom of the garden.


PHOTO: Marion’s garden is full of interesting features

Horticultural.

ME AND MY MOTOR-DARREN MCCAULEY

Name: Darren McCauley

Address: Drung

Car: 1991 Ford Sierra Sapphire GLX 1.8

Darren is in the middle of a mechanics course at Magee in Derry. He has always had a keen interest in machinery and was guided by his grandfather from a very early age. He used this knowledge to fully restore a 1974 Ford 4000 tractor last year that had been lying in a field for years until he salvaged it. He has now completed his latest project, his Ford Sierra GLX.


How long have you had the car?
I have had the car since September of last year. Before that I had Ford Fiestas

What condition was the car in when you got it?
The bodywork and interior were in excellent condition. It was a one owner car from new and had been well looked after cosmetically

What work did you do to the car?
I did a complete overhaul of the engine and fitted a new original carburettor. I have used genuine parts to keep the originality of the car intact (apart from the boot spoiler and RS wheels!) The paint was very dull too as red oxidises in the sunlight so this also needed work.

How long did it take you to complete the work?
I lost track! I worked mainly evenings and weekends until it was finished.

Is it reliable?
Yes. I travel to Galway in it every week with no problems at all. If it wasn’t reliable I would probably enjoy fixing it anyway!

Best thing about the car?
The Ford Badge! Ford cars are the main vehicles for our family. My grandparents started the trend and my parents, sister and I have all followed suit with models like the Focus and Granada.

Any plans to change?
Reluctantly yes. I would like to work on another project. (An R.S. Cosworth.)

If you were the Minister for Finance what would you do to help motorists?
Cheaper insurance and improve the condition of the roads.

What would you really like to be driving around in?
A Scania Centurion 143 Topline 500 truck! I would be following in the family haulage tradition. My grandfathers (John McCauley and Billy McDaid) were hauliers and so is my father Billy.

PS

HAPPY 19TH BIRTHDAY DARREN!

Motoring.

GREEN SCHOOLS

(Click on the title for a link to the An Taisce site)

Ian.

Could you give me some information about Green Schools? Who runs it and what does being involved mean? Thanks G.K.




Reply
An Taisce are running the Green Schools programme. The hope is to help improve attitudes towards global change. Green-Schools is an International environmental education programme, designed to promote and acknowledge whole school action for the environment. Green-Schools offers a well-defined, controllable way to take environmental issues from the curriculum and apply them to the day to day running of a school. This process helps students to recognise the importance of environmental issues and take them more seriously in their personal and home lives.

BENEFITS TO SCHOOLS
The Green-Schools programme can help schools to:
Improve the School environment
Reduce litter and waste
Reduce fuel bills
Increase environmental awareness
Involve the local community
Gain local publicity
Create links with other schools in Ireland and abroad.

Green-Schools is run by An Taisce in co-operation with Local Authorities throughout Ireland and is sponsored by Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland Ltd. and The Wrigley Company LTD. Both companies have been criticised recently. Fizzy drinks have been taken out of a lot of schools because parents are concerned about the amount of sugar in them. Chewing gum gets a bad press because of the mess it leaves behind on the streets (and underneath tables!). By doing something positive they hope to clean up their act with the public. A leading integrated waste management company called Greenstar is also on board. In Ireland there are currently almost 2015 Primary, Secondary and Special schools participating in the programme, that's over 50% of all schools in the country! 651 schools have implemented the programme successfully and have been awarded the Green Flag.

Green-Schools is both a programme and an award scheme. The award is given to schools that successfully complete the Seven Steps of the programme.

The Seven Steps

GREEN SCHOOLS COMMITEE
This directs the school's involvement in the project. Ideally, the committee includes pupils, teachers, non-teaching staff, management and parents.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
A process of examining the schools environmental impacts in order to identify targets for action and improvement.

ACTION PLAN
This gives specific and achievable targets with proposed completion dates that will show real success.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION
This will ensure that progress towards targets is checked, amendments made when necessary and success celebrated

CURRICULUM WORK
Curriculum materials are provided that give ideas on how to integrate environmental issues into lessons.

INFORMING AND INVOLVING
A publicity programme keeps the school and wider community involved and informed through displays, assemblies and press coverage.

GREEN CODE
This is a statement of the schools commitment to environmental good habits

Green-Schools is a long-term programme; the awards will probably be renewed every two years. An Taisce provides support materials to each school that registers for the Green-Schools programme. There has been lots of positive feedback about the initiative and it looks set to grow in popularity over the coming months. If your school isn’t part of the project then give An Taisce a ring or check out the web site.

Environmental.

A STROLL IN THE GARDEN - JOY FUREY

This week we are in the garden with Joy Furey from Fahan. Joy has created a haven for a wide range of wildlife in her garden as well as a place for the family to play, sit and relax.

How long have you been tending the garden?
Ten years. The garden was a field before then surrounded by mature sycamore and ash trees.

What is your favourite plant?
I would have to say the pink clematis that grows along the fence and up to the top of a large Hawthorne tree at the edge of the garden.

What is your favourite feature in the garden?
I have a water feature that is very relaxing. I also love the variety of birds that come to the garden. We have robins, great tits, wrens, thrushes, doves, rooks, jackdaws, magpies, blackbirds, sparrows and even the occasional sparrow hawk. (They all have to eat!)

What is your favourite season and why?
Autumn for the wonderful colours.

What work gives you the most pleasure in the garden?
Weeding and tidying makes the biggest impact and gives me the most pleasure.

Any irritations in the garden. How do you cope?
Cats can be a menace in the garden. They are bird killers as well as pets and could also torment our over wintering hedgehogs. I have installed a sonic device in the garden to deter the cats. It seems to work.

What is your best gardening tool?
The Weed Twister. It makes tending the borders a pleasure. Four spikes twist around at the end of a long handle. Just push the spikes in, twist, and the weeds come right up!

Top Tip for spring?
If the birds in your garden are not of the passerine type (perching birds) then put plants in the garden, which have berries on them. Holly, mountain ash and rose hips attract all sorts of larger birds to the garden.

.

Any plans for the future?
To retire and spend more time in the garden!


PHOTO: Joy gets to work on the weeds with her trusty Weed Twister tool.

Horticultural.

A STROLL IN THE GARDEN- RENEE MCCRACKEN

This week I had the pleasure of being shown around the old Stationmaster’s house and garden owned by Renee and Billy McCracken on the outskirts of Newtowncunningham. The garden has lovely features such as the water tower used to fill up the old steam trains and an orchard full of all types of fruit trees. Renee runs her well-established business Moyle Grove Drapes (which supplies and sources wallpaper, soft furnishings and fabrics, roller, venetian and vertical blinds), from a purpose built workshop in the garden. Renee can be contacted on (074) 9156157


How old is the garden?
We were the first people to move in after the station closed. So we have been working on the garden for thirty years. We are on phase 10!

What is your favourite plant?
We raise a community begonia from corms every year. These are bright red, upright single specimens that can grow up to three feet tall and are planted out like potatoes.

What is your favourite feature in the garden?
The birds.

What is your favourite season and why?
Midsummer, for the beautiful array of colourful containers and baskets.

What work gives you the most pleasure in the garden?
Sitting and relaxing!

Any irritations in the garden. How do you cope?
There’s too much work! Low maintenance planting helps.

What is your best gardening tool?
It has to be the spade.

Top Tip for spring?
Keep on top of the weeds. Mulching with wood bark is an effective way of keeping them at bay.

Any plans for the future?
Lots of plans. Including replanting the front garden and introducing more fruit trees into the orchard. My husband, Billy Appletree has to live up to his name after all!

Horticultural.