SEAL PUPPING STARTS EARLY

Photo: A new born seal pup lies on the rocks in Buncrana. They could be mistaken for being lifeless! (Thanks to Emmett for the photo)

Dog walkers might notice baby seals lying alone on rocks when walking around the beaches of Inishowen this month. The mother will leave her pup lying on the shore while they go and feed, returning to the pup when the tidal conditions are right. They are very weak when first born and will lie on the rocks for up to 2 to 3 days in one spot before the mother returns, when they will move on to another location together.

Our resident seal population, (the Grey Seals) have started pupping early this year and like any baby, the pup does little except feed and sleep during its first three weeks of life. Grey seal pups are normally born in mid too late October but can be born sometimes as late as the end of November

When they are newborn they have a light woolly covering and they avoid swimming until they moult into their adult oily fur. This usually takes 2 to 3 weeks.

Under normal circumstances the pups rest on remote and secluded beaches. Unfortunately Inishowen’s major population centres of Buncrana and Moville are in very close proximity to the perfect coastal environment for these seals but they are also busy places for residents and their dogs. If you happen to come across a baby seal, even if it looks abandoned and incapable, try not to disturb them or let your dogs worry them.

Inishowen’s breeding Grey seal colonies are recognised as one of Europe’s most important breeding populations. The grey seal is protected under terrestrial legislation through the wildlife act and also European legislation under the habitats Directive.

If you have or are seeking further information on seals around Inishowen log onto www.nature.ie or contact the Local Wildlife Service Ranger E. Johnston on 087 286 7055

Environmental.

A STROLL IN THE GARDEN- PADDY MCCARTNEY WEEK 2

Photo: Paddy with his chocolate scented cosmos.

This week Paddy McCartney from Greencastle tells us more about his garden and his life in the undergrowth.

So Paddy, what irritations are there in your garden and how do you cope?
People! I have tried sprays and putting down traps… Nothing works! Other than that I have to keep a close eye on the slug population. Every year they make a pilgrimage to the vegetable beds so I try different techniques to keep them away. I practice a No Dig gardening policy. This seems to help, as the slugs can’t find as many places to hide in the soil. I give them cans of beer to drink around the beds in the polythene tunnels and glasshouse. They are not good drinkers! I have also put boards and sheets of black polythene down around the beds in spring. The slugs hide under these and I collect them up and “re-home” them. This depopulates them before the serious breeding starts.

What is your best gardening tool?
I have an oscillating hoe. It sounds a bit painful but actually it’s a stirrup shaped device on a long pole. It is brilliant for getting in between the plants and vegetables to get the invasive weeds out.

Have you seen anything unusual in the garden this year?
I did see the Humming bird Moth. They are unusual in this part of the world, as the adults or eggs don’t survive the cold winters. They bear a striking resemblance to a hummingbird (hence the name!) They are wonderful to watch.

Do you have any tips for growing good spuds?
If you grow spuds then remember they are heavy feeders. I grow a few different types every year to see what does well. This year I have found a great Hungarian spud called Sharpo. They are said to be blight resistant and are proving to be a very prolific crop. I have had a good early crop from one called the Duke of York.

Top Gardening tip?
When growing plants from seed or cuttings get the module trays to plant them in. There is no root disturbance when it comes to transplanting them.

More from Paddy next week





Horticultural.

ME AND MY MOTOR-ALAN DEAN

Volkswagen made the first campervans in 1950. They were an instant hit and have remained popular and sought after vehicles ever since. Most owners are passionate about their vans and Alan Dean from Redcastle is no exception. Alan and his family like nothing more than to jump into their 1980 Viking Conversion model and head off into the sunset as often as possible.


How long have you had the campervan?
About ten years. I was looking for any type of campervan initially, but found most of them too large. I found this one behind a garage with grass growing all around it and saw the potential straight away. The van was in a bit of a mess as it had been laid up for over three years but the chassis was still in good condition.

Any plans to change?
This van is now a family heirloom.

Is it reliable?
Yes. I go for preventative maintenance and fix anything that isn’t 100%. If anything unforeseen does go wrong with these VW vans you can usually get them going again with a stick and a piece of string!

Best thing about the campervan?
The journey is as enjoyable as the destination. We have no rush to get anywhere because we already have our accommodation with us.

What would you do to help motorists given the chance?
I would give everyone a Volkswagen campervan attitude. There would be far less rage on the roads!

What would you really like to be driving around in?
A 1959 split screen VW with a 1959 Lambretta LI 150cc scooter attached to the back. I choose the 1959 models for no other reason than it was the year I was born.

Have you done much refurbishment to the van?
It was resprayed eight years ago and had a new 1.6 engine fitted more recently. I also put in a quick shift gearbox. The engine is at the back so the gear linkage has a long way to travel from the cabin. The old gear stick reminded me of stirring porridge.

Any plans for the future?
In a couple of years the van will get a complete back to the bone strip down and rebuild. I will re-customise the interior as well. I will also convert the engine to LPG. When you own a vehicle such as this you are always working on it!

Do you get lost when you are on your travels?
We never get lost. There are two ways of travelling, the long way and the short way. We choose the long way. I never go on the same road twice which adds to the fun!

Alan is a member of the Born Again Dubbers (BAD) VW club. It is free to join and welcomes owners of all Volkswagen models. Alan would be interested in hearing from anyone who has an old VW campervan that is gathering dust. Give me a ring on 086 401 2755 and I will pass on your details.


Motoring.

STABLES INISHOWEN

A STROLL IN THE GARDEN- PADDY MCCARTNEY

This week (and next!) we are in Paddy McCartney’s fabulous organic garden in Greencastle. Paddy is a very well known entertainer around the peninsula (and beyond) with his unique blend of singing and storytelling. Paddy is also very passionate about his garden and has just finished running a course linked to the Western Organic Network on growing organically. He ran the practical course in his own garden and hopes it will be an annual event.

How long have you been working on the garden?
About twenty years. The garden was initially just at the front of the cottage but I have slowly been working my way down the fields.

What is your favourite plant?
I have lots of them depending on the time of year. The Pieris Forestii holds lovely memories of my friend Albert, who has sadly passed away, as we got the plants together. Verbenas are looking good at the moment, especially the Bonariensis. They do not need staking and are in flower for five months of the year. Butterflies love them and they are easily propagated.

What is your favourite feature in the garden?
Although it isn’t a garden feature as such, I do get a lot of pleasure looking out of the living room window at the garden. From there I can see the rockery and the pond with the birds splashing around in the water.

What is your favourite season and why?
I love the spring as it is the time of new growth and looking forward to the growing year ahead.

What work gives you the most pleasure in the garden?
Planting seeds of the flowers and vegetables. Even after all the years of planting it still amazes me that seeds so small can eventually grow into giant plants, trees and shrubs. I enjoy getting an early start to the year in the glasshouse. A glasshouse can extend the season too. I am growing late sweet peas, dahlias, chrysanths and cosmos under cover for a forthcoming wedding in a few weeks.

Top Gardening tips?
People ask me when is the best time to plant things. My answer to this is whenever you have the time, take the notion or have a spade handy!

Mulch the garden. Put in plenty of organic matter. If you have newspapers you can recycle those into the compost bins or beds and borders to save you the bother of taking them to the recycling centres.

Avoid the glut of home grown vegetables in summer. Don’t grow too much of one type.

More from Paddy next week….

Horticultural.

BAT AND MOTH EVENING AT SWAN PARK

Photo: George McDermott talks about the importance of having a healthy moth population around the peninsula.

Few people see live bats even though they make up about a quarter of all land mammals in Ireland. Too redress this balance Emmet Johnson, the Inishowen Wildlife Ranger, held a bat spotting evening in Swan Park, Buncrana last week. As night fell, the crowd shone their torches into the dark hoping to see the night creatures swooping down to catch their prey of midges and moths.

“Bats can be misunderstood,” said Emmet. “They are very clean creatures and contrary to popular belief, do not dive down and get tangled in your hair. All bats have fantastic sonar skills and if they can zoom in on an insect 2mm long whilst avoiding obstacles, they can surely avoid people’s hair. The probable reason for the myth is that midges tend to be attracted to people when they are out walking and the bats are going for them”

There are nine species of bat in Ireland (none of them suck your blood!) The largest one, Leisler’s bat has a wingspan up to 300mm and the smallest one called the Pipistrelle (which is the most common) would be small enough to fit into a matchbox. The Pipistrelle eats up to 3000 midges every evening throughout the summer, making them an ideal garden friend.

Bats have a difficulty finding suitable nesting sites. Modern sealed houses, the loss of hedgerows and pesticide spraying are just a few examples of the bats losing their nests and feeding areas. However if we don’t cut down old dead tree stumps and let bats live in the eves, this will help to address the balance”

“If you do have bats in your attic and are not happy having them as houseguests, then wait until they have left the building around the end of this month before you try to seal the gaps” suggests Emmet.

George McDermott the Buncrana town gardener, (who is quickly becoming Inishowen’s butterfly and moth expert), showed us his moth trap which consists of a bright light and a container filled with egg boxes which the moths hide under. The moths are attracted to the light (as they are attracted to the moon).

“Ireland has over 1000 species of moths,” said George. “Many of them are night fliers to avoid predators (apart from bats of course). Most moths are beautifully coloured and these traps allow us to make an accurate assessment of the wide variety we are getting around the peninsula. They are safely released after they have been identified”. For more information check out www.nature.ie

Environmental.