More Trees Now at Síolta Chroí, Carrickmacross on the 29th and 30th of November
On the 29th and 30th of November the Ecosystem Restoration Community, Síolta Chroí invites all to an introductory event of More Trees Now: an initiative to plant more indigenous trees through circular forestry.
Continue readingWHAT: A Four week Regenerative Agriculture Course
WHEN: Dates 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th November. Time 6:00 pm to 8:00pm
WHERE: Síolta Chroí, Aghnacloghan, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, A81 C998
CONTACT: Conan at 089 499 4571 or https://sioltachroi.ie/
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
In this course we will explore how regenerative farming can be a key solution to the multiple challenges facing our local community – such as diminishing farm incomes/farm viability, water quality issues in our lakes and rivers, and biodiversity loss. These practices can also assist in dealing with other challenges such as climate change, flood risk and the nutrition density in our products.
The course will give participants an overview knowledge of key aspects of regenerative agriculture and provide a network to support in implementing the learning.
A group of farmers recently attended a hedge management course at Martin Burns farm, Castleblayney. The training was provided by John McKeon of the Irish Wildlife Trust (Monaghan Branch). Farmers are very familiar with the concept of management as they look after their crops and animals. Sadly in our busy modern era, this care and attention rarely extends to the hedges on the farm. As the group arrived there was talk of the weather, the poor price of farm produce and the high cost of inputs but nere a mention of hedges.
Attendees at the demonstration near Castleblayney
Now that hedge cutting season is here again, it’s a chance to see what Teagasc are recommending for the management of hedges. Their key message is that there are two types of hedges based on structure, each with different biodiversity values and management requirements. Failure to distinguish between the two types can lead to confusion and inappropriate management. The Teagasc recommendation is that every farm should have some Escaped hedges and some Topped hedges. But first a reminder of what hedges bring to farms.
Continue readingExtreme weather events in many parts of the world now feature in the news more frequently than ever. This summer there have been heatwaves on land – and in theoceans – as well as wildfires, hurricanes, and severe droughts and floods. The climate change which has been predicted by scientists is now becoming ever more evident. Globally we’ve had the hottest July ever and according to UN Secretary-General António Guterres it signals that an “era of global boiling has arrived”.
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Above: A farmer carefully lays a whitethorn hedge
What: Free Hedgerow Management demo focusing on hedgelaying, coppicing,planting and growing trees.
Where: At Martin Burns farm, Drumcrew, Castleblayney, Eircode A75CP
When: Sunday 8th October 2023 between 2pm and 5pm.
Who: The demo is being organised by John McKeon (087 1462790)
This week we start off with a few lines from Seamus Heaney’s poem, Blackberry-Picking. Then we have a fantastic blackberry recipe which was shared by Janice at Nourished by Nature for using up all those tasty berries we see along the hedgerows.
Finally we hear from Mary at Rowan Wellness and Gardens on a Kombucha and Canning workshop this weekend, 23rd September. We hope you enjoy. Firstly here’s an excerpt from the late great Heaney.
“Late August, given heavy rain and sun
For a full week, the blackberries would ripen.
At first, just one, a glossy purple clot
Among others, red, green, hard as a knot….”
Irish Water Quality Under Pressure Tydavnet GWS showcase Knocknagrave
Algal Blooms In Irish Lakes: The quality of waterways across Ireland has dropped over the decades and this summer has seen a raft of freshwater lakes closed to bathing due to algal blooms: the algae can cause serious sickness in humans. A combination of domestic, agricultural and industrial effluent has combined to increase nutrient levels in our lakes leading to the blooms of blue/green algae. In August 2023 Monaghan Co Co reported poor water quality in two well-visited bathing lakes as testing showed high levels of E. coli in both Lough Muckno (Blayney) and in Creevy Lake (Carrickmacross). Up-to-date testing results are available at https://monaghan.ie/environment/bathing-waters/ The picture above is particularly apt in this context and it pulls no punches in portraying how humans coevolved with nature but now threaten its very survival. Thankfully we can take many simple steps to reduce our impacts on nature and our waterways and hence make our drinking water better.
Continue readingTransition Monaghan host informal workshop
A Cuppa for Climate: In June 2023 Transition Monaghan hosted an informal workshop in St Joseph’s Parish Centre, Monaghan Town, where the public were invited to come and chat about Climate and Environmental issues that were on their mind. The event was under the umbrella of Friends of the Earth, Ireland who helped organise similar events throughout Ireland. As well as sharing examples of local best practices and positive steps participants are taking in their own lives to reduce environmental impacts, a number of broader themes came up during discussions.
Continue readingWhy do hedges matter?
Environmental Benefits: Approximately 3000 km of hedgerows are removed every year in Ireland for a variety of reasons but campaigners are trying to minimise this area. That’s because hedges have enormous ecosystem benefits such as carbon sinks, mitigation of heavy rainfalls, homes for the wildlife who use the hedges as navigational corridors to spread throughout the landscape. Last week I had to stop the car as a red squirrel scurried across the road – he had come from the hedge, not a forest! Hedgerows also contain many of our oldest trees and are great seed source for native trees. The next picture explains some of the benefits.
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Transition Monaghan 