Do trees need Lead and Light?

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The Challenge in Growing Natural Forests

An eight-foot high fence splits this forest neatly in half. But what’s the other difference between the forest on the left and the forest on the right? The answer is deer browse. An explosion in deer numbers and their voracious browsing habitats devastate the natural regeneration of forests. Deer now represent the main threat to the long-term viability of Irish native woodlands according to foresters and ecologists. The Government recently held a public consultation on this very issue. These nimble and often reclusive mammals nibble their way through huge quantities of young saplings- mature trees are generally unimpacted but it’s the next generation of young trees (as well as ground flora) that are decimated. It’s worth noting that Sitka and Norway spruce which dominate Irish plantation forestry are unaffected by deer browsing. But no one wants a landscape dominated by non-native conifers so a solution is needed.

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The Heart of Science is Measurement

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Monaghan Tidy Towns host Moth Event

Tidy Towns is about a lot more than just picking litter. Monaghan Tidy Towns has
made the enhancement of biodiversity one of it’s main focus areas in recent years.
With this in mind they organised a recent event on Moths in Monaghan. Moth traps
were set overnight in two local gardens as well as in Tom Youngs Wood (out the
Clones Rd) and at Peters Lake. These traps don’t harm the bugs, merely attract and
hold them until they can be recorded and released. If you are like myself, you
probably can’t name a single moth variety but Monaghan Tidy Town (led by the
capable Heather Bothwell) captured and identified over 20 different species!

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Our Disappearing Hedgerows

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Hedgerows Ireland Petition TD’s to Act

Have you ever rambled along a country road smelling the blossoms from overhanging trees and then reached in to the hedge to pick a few juicy blackberries? Or perhaps stooped down to the tar and gathered acorns where their little caps have popped off revealing a perfect oval nut? If so, then perhaps you’ll be interested in efforts being taken to protect Irish hedges. This week we look at a recent protest spearheaded by Hedgerows Ireland to highlight frustration with the inadequate protections and incentives for Irish hedges. During the protest the group handed over a signed letter and petition calling on the Minister to make immediate changes but first…


Who are Hedgerows Ireland?

Hedgerows Ireland are a broad alliance of interested parties that work towards the enhancement and protection of hedgerows in Ireland. The group is made up of landowners, farmers, nature lovers and more. Their website can be found at https://hedgerowsireland.org/ The group believe that hedgerows are key to solving or improving many of the challenges facing our countryside. These include:

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Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop

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Rowan Wellness & Gardens are hosting a practical Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop. This is a super low-cost and sustainable way to create your own fruit tree garden/ forest/ orchard.

Phil Wheal, senior horticulturist and tutor at The Organic Centre, Rossinver will deliver grafting theory and teach a range of grafting techniques. You will have plenty of opportunities to practice and learn this valuable skill for yourselves. Rootstock and scion wood will be available for everyone and you will get to take home your very own grafted fruit tree.This will be a small gathering to ensure quality instruction and practical support so make you booking asap.

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Creating & Maintaining a Food Forest Garden

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Workshop at Rowan Wellness and Gardens

This time we’re joined by Mary McMullen of Rowan Wellness & Gardens – a centre for yoga, breathwork, meditation, nature and all things wellness. Mary’s gardens near Maudabawn in Cavan recently played host to Phil Wheal who delivered a very hands on workshop on creating and maintaining a “Food Forest” Garden. “Learning by doing” was the order of the day and all participants got mucky and active. But first things first…..

What is a food forest? 

A food forest, also called a forest garden, is a diverse planting of edible plants that attempts to mimic the ecosystems and patterns found in nature. A well designed food forest:

  • Places emphasis on trees, shrubs, perennials, and self-seeding annuals,
  • Plants thickly and using ground covers to shade soil and suppress weeds,
  • Uses nitrogen-fixing and nutrient-accumulating plants, chop-and-drop techniques, and returning wastes to the land to create healthy soil rather than applying fertilizer,
  • Plants a diverse array of plants that attract beneficial insects to pollinate the fruit crops and keep pest populations from exploding and causing damage,
  • Creates micro-climates and windbreaks which helps smaller plants thrive.

Through time it will create a diverse and rich ecosystem of productive plants that can be easily maintained and enjoyed.

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Farming Sliabh Beagh with Pat McKenna

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Where Old School Farming meets High Tech

In this article we speak to Pat McKenna, a North Monaghan farmer about his role in the innovative conservation grazing programme on Sliabh Beagh. We also find out how “Virtual Fencing” and other conservation efforts are helping restore Sliabh Beagh’s ecological richness.

Increasing Fires
Back in 2007 a massive fire destroyed over 700 hectares (1750 acres) of the Special Area of Conversation located on the upper slopes of Sliabh Beagh in North Monaghan. The fire wiped out ground nesting birds and vast areas of rare flora and fauna and it can take an upland many years to recover: in the aftermath of a fire some of the first species to reestablish are the invasive and quick growing grasses that can choke and restrict the rarer plant species. Locals were also noticing reductions in rare ground nesting birds as well as increasing amounts of self seeding Sitka Spruce from conifer forestry plantations. In response, a group of stakeholders developed maps detailing vegetation types across the vast area as well as history of burns in the area. It was decided that conservation grazing would be a cost effective method to graze the fire prone vegetation and thus reduce the intensity and spread of any future fires. The mountain area is vast and so electronic collars are fitted to the cattle enabling the farmer to track their movements and also allowing virtual fencing to restrict cattle to where they are needed. 

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Close to Nature Forestry In Leitrim

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I recently visited Seán Ó Conláin’s forest to learn about his efforts to work with nature while still making the forest economically viable.

Edergole Forest
Critics often complain that single species plantation forestry, especially conifers, are staid and lifeless areas. However this forest, located in the rolling hills of County Leitrim is wonderful. A towering ancient oak greets you on your approach up the driveway to the house. And behind the house, when you walk through Edergole forest you get a wonderful feeling of being immersed deep in nature. A wide range of plants grow under the canopy of high trees and the birds sing noisily in the background. The original hedgerows and ditches that once separated the original fields are still in situ and are rich with a mosaic of common countryside flora. So how did it get like this?

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Sustainable Cities

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TRANSFORMING OUR URBAN LANDSCAPES

Cities occupy approximately 3% of the Earth’s surface area but account for 60-80% percent of energy consumption and at least 70% of carbon emissions. Creating safe, resilient and sustainable cities is one of the top priorities of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 11 defines sustainable cities as those that are dedicated to achieving green sustainability, social sustainability and economic sustainability. They enable opportunities for all through inclusive design and maintaining sustainable economic growth. Successful sustainable cities also minimise inputs of energy, water, and food, and reduce outputs of waste, heat, air pollution, and water pollution. Sustainable cities are the cities of the future – where did the concept of sustainable cities originate, what are some examples of sustainable cities and how can we incorporate some of these principles into our own towns and cities here in Ireland? What will it take to make a city like Monaghan more sustainable? Candice Moen takes a closer look.

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For Peat’s Sake

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WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL AND WHY MUST WE STOP CUTTING IT?

The recent move by Eamon Ryan to ban the harvesting of peat in Ireland caused an uproar. Peat has been used for heating and cooking in Ireland for centuries. Turbary rights, which are part of Ireland’s intangible cultural heritage, have meant that people living in homesteads in rural areas have inherited a right to cut and remove turf from specific plots of peatland linked to these dwelling houses. In more recent times, peat has been used commercially in horticulture and former peatlands have been used for afforestation and in agriculture. But, when we look at peat extraction, and the damage it is doing to what is left of our wetlands, against the backdrop of climate change, biodiversity loss and carbon sequestration, it is inescapably evident that extraction practices cannot continue. The growing impact of smoky fuels on human health also cannot be ignored.

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