With Dr Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist
Look out for devil’s bit scabious flower, which now stands out as one of the few plants in flower at this time of year.
The attractive light blueish purple flowers are held in compact heads approximately two centimetres in diameter. It grows in semi-natural grassland, which has not received fertiliser and can become quite tall in long grass. Most leaves are basal and simple.
It is the food plant of the marsh fritillary butterfly, which is on the red list of endangered species.
Devil’s bit scabious nó odhrach bhallach i nGaeilge is a positive indicator plant on the ACRES grassland scorecard and is part of our native Irish biodiversity.
The beautiful Tullynally Castle and Gardens in Westmeath, home to the Pakenham family since 1655, will host Mairéad Hickey’s Pirosmani Quartet on Saturday 28 September, the first of a series of unique concerts this autumn.
This concert brings together four stars of the international chamber music circuit in the stunning great hall.
The performance will open with Mozart’s charming D major Quartet K.575. As well as her stellar career as a classical violinist, Mairéad has also won eight world Irish fiddle titles. Guests will also enjoy Dave Flynn’s stunning trad-classical crossover quartet.
Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
574
The number of pubs that have closed in Ireland since 2019; creating a huge loss of social connection for many of those living in rural communities.
"No matter what illness or what challenge you have, if you can come at it from a place of calm and love and focus and coherence... suddenly your ability to deal with that illness, or deal with that challenge is increased." - Gerry Hussey, health and performance coach.
Hedgerows Ireland has teamed up with the ICMSA to host a free to enter hedgerow photography competition this autumn.
Ireland’s native hedgerows are one of our most important landscape features, supporting 95% of the wildlife in our farmed countryside, as well as providing a range of other services: shelter, shade, flood and drought reduction, nutrient buffering and carbon storage.
Hedges are also a living connection to our history, many dating to the 1700s and earlier.
The public is asked to send a photo that highlights some aspect of our late summer/autumn hedgerows. This could be of a length of hedgerow showing off its shape and overall appearance, or a photo of a plant, bird, mammal, insect, or some other feature which illustrates hedgerow wildlife.
Your photo could be a composite of different images in one single picture. There are several age categories with great cash prizes on offer.
Entries close at midnight on 31 October, 2024. For more information or to enter, go to hedgerowsireland.org
A first-of-its-kind Family Farm programme has been launched in the midlands.
Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) says it is designed to equip farm families with the education, resources and support needed to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving agricultural landscape.
Through a combination of education, expert advice and engagement with industry professionals, the initiative takes a family-centred approach to addressing the diverse needs of farming families.