GARDENING FOCUS

GARDENING: SPECIAL FOCUS TAKE A LEAF OUT OF GARDENING EXPERTS’ BOOK WITH THESE TOP TIPS

Discover Northern Ireland has teamed up with two experts who tend to gardens which attract thousands of visitors each year to bring you some top tips for winter gardening, indoors and out. Colin Agnew, Community Parks Supervisor at Belfast Botanic Gardens has compiled the following advice to help your plants flourish inside:

Water sparingly

Only water when the soil surface is dry at this time of the year. Avoid the temptation to overfeed. A plant may wilt and lose its turgidity if overwatered. They seldom recover when sodden. It is a good idea to add a weak solution of Phostrogen or seaweed feed. Both are nicely balanced with essential nutrients.

Consider location

Houseplants can be fussy and temperamental, just like ourselves sometimes. They don’t appreciate a cold draft and although they don’t all require direct sunlight, they will perform better if light levels are good. Natural light is always best, so use the porch or windowsill when you can.

Potting up

The growth in most species of popular house plants is limited during the winter months. It tends to be a dormant period. Don’t consider re-potting until spring when daylight is longer, root growth is better, and a regular feeding programme can be resumed.

Drainage

A free draining compost is essential in order to guarantee happy plants. Replenish dry plants with water then leave them until they dry out again before repeating the process.

Claire McNally, Head Gardener at the National Trust’s Rowallane Garden at Saintfield, Co. Down, offers the following advice for preparing your garden for spring:

Pruning

It’s an ideal time to prune climbing and shrub roses. Wisteria will be getting its long extension growth snipped back to two buds. Trees like apples and pears, gooseberries and red currants, can all be pruned now. The Royal Horticultural Society also has a huge amount of advice on its website to guide you through the steps.

Planting beds

Now is a great time to expand or make new planting beds. You can prepare them by digging over and adding organic matter or by using no-dig mulching methods (much easier on the back and great for the soil microbiology). This is the least glamorous part of gardening but it’s a great investment. Generally, the more care you put into your soil, the healthier your plants will be.

DIY projects

Winter is a great time to do some DIY projects such as fixing a dodgy fence panel. If you started a compost heap last year but it’s just not big enough, or in the wrong place, now is the perfect time to move or expand it. Loved growing plants from seed last year? How about a glasshouse or cold-frame to give you some protected growing space?

For more information about Belfast Botanic Gardens, Rowallane Garden and other great places to visit when government guidance permits travel again, visit www.discovernorthernireland.com.

CUTTING IT FINE

Ulster Tatler’s Chloe Heaney speaks to Harry Gaston, franchisee at GreenThumb Lawn Treatment Service, covering the largest part of Northern Ireland.

Describe a typical working day for you.

Typically, I would aim to be in our office here in Belfast for about 7am. On arrival, and after the first coffee of the day (always the best), I would review any issues that have been raised by customers from the previous day and plan what action needs to be taken here. Usually after about 9am I would start to make customer phone calls where necessary before heading out to inspect the lawns we treat and chatting to customers. I always like to make it home for 6pm for teatime with the family. After tea, I like to review any planned visits / phone calls I would have for the following day and make any appointment times if needs be.

How did you get into gardening?

I’m actually from a farming background so I found the movement into the gardening business pretty seamless. It can be hard work, but I’ve always enjoyed being in the outdoors and this job helps me do just that.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The most enjoyable part of my job I think would be the sense of pride our customers derive from the beautiful lawns we are able to provide them. It’s very much a partnership I find though and those who get the most from our service are those who play their part in cutting the lawn regularly and watering well when needed.

FOSTER CARERS URGENTLY NEEDED IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Action for Children have made an urgent call for potential foster carers to come forward in Northern Ireland. Avery Bowser, children’s services manager, explained: “The need is very great in Northern Ireland at the moment but the numbers coming forward have been too small. “We know that there are lots of people who have the space in their home to foster but they are often put off by myths about fostering. They think it’s only for certain types of people.

“We need people from different backgrounds and communities to become foster carers because our children are all so different.

“At Action for Children we provide foster families that have the warmth and stability that enable children to cope with the changes that life brings them. “We do that by recruiting ordinary people, from all walks of life, who do something extraordinary – become a foster carer.”

Avery is asking readers to think about fostering or encourage someone else who could foster.

“All kinds of people can foster. You have to be over 21, have a spare room, the ability to work with children and have the time in your life to give.

“So please give our friendly fostering team a call. The need in Belfast is very urgent and I am appealing for your help.”

If you are interested in becoming a foster carer or would like to find out more, please contact Action for Children’s fostering team on 028 90460500 or email fostercareni@actionforchildren.org.uk

AMY PATTON - THE NATIONAL YOUTH CHOIR OF NORTHERN IRELAND: ONLINE BUT IN-TUNE!

Congratulations to Grosvenor Grammar School’s talented chorister Amy Patton, Year 11, who was recently selected to attend an online training course with the National Youth Choir of Northern Ireland’s Junior Choir, held at the end of October 2020.

The event, which would normally take place in July but was delayed due to COVID, was instead held during the October half-term and involved a tightly-structured, well-organised programme: this included online activities each morning with conductor Alison McNeill, such as musicianship classes, with music and backing tracks sent out to the participants in advance. The afternoons were spent engaging in various tasks, such as walks at local beaches and forests, where participants were asked to take photographs for use in videos put together at the end of the week, while evening sessions saw further events take place, such as a ceili and a talent show - where anything but singing was allowed!

Despite the event being unable to proceed in its normal fashion, it still proved highly worthwhile, with Amy commenting on the energy that she felt off her fellow participants, as well as how enjoyable she found the course in general. The final singing pieces, recorded digitally throughout the week, were put together through November 2020 and released in December for the general public to enjoy.

For Amy, the NYCNI training week helped to build her confidence and develop her already impressive singing voice yet further – with this in mind, when current circumstances change it will be a treat to see her on stage once again, impressing all with her enviable ‘voice of an angel’.

MENOPAUSE MANAGEMENT CLASS

Jennifer Dunseath at Solution Hypnotherapy NI are offering a 3 hour online menopause management class.

The class will look, at:

• An in-depth look at the hormonal changes in our regular monthly cycle (and what their purpose is). • What effect those hormones have on different aspect of our mind Jennifer Dunseath and body. Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist • Changes in hormones that occur in menopause (as their purpose changes) • Early menopause and sudden menopause due to surgery, how this differs. • In-depth look at symptoms some women have – physical, mental and emotional. • A look at fascinating brain scans of women before and after menopause. • Comparison with the minor hormonal change men have at the same time. • A look at cultural differences of menopause, both physical and societal. • A look at what foods can help support of change in hormones. • A look at the balancing act between cortisol (stress hormone) and oestrogen (fertility hormone), when one goes up the other goes down. When oestrogen levels fall this has a huge impact on our emotions. • HRT – overview of what it is, what forms it can come in, what impact it can have. • Self help – the huge benefit reducing stress can have. The class will look at what’s going on in our brains that causes anxiety and what we can do to reduce it. • A look at studies showing even a few sessions of relaxation training can reduce hot flushes by 64% and night sweats by 95%. • At the end of the session there is a guided relaxation, this helps us retain (and subconsciously make sense of) the information covered during the class. You leave the session feeling relaxed and refreshed. Classes are informal, feedback from previous classes has shown that being in this safe environment to talk about a subject not often broached is very empowering, but how much you interact is entirely up to you. People also report switching their video off for the relaxation helped them fully relax.

Class Options are: Monday 1st March 10am – 1pm, or Sunday 28th March 10am – 1pm

Classes cost £50, they are online via zoom (you only need attend one class)

A £10 deposit is required to book your place (this is fully refundable if you need to cancel up to a week before the event)

Multi Award Winning company dedicated to producing the finest free range eggs in the industry

•Multi award winning, including Great Taste, Irish Quality Food Awards and Blas na hEireann Gold awards •Family run business •Farm to fork •All hens are free range •High welfare standards •British Lion accredited

Cavanagh Free Range Eggs Ltd.

58 Clonkee Road, Cavanagh, Newtownbutler Co. Fermangh, BT92 8FH Website: www.cavanagheggs.co.uk Email: hello@cavanagheggs.co.uk Facebook: facebook.com/cavanaghfreerangeeggs.co.uk Twitter: @cavanagheggs Phone: 028 6773 7889 Mobile John: 078 5796 4436 Mobile Eileen: 078 5796 4468