Parish News

Eco Notes October 2025

Planting in your garden

As autumn draws in, many people invest in their gardens, planting bulbs that will reward them with a colourful display the following spring. Daffodils, such beautiful harbingers of spring, are not actually very attractive to pollinators, so selecting a variety of other bulbs as well is a good idea (e.g. grape hyacinth, wood anemone snake’s head fritillary, camassia, star of Bethlehem, allium, autumn crocus, snowdrop, winter aconite, crocus). Early flowering bulbs provide food that is invaluable for early flying pollinators; on warm, sunny spring days, crocus flowers, for example, positively buzz with bumblebees in particular (these bees also feed avidly on catkins of our native willow). When it comes to buying other garden plants, be sure NOT to purchase invasive species. Despite legislation, many garden centres are still supplying some incredibly invasive plants, which cause untold damage if they escape into the wild. One only has to visit Devil’s Glen to see how laurel had spread widely – steps have been taken to remove it, but it is a huge and slow undertaking. Likewise, the common rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum spreads rapidly. Both of these species smother the ground so that native ground flora is outcompeted. Furthermore, rhododendron flowers are toxic to honeybees (who produce ‘mad honey’), though bumblebees are apparently unaffected. Other species that many will have seen being controlled include Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and giant hogweed. Some “pretty” small invasives include flowers such as the hottentot fig – all displace our native species and deprive our native pollinators of food. Please do not be tempted to buy illegal invasives. Equally, do not be tempted to bring home cuttings or seeds of “beautiful” plants you may see abroad.

June 2024

June often sees the brightening of ditches and village and townscapes, with cascades of both native and domestic flowers dotting the roadsides. Flowering plants can be expensive to buy, with many being imported from overseas. To reduce the cost, both to one’s pocket and the environment (in terms of air miles and the possibility of importing plant diseases), it is a good idea to sow flower seeds oneself. It is immensely satisfying to observe the first leaves burst out of the ground and, within a matter of weeks, turn into a brilliant display of colour. Of course, if you don’t have the time or inclination to sow seeds, many garden centres supply a great variety of seedlings and these can be potted on (buy Irish plants where possible). For those who enjoy having cut flowers in the house, sweet pea, as one example, is easy to grow and goes on flowering for weeks, provided the flowers are cut regularly. Towards the end of the season, seeds can be let form and these can be saved for sowing the next year. This is better than buying imported cut flowers. Growing pollinator friendly flowers is a bonus for wildlife too. Enjoy!

The Easter Vestry took place in Nun’s Cross, Killiskey on 14 April, during the 11.15am service. Many thanks to those who attended and gave their input. Those appointed by the parish to serve as office holders for the coming year are:

Hazel Bayley (Rector’s Churchwarden)

Juliet Belton (People’s Churchwarden)

David Harte (Rector’s Glebewarden)

John Smyth (People’s Glebewarden)

Justine Baumann (Hon Sec)

Scott Golden (Hon Treas)

Sonia Appelbe

Patricia Butler

Bernadette Glover

Tim Hicks

Amanda Mooney

Michael Norman

Ivan Sheane

Sarah Slater

Lucy Tottenham