Speaking at Tuesday’s hill sheep forum, Liam Fahey from the Department of Agriculture said there was still outstanding commonage documentation required to get GLAS payments approved.

The documentation concerns commonage framework plans. Where there is a planner assigned to commonages, documentation is generally in order. However, there are some commonages which do not have planners assigned and, in these cases, the farmers concerned have received a letter from the Department which they must sign and return. Failure to do so will hold up GLAS payments.

Building bee boxes

Following on from our previous article on bird and bat boxes, Alison Sinnott spoke with Catherine Keena from Teagasc and Doneraile Crafts Academy to see how farmers can make their own GLAS-approved bee boxes. The tips are as follows.

  • Choose your wood: choose a wood that is untreated and naturally durable. The Craft Academy uses white deal, as it is the cheapest. It costs approximately €4/box.
  • Cut wood to measure: using a hand or bench saw, cut the plank into the required measurements. Department recommendations are as follows – no less than 30cm high, 30cm wide and 20cm deep, with an overhang at the front to keep rain out.
  • Assembly: Craft Academy uses glue to assemble the pieces together. Pins are then nailed to create a more rigid and durable frame.
  • Inside filling: choose wood to add to the inside of the box. This can be branches. However, all wood used must be untreated. Craft Academy uses what’s available to them, cuts it to the 20cm and fixes it to the inside of the box. A series of holes are created ranging from 3/8in to ¼in using a drill. Ensure the entrance to the hole remains as clear as possible. Bamboo shoots can also be used and fixed to the inside of the box with clay.

    • Boxes should be 40cm off the ground in a sheltered and sunny area.

    A minimum of one box is required, with a maximum of five. There should only be one box per tree.