Growing Wild

With Dr Catherine Keena

Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist

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Look out for vetches, which are positive indicators for ACRES. Distinguishing features are binding tendrils and pea-like seed pods. Their Latin name, vicia, comes from the verb “to bind”. Tufted vetch viccia cracca is common at the base of hedges and in old pastures. Long branched tendrils at the end of the leaf stalks help it climb. Long, one-sided inflorescence of intense bright bluish purple flowers and numerous pairs of long, narrow leaflets distinguish it from bush vetch, which has shorter, duller flowers and fewer pairs of leaflets. Valued by bees, butterflies and flies – vetches are part of our native Irish biodiversity.

Rural Rhymes

(Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a...) New John Deere

By Dr Jonathan Roth

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me

A brand new John Deere

My friends all drive Masseys

Which makes me shed tears

I worked all my life

No help from my peers

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me

A brand new John Deere

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me

A night in Westport

I’m counting on your Lord

I need some fun and sport.

Show me you love me

And buy the next round

Oh Lord, won’t you send me

Some girls on the town?

No Lord, I don’t want

A Mercedez Benz

I’m not Janis Joplin

Or one of her friends

I gave your church

My communion money

So buy me my tractor

And stop being funny.

*Published in Jonathan

Roth’s recent book, Bar Stool

Notions of Poetry.

Number of the week: £100m

The Wyndham Land Act 1903, made the then colossal sum of £100 million (£10 billion in today’s money) available for land sale and purchase. History series.

Photo of the week

Some more Women in Action: Katelyn and Dervla Desmond having fun on pit of 2nd cut silage of Humphrey Desmond,Newcestown, Co.Cork. Submitted by Coirla Desmond

Quote of the week

I could name family names that are involved in eel fishing here and when you look back 100 years, you’ll see the same family names. It’s just the sort of thing that passes from one generation to the next along the shoreline.” Cover feature, Current to Catchment.

Online pick of the week

A new microcredentials course is giving a boost to upskilling, according to Sarah McIntosh.

Consumer tip

According to the latest report on financial wellbeing from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), which was published earlier this month, single people living alone and lone parents are least satisfied with their current financial situation. The report, entitled Financial Well-being in Ireland: Financial Literacy and Inclusion in 2023, showed that 33% of all respondents are “just getting by” financially. For those with primary level education or lower, this percentage rose to 50%. This report is the first in a series which will explore a range of aspects of financial wellbeing in Ireland. The good news? It seems that many Irish households are making sound financial decisions, with 86% of respondents saying they save.