Bats and Hedgehogs

On Tuesday, along with invaluable support from the Ulster Wildlife Trust, our batboxes and hedgehog hides were installed. slowly but surely our grounds plan is being rolled out. Jean Forbes made out the detailed and challenging plan, and by bits and pieces, lots of different people are contributing to bringing it ti life. More action soon on the daffodil drift which is planned for along the wall, just inside the main gate. See Derek Baliey if you would like to be involved in carrying out the work.

what I'm not good at

I'm not good at houses, but this weekend I have tried to move a stage more ecofriendly by changing the rest of the light bulbs to low energy ones, and sticking heat reflectors down behind the radiators. Changing bulbs is so simple, it's the centrepiece of jokes, and the radiator panels' only technology is the double sided tape, but you wouldn't believe the mess I made. One disappointing thing is that I ended up sending away for the bulbs and the radiator panels. Does anybody know where to buy them within walking distance? i ordered them all through the Shimna website and Natural Collection, which gives a good percentage to our fundraising.

New Trees for Planting

Two new packs of trees have arrived, and our eco group will be organising the planting. With two batches to plant, any offers of help would be most welcome. Native species bulbs will also be going in soon. In all our work on the grounds, we are following the detailed plan set out by Jean Forbes of the Board of Governors. There is a long way to go, but real progress is also in evidence.

Haughian House Revisited

After rumbling along for several years with our expedition groups and occasional visitors from staff and parents' council members, we are ready to move to a new phase where we undertake the work necessary to make the cottage more accessible to a wider range of users. We are determined to do an eco-friendly job of work. First move has been the new windowframes, individually made in wood by Marty. Next thing is to sort out the power and water situation so that people with other purposes than roughing it will be able to enjoy the place. We have been searching websites for the best composting toilet and and ways to power some lighting. Any help, advice or suggestions eagerly welcomed.

A Little Bit of Effort wth a Spade

We have been a bit low on activity on the eco front. However, one of the activities undertaken with recent visitors from Holland was to plant out crocus bulbs in the shape of a Star of David, to celebrate work done by our students on the Holocaust. We really need to get active again. The crocuses will be great, but we could be doing more.

Rumours of Eco Gardening

There is a rumour that we will have an eco gardening club next year. Eco friendly plans have already been drawn up for our grounds and the club will be a real step forward to making those plans come true. We haven't a huge reserve of gardening expertise among the staff, and would love to hear from families or friends who could help with a bit of advice, labouring, supervision, 'adopting' one of the garden projects on the plan.

Wild Roundabout

The next time you go round the roundabout at the top of the town in Newcastle, have a look at our bed of Basque wild flowers, planted last year by a group of our students, Janet McIlvenna of Down District Council and EcoSeeds of Strangford. I well remember that drizzly Saturday morning during out HallowE'en holidays. Its wonderful to see the flowers blossom through to their second year. I wonder how the twin wild flower bed in the Basque Country is doing? Best of all is that our own EcoSeed, Morgan himself, is blossoning again and looking good.