Yesterday I went walking with The Hedgerow Society through the lands of Grace Dieu, Ballyboughal.
The Hedgerow Walks are I find what keeps me very much on my toes. It is at this time of year knowing trees in the distance by their silhouette and it is plant identification in its finest format on the move, without books and straight from the brain. It is that that I have to know, being a horticulturist.
More than that, it is knowledge sharing and an understanding of why everything that should be in the great outdoors, sometimes is not. Nothing could be reason more than the local knowledge of the lands at Grace Dieu, Ballyboughal where once lay a Nunnery dating back to 1190 and its small village settlement. Although some stone work is visible above ground, a lot of it resides now below and is the main sole reason why on a dry day foundation outlines are clearly visible and a fine explanation as to why crops would falter. In short, information no book could ever explain.
Many thanks to all of those who I met on the day. It was, yet again and as always an absolute honour.
- Date and Time: Saturday 3rd December, 10.00 am
- Meet Point: Cafe in Ardgillan
- Details: Walk around Ardgillan grounds on a field trip with Declan to find out what happens to nature around us in winter.
