A VISIT FROM MORLEY'S GARDEN CENTRE

We had a visit from Morley's garden centre in Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo today. Paul talked to us about all the pollinator friendly plants we can grow at our school. He told us about the various spring bulbs we can plant in the garden and which pollinator friendly plants are suitable for window boxes. 

They also talked to us about the importance of organic gardening. At Morley's Garden Centre they grow the majority of plants themselves organically in poly tunnels. They do not use any harmful pesticides or insecticides and opt for natural ways to combat garden nemesis like encouraging frogs to come in to deal with the slugs. They even have a bee hive and pet alpacas you can visit. 

As we had learned from Áine ní Fhlatharta (Irish Seedsavers) chemicals like Glyphosate (Roundup) and Neonicotinoid insecticides are deadly to pollinators and unfortunately commonly used in large scale nurseries and garden centres. The chemicals contaminate the soil for months and sometimes years. They accumulate in the plants that grow in the contaminated soil. Even the seeds the plants make can still contain these harmful chemicals. Áine has therefore urged us to only plant organically grown plants. She warned us that most plants bought in Supermarkets are contaminated and by planting them in our garden we would inadvertently lure pollinators to their death. We were therefore very glad when Morley's Garden Centre presented us with a box of organically grown, pollinator friendly plants for our Centenary Garden. When buying plants for your garden please always check with your garden centre that they were organically grown and do not contain any neonicotinoids.