Farming Life

At the Steam Rally at Ballee, Ballymena

At the Steam Rally at Ballee, Ballymena

Wee afternoon out at the Steam Rally at Ballee, Ballymena

At the Steam Rally at Ballee, Ballymena

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Bygone Days: The old windmill at Portaferry continues to be a witness to history

Some weeks ago I popped down to the Ards Peninsula to attend the St Columba’s College tractor run down in Portaferry. During my visit I choose to make my way to Windmill Road in the town to shoot a video of the tractors coming up the hill. On top of the hill is of course the old windmill stump, which is also known as Tullyboard Windmill. When the windmill was in its heyday, it formed a vast network of 50 windmills across the Ards peninsula, known locally as the Little Holland of Northern Ireland. The windmills were largely used for flax scutching and grinding grain for flour. The Tullyboard windmill was originally built in 1771 by the Savage family and was in use for over a century before it was destroyed in a fire on Christmas 1878. If you have a video that you'd like to share, email to [email protected]. You can find more of our videos https://www.dailymotion.com/farminglife.

Newmills Cornmill, Co Donegal

Watch: Traction Engine Club of Ulster tractor drive at Killymurris

Our thanks to John McNicholl who has kindly shared this video with us. The video is of the Traction Engine Club of Ulster tractor drive at Killymurris just outside Ballymena, Co Antrim, last weekend. If you have a video that you'd like to share, email to [email protected] You can find more of our videos https://www.dailymotion.com/farminglife.

Watch: Resurrecting the call of the elusive Corncrake on Rathlin Island

In our second video Darryl Armitage continues his chat with Anne Guichard, a conservation officer with RSPB Northern Ireland, about the efforts which are ongoing to bring the elusive Corncrake bird back to the province. This endangered species faced extinction in Northern Ireland in the 1990s. However, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Giving Corncrake a Home project from RSPB NI, these birds made a triumphant return to Rathlin Island in 2014. The project, which has been running for over a decade, continues to play a crucial role in saving the red-listed species. The success of the Corncrake returning each year is a testament to the dedication and passion of the community, farmers, volunteers and RSPB NI in their collective efforts to secure a future for the Corncrake on Rathlin Island.

Watch: Resurrecting the call of the elusive Corncrake on Rathlin Island

Darryl Armitage spoke with Anne Guichard, a conservation officer with RSPB Northern Ireland, about the efforts which are ongoing to bring the elusive Corncrake bird back to the province. This endangered species faced extinction in Northern Ireland in the 1990s. However, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Giving Corncrake a Home project from RSPB NI, these birds made a triumphant return to Rathlin Island in 2014. The project, which has been running for over a decade, continues to play a crucial role in saving the red-listed species. The success of the Corncrake returning each year is a testament to the dedication and passion of the community, farmers, volunteers and RSPB NI in their collective efforts to secure a future for the Corncrake on Rathlin Island.

Some video from this evening's Glasswater PS PTA tractor run

Some video from this evening's Glasswater PS PTA tractor run

Some video from this evening's Glasswater PS PTA tractor run

Some video from this evening's Glasswater PS PTA tractor run

More tractors arriving for the St Columba's College tractor run at Portaferry, Co Down

Last Friday evening was perfect for a spin out on the tractor and that is exactly what happened down the Ards Peninsula when St Columba’s College in the Co Down town held their tractor run. Tractors from across the Ards Peninsula made the trek down to Portaferry to support the tractor run. Darryl Armitage was on hand to capture a series of videos from the tractor run. In this video we see more of the tractors arriving ahead of the run. You can find more of our videos at https://www.dailymotion.com/farminglife.

St Columba's College, Portaferry, Co Down, tractor run

Last Friday evening was perfect for a spin out on the tractor and that is exactly what happened down the Ards Peninsula when St Columba’s College in the Co Down town held their tractor run. Tractors from across the Ards Peninsula made the trek down to Portaferry to support the tractor run. Darryl Armitage was on hand to capture a series of videos from the tractor run. In this video we see some of the tractors arriving ahead of the run. You can find more of our videos at https://www.dailymotion.com/farminglife.

Watch: R J Wilson planting potatoes at Glasker, Co Down

Our thanks to Kenneth Brown for sharing another video with us. This video shows R J Wilson planting potatoes at Glasker last week with a Grimme planter. If you have a video that you would like to share get in touch via [email protected].

Retro: 34 photographs from the 2002 Ballymena Show from the Farming Life archives

We have a superb selection of old photographs which come from the Farming Life archives. These photographs, there are 34 in total, were taken at the Ballymena Show back in 2002, so they are 22 years old. We were wondering if any of our readers might be able to identify those in the photographs. Have a look through this selection and let us know, drop us a comment, or email [email protected]. In this weeks and months, we hope to bring regular Retro pictures for readers to enjoy.

Just some of the tractors that have turned up for the St Columba's College tractor down here in Portaferry.

Just some of the tractors that have turned up for the St Columba's College tractor down here in Portaferry.