Farming Life

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Moyne Pipe Band from Donegal playing earlier on the Ulster Scots Agency stand at the National Ploughing Championships

Rain fails to dampen spirits on the Ballywalter Presbyterian Church tractor run

There was a superb turnout of tractor, both young and old, which came from across the Ards Peninsula last Saturday for the Ballywalter Presbyterian Church tractor run. Darryl Armitage popped along to Ballywalter to capture some photographs and video from the run. His videos from this week will be published online over the coming week, so keep an eye out for them too. You can also view photographs from the event here.

The Ballywalter Presbyterian Church tractor run got caught in a shower of rain on the Stump Road on their way back to the church.

Wee afternoon out 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.

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