Farming for Nature

Liam and Justina Gavin own Drumanilra Organic Farm on the shores of Lough Key, Co. Roscommon. When they took over the farm in 2012, they had two ambitions: to feed their family with home grown food, and to generate a sustainable and independent income from the farm by supplying food directly to the public. They tell Brigid how they've done it.

Bruce Thompson is an intensive dairy farmer from Laois. He has a particular interest in reducing animal remedies through prevention, and is a strong advocate for the urgent need to protect our dung beetle populations.

James Gilmartin is a 7th generation mixed farmer. He keeps a suckler herd and a small herd of Dexters, as well as a small flock of sheep. Part of his farm is commonage and a very important High Nature Value habitat for various species, including the endangered Marsh Fritillary butterfly.

Aonghus Ó'Coistealbha is a market gardener from Connemara Co. Galway, and he owns 'An Garraí Glas', a 1-acre farm where he grows chemical-free vegetables including lettuce/salad leaves, onions, tomatoes, radishes, herbs and more. A tremendous amount of vegetables are grown from a small space, not to mention a challenging landscape with plenty of stone and a strong Atlantic prevailing wind. Aonghus is particularly interested in regenerative farming; composting, soil health and building fertility is of utmost importance to this farming system.

Jim has a 16 acre hill farm in Clare where he intensively grows vegetables and fruit. He tells Brigid why homemade compost is the backbone to his farm, and how it works with nature to boost fertility.

James Ham of Moyvore, Co. Westmeath is one of the last farmers in his county to use traditional technique of hedge laying. He farms 128 acres with his wife Martina, and their land is 50% woodland, with the rest grass and spring barley. He talks to Brigid about trees, coppicing and hedgerows. James Ham's profile here. Farming for Nature website here. Contact Brigid info@farmingfornature.ie or go here.Farming for Nature on twitter, facebook and instagram.

Aoife Reilly of Glasraí Farm owns a 7.5-acre farm in Hollymount, Mayo, with her husband, Joe. They employ seven people, and nature is intrinsic to what they do. The farm is highly productive not only in terms of food production but in terms of soil health and wildlife. There are three ponds, mixed hedgerows and a variety of trees, all of which provide habitats for wildlife. Aoife's farm - https://www.glasrai.ieFarming for Nature - https://www.farmingfornature.ieEmail: info@farmingfornature.ieAddress: Farming for Nature, C/O Burrenbeo Trust, Glebe Road, Kinvara, Co.GalwayProject Coordinator: Brigid BarryPhone number: 087 1797352

Donna Mullen has a 43-acre farm in Meath, and she's found different ways to make her farm a magnet for seven bat species. She explains what she's done and how any farmer across Ireland can do the same...Guest - Donna Mullen Presenter - Brigid Barry, Farming for NatureContact - info@farmingfornature.ieTwitter @farmfornature

Tommy Earley has a 25 acre bog on his farm in Roscommon, and a few years ago he started the process of restoring it. What did he do? And how did he do it?Guest: Tommy Earley, beef farmerPresenter: Brigid Barry, Farming for NatureFor more information visit https://www.farmingfornature.ie/nominees/tommyearley/

Nicholas Redmond has a 50-acre farm in Gerry, Wexford. He talks about his diverse beef & sheep farm, which includes species-rich meadows (from which he makes hay), oak woodlands and mixed-species grasslands.Guest -Nicholas Redmond, mixed farmerPresenter - Brigid Barry, Farming for NatureFor more information visit https://www.farmingfornature.ieContact Brigid - info@farmingfornature.ieTwitter @farmfornature

Gearoid is a dairy farmer from Limerick with 197 acres and 80 purebred Friesian cows. He explains how and why he works with nature on his farm. "“The old rule of thumb was a cow to the acre – and that has been my ethos all along. If I can farm a cow to the acre without pressure then that’s what I'll do.”Guest - Gearoid Maher, dairy farmerPresenter - Brigid Barry, Farming for NatureFor more information visit https://www.farmingfornature.ieContact Brigid - info@farmingfornature.ieTwitter @farmfornature

Hedgerows are the green veins of our countryside, but poor management can leave them all but lifeless. Tipperary's Sean O'Farrell describes how farmers can ensure their hedgerows pulsate with wildlife, to the benefit of the farm - and the farmer. Guest - Sean O'Farrell, mixed farmerPresenter - Brigid Barry, Farming for NatureFor more information visit https://www.farmingfornature.ieContact Brigid - info@farmingfornature.ieTwitter @farmfornature

Mimi owns a 28 acre farm in Tipperary with her husband Owen. They have a micro-dairy and sell raw organic cream, butter and buttermilk, and they also farm beef, chickens, pigs and ducks. (They've also just had their first baby, which you can hear gurgling behind the scenes here. Congrats Mimi & Owen!)