“The saddest part is we have less butterflies, ladybirds, field mice, and frogs”

My name is Liz Downes and I was born and retired on a farm in Mitchellstown in the late 40's. I had a beautiful upbringing, fantastic parents and I was the youngest of 5 siblings .. better known as the baby of the family. Living on a farm was fun and challenging and not like today where modern technology has taken over the work load. After a very cold, dry hard winter it was great to see the long evenings returning. It was springtime and nature was at its fullness. The flowers were coming alive that brought colour, brightness and a beautiful odour as you passed by. The farm yard was full of life, young calves, hens laying eggs, pigs making funny noises while the pet sheepdog was trying to catch the cock that kept pecking him while asleep. Dad was busy spreading cows manure on the land to aid growth, which will be cut for hay later in the year. We had a wonderful array of vegetables growing in the garden and eating and cooking apple trees in the orchard. Mam did all the home made baking, apple tarts, scones and brown bread, and she made homemade strawberry and marmalade jam that tasted like a piece of heaven. What a wonderful time to be alive, beautiful clean air, warm sunshine, no litter to be found anywhere, neighbours talking from their front half door with a mug of tea in one hand and a piece of bread in the other that they shared with the chickens that surrounded them. Summer holidays were wonderful, lots of warm sunshine, long days and very bright evenings. I can remember my Dad looking up at the night sky and if it had a bright red colour you were sure of very warm dry weather, as he used to say tomorrow we can cut the hay. Sure enough the following day the horse was tackled, the mowing machine attached and all was ready to cut the hay. I remember helping my Mam in bringing tea and sandwiches up the fields where the grass tickled my toes that were looking out from the top of my sandals. A big bottle of stout was very welcomed by the workers who helped my Dad with the hay making. I used to try and catch the small frogs who were hopping around the dry grass and also the colourful butterflies who hovered around my head. The birds chirping, the grass hopper and the bumble bees all added to the natural environment at that time. I used to make a lovely necklace from the fresh daisies that were growing all around us.