Pupils head to country for a day of learning; Excited youngsters get to try hands at rural events

Byline: DAVE BLACK

COUNTRY LIFE Left, Emma Palmer and Jay Armstrong and, right, Alisha Bradshaw with a 1915 tractor FUNTIME Pupils from Shanklea Primary School in Cramlington enjoy the countryside in Wooler, NorthumberlandThey headed north to Wooler in Northumberland to take part in one of the UK's biggest outdoor educational events of its kind dedicated to rural life.The aim of the event was to teach the children more about life in the countryside, and how their food is grown and produced.CAPTION(S):And they swapped their usual computers and other learning tools for wheelbarrows and gardening equipment to experience the delights of growing fruit and vegetables on an allotment.The youngsters were the latest to take part in the Glendale Agricultural Society's annual Children's Countryside Day, which was launched seven years ago.Jayne Watson, one of the organisers of the event, said: "Many of those attending today are more used to an urban environment, so we hope it will encourage them to think about growing some food at home, or even their own allotment."Yesterday the pupils found out more about farm-related work such as planting, game rearing, fly fishing, sheep shearing, stick dressing and wool spinning.HUNDREDS of Tyneside youngsters left their classrooms behind for a day out with a difference in the countryside.More than 1,620 pupils from 42 schools in Tyneside and Northumberland - together with 320 of their teachers and parents - gathered on the Glendale Showground for the rural teach-in.Free to schools, the event brings in children from rural and urban backgrounds and teaches them about the contribution which farming and rural activities make to everyone's lives.They were given lessons about the growing of crops and the rearing of livestock which they eat in their daily diets - as well as meeting those involved at the sharp end of the production process.Highlights for the excited primary school pupils included trying their hand at dry stone walling, poultry plucking and butchery.

COUNTRY LIFE Left, Emma Palmer and Jay Armstrong and, right, Alisha Bradshaw with a 1915 tractor FUNTIME Pupils from Shanklea Primary School in Cramlington enjoy the countryside in Wooler, Northumberland

Democrats Real Party of 'No'

Ah, what a life being a Democratic member of Congress these days. Forget about that thing called, er, governing as the country is aboard a bullet train racing toward financial ruin. Nope. That would take what is often referred to as "leadership." Instead Democrats in the Nation's Capital have chosen the path of embracing the lowest common denominator with perversely crafted scare tactics: lying incessantly to voters that Republicans conspire to^destroy Medicare and wheelbarrow seniors into a lake (literally), as one TV ad argued.

At best, the Democratic Party has "No" plan for dealing with Medicare and skyrocketing deficits. At worst, the default plan of ObamaCare is to raid the already-insolvent Medicare "trust fund" to pay for an entirely new entitlement program.And then there's President Obama's budget, which was defeated 97 to 0 in the Senate. Not one single senator voted for the President's budget ? not even avowed Socialist Bernie Sanders, because the proposal was considered "stale."The nonsense about the House bills aside, the Times' editorial board is spoton: Democrats have glided through Congress bereft of ideas, yet they are heavy on attacks. And in large part, so far, the Democrats are getting away with this strategy."I think the Democrats are going to have to be willing to give up, maybe, some short-term political gain by whipping up fears on some of these things, if it's a reasonable Social Security proposal, a reasonable Medicare proposal," he said in an interview. "We've got to deal with these things. You cannot have healthcare devour the economy."And what makes these rote talking points even sicker is that the liberals in Congress have failed to produce a plan of their own.Nothing since.Let's walk through the steps, shall we.For Obama's part, he's happy to just give speeches and try to scare the life out of seniors. His budget, the one that was unanimously rejected by the Senate, didn't deal with entitlement spending. So he gave a speech, redoubling his efforts to tackle backbreaking entitlement costs. From that speech, the White House offered up a press release, devoid of any specific numbers or policy proposals.As one House Republican official told FIuman Events, "It's not a matter of him agreeing with Rep. Ryan, but the President is a leader and leaders need to act, not simply talk, and he has not done that yet."It is now more than two years since Senate Democrats passed a budget. Two years! In fact, if you're keeping count, the last time Harry Reid actually did his duty as majority leader and adopted a budget was back on April 29, 2009, which is more than 760 days ago.Heck, even Bill Clinton agrees that something needs to be done about Medicare, going as far as to call out the Democrats for their demagoguery.To recap, the New York Times and Bill Clinton, demigods to modem-day liberals, are both unloading on Democrats for sitting on their derri?res when it comes to this nation's debt.Hey remember when all we heard on television is how the GOP was the party of "No?" What now?

As one House Republican official told FIuman Events, "It's not a matter of him agreeing with Rep. Ryan, but the President is a leader and leaders need to act, not simply talk, and he has not done that yet."

Gift makes garden grow

A NEWCASTLE school has had a Groundforce style garden make-over, thanks to a donation from employees at Procter & Gamble.

St Lawrence's Primary School received a donation of pounds 1,000 following a fundraising push at P&G's Newcastle Innovation Centre, in Longbenton.

The money has been used to transform a patch of derelict land adjacent to the school into a small garden with storage units to house the school's wheelbarrows, gardening tools and outdoor play equipment. Lynda Edwards, a reception class teacher at the school, said: "We are absolutely delighted the donation from P&G has allowed us to transform the patch of land into a useful storage unit."

SHIFT HEAVY LOADS EFFORTLESSLY!

"Saves hours of back-breaking strain!"

SAVE pounds 20!CARRIES 42 STONE!When it comes to emptying the big 75 litre 'Tub', in one simple motion release the safety catch and lift! Eckman even include a towing hitch - extremely useful if you own a ride-on mower! Built to last with a polypropylene tub and heavy duty powder coated steel chassis. Some simple home assembly required.Thanks to its innovative design with directional front steering, four 10inch diameter pneumatic tyres to spread the weight, and an ingenious 75 litre 'Tipper Tub', even when fully loaded (maximum load approx. 270kg/600lb/over 42stone!) the Eckman "Big Tipper" feels so much lighter to pull and steer around obstacles than a traditional wheelbarrow.180O TWO WHEEL0844 811 6729 Quoting SMG15760Justpounds 89.95inc. FREE P&P (RRP pounds 109.95)www.MirrorReaderOffers.co.uk/760Also, unlike a traditional wheel barrow, there is no lifting involved when moving from place to place - simply pull and steer using the 80cm / 31.5" padded handle-bar which is connected to the front wheel axle and watch how on the four wheels it simply breezes along! Moving compost, logs, soil, paving slabs, building materials, or potted plants has never been easier!4 wheels spread the weight & there's no lifting from place to place!Allow 7 days for free delivery to UK mainland readers only (non- UK call for quotation). Customers have a no risk 14-day approval period. This product is sold and supplied by T2 Direct Ltd with whom you contract when you accept this offerSunday Mirror, Eckman Big Tipper (SMG15760), PO Box 299, Romsey SO51 0WH

Sunday Mirror, Eckman Big Tipper (SMG15760), PO Box 299, Romsey SO51 0WH

Hankering after the good old days; MAILBAG

I REMEMBER the good days when we had the Honley Urban District Council. Councillors were local business men, unpaid, working for the good of the village.

J B LOCKWOOD HonleyThe old council offices have been vacant for many years and, of course, are getting dilapidated. Kirklees MC is much too big, bureaucratic, having many high paid chiefs and few Indians. It's high time we reverted to the good old days.I pass the New Mill bus stop practically every day, and adjacent are two drains, full to the top with rubbish and grass is growing on top.

J B LOCKWOOD Honley

5 Pieces of Equipment Gardeners Can�t Live Without

Gardening is fun and rewarding and may be considered a hobby, talent or both and sometimes it�s just luck. Gardening is not as easy as it looks and involves dedication, time and consistency and many trials and errors. There are many aspects to maintaining a healthy garden, but some aspects are more important than others. An individual who likes to garden can have the knowledge to produce the best garden in the world, but without the right equipment and materials it just wouldn�t be possible.

There are many pieces of gardening equipment which will make this hobby easier and more efficient, however the ones listed above are recognized as the most important. These pieces of equipment will likely last a very long time.1. Trowel � A trowel is a shovel-like piece of equipment which is used to dig up dirt and set small plants. There are many styles to choose from and type of handle on your trowel will determine how well it works. Easy grip, non-slide and non-slip grips are the best form of handle to choose. These will be easier to use and will require less work than any other form of trowel. A trowel with no grip will be difficult to use and could end up ruining your garden. Try one out in your hand first to ensure it feels comfortable. There�s nothing like having your hand cramp or the trowel slip while using it to dig in a beautiful, new plant.2. Pitchfork � A pitchfork is a gardening tool which has 2-6 prongs and a long handle. The sizes of pitchforks vary, depending on what they are being used for. The space between each prong varies as well. Pitchforks are used to separate, lift and throw loose pieces of material such as dirt and leaves.5. Wheelbarrow � A wheelbarrow is one of the larger pieces of garden equipment. It is a cart with a handle and at least one wheel which is designed for easy transportation of materials from one place to another. Purchasing a wheelbarrow will save you a lot of time and effort, especially if you are off to the compost heap, and will make for a pleasant gardening experience. Another option is the 4-wheeled gardening cart.4. Pruning Shears � Pruning shears are tools which have a long handles and blades. This type of gardening equipment is used to allow gardeners to precisely prune rose bushes and other plants and unruly vines, etc. It can also be used to cut the grass at the edges of walkways and garden beds, in those hard to reach places. It is also used to trim the edges and remove dead leaves or wood on flowers. There is no other piece of gardening equipment which can do the same job as pruning shears. Without the use of this piece of equipment, your garden will end up looking messy and disorganized. Always, always, always invest in good quality pruning shears. Good ones have a lifetime guarantee and low-end ones will make shrapnel of your heritage rose.3. Spade � A gardening spade has a long, thick handle and a heavy flat blade. This tool is used to dig up and move pieces of dirt from one place to another. It can also be used to pack down dirt once the flower has been planted.

There are many pieces of gardening equipment which will make this hobby easier and more efficient, however the ones listed above are recognized as the most important. These pieces of equipment will likely last a very long time.

Taking Care of Your Garden Container

Once you have decided what plants that you would like to place in your garden planters and containers, then you will need to get the container soil ready for each pot. When working with potting mix, always make sure that the mix is moistened before getting started.

One last word to ensure your containers always look their best. At the beginning of the season, pinch back your herbs and those plants that tend to branch out to encourage fuller growth. Then regularly pinch back to keep them compact and to encourage growth where you want it.When your potting soil is ready, fill the containers to one to two inches from the top. Fill your containers with those beautiful plants and then gently firm down the soil. Water thoroughly and you�re all set.There are a few methods to ensure that the potting soil is pre-moistened and ready for your planters. Firstly, this one we call the wheelbarrow method. Place all of your potting mix into the garden cart and then add plenty of water. With your trowel or spade, make sure that the soil is very moist. You can tell when you can make a fist with the soil and it will hold its shape. The soil will then be a dark brown in color and this rich, moist soil is ready for your containers.Regular fertilizing is a must especially in plant-packed containers. All of your material is fighting for those nutrients. Feed your containers at least once a week with water soluble balanced fertilizer or every time you water.Remove flowers as they fade to keep your planters and containers looking fresh. Use sharp shears when cutting back. Groom your containers often to remove any dead leaves, damaged foliage and to check for any pest problems before they become big problems.The second method, and this takes a little longer, is to fill your large planters, pots and containers with the dry potting soil. Then run water into the mix, making sure that the soil does not run over the top, and let it stand. In a few hours, the potting mix will be well dampened and you can moisten again when you are ready to plant. This method works well when you want to place the containers on your deck, patio or in the garden before you get down to planting.If you wish to add water retention material to your soil mixes, the time to do this would be before you dampen the soil either in the wheelbarrow or in the container itself. There are also slow release fertilizers available, the best time to add these granules would be before dampening the soil mix as well.Thirdly, and this is what we cal the �in-the-bag method�, carry the bag of potting soil to your containers. Cut a hole in the top of the bag for your hose and also in the bottom of the bag to let out the excess water. Then place the hose in the bag and run the water through. Once the soil is very damp, leave the bag overnight to ensure that the water is all absorbed before you will your pots. Then open the bag, stir the soil and gently water again if it has dried out before use.

Now you have beautiful planters, containers and window boxes. Enjoy