ASK DIARMUID
Q
I want to plant a bamboo in a planter box as a screen between us and the neighbours. I’d like one about six to eight feet high.
AAnn Fitzgerald
Bamboo makes a very good screen, and planting in a container will help to keep it in check. I’d recommend Fargesia, the umbrella bamboo, which is a well-behaved ‘clumper’ that forms a dense upright habit. There are different varieties with attractive stems, such as the stripy ‘Pingwu’ or the reddish stemmed ‘Red Panda’. All are low-maintenance – but do keep it well-watered as bamboos are thirsty creatures.
Great news as this situation has been detrimental to young people’s mental health and the support just isn’t there for them. The older children need to go back as their future depends on how well they do in school. Hopefully the schools will put things in place to help pupils catch up with work, maybe by doing after school and holiday sessions
Sharon Phillips
Brilliant news, especially for years 11 and 13. Hopefully they will have enough time in school to complete their assessments so they can actually leave school with some GCSEs / A-levels. Maria Mina Price
Really glad all children are going back but why send the lower years before year 11? They are leaving school in May and they need it more than anyone. The lower years have got time to catch up with education.
Sam Short
This is good news. My daughter is in year 7 and has been home since the end of November and missed a lot of the end of year 6 and the beginning of her time in high school, stuck to the laptop six hours a day and not seeing friends in months has not been good for her. Danielle Butt
Thank goodness. My daughter’s class was self-isolating since early December so she’s been out of school for three months. It’s not good to stare into a laptop this long and the thought of opening pubs and salons before she got to go to school was so sad and deplorable.
Pippa Jade
Delighted for those children to get back in touch with school, teachers, classmates and friends!!
They need the connection having been isolated at home!!
Glenda McCarthy
Great, good news for parents struggling but now the kids can bring the virus home, spread it to their loved ones. Teachers, parents and siblings at risk of getting the virus and becoming ill as not had a vaccine. I am so looking forward to seeing my grandchildren soon but no way if they are going into school, not had my jab yet and I really do not want the virus to spread.