Save Our Hedgerows

30th April 2009

Appeal to Land Managers to Save our Hedgerows

The Irish Wildlife Trust are highlighting the issue of illegal hedgerow cutting that typically starts around now and continues well into the summer months. Unless for reasons of health and safety this practice is in contravention of section 40 of the 1976 Wildlife Act, as amended by Section 46 of the Wildlife Amendment Act, 2000, which prohibits hedge cutting from March 1st to August 31st each year.

Despite this, County Councils and land managers seems only to address the issue of hedge cutting during these months. Either they are unaware that they are breaking the law and causing tremendous environmental damage or simply don't care.

Since Ireland was deforested in the middle ages the only natural features in many parts of the countryside are the hedgerows. Without them, as in much of the UK and mainland Europe, the landscape would be barren.The hedgerows support a wealth of species that once found home in the oak forests such as badgers, owls, hedgehogs, stoats, blackbirds and innumerable plants, butterflies and other insects. Not only are they an invaluable reserve for much of our wildlife they are important in providing pollinators, cleaning our air, defining our landscape, storing carbon and by holding back the flow of water off land they can alleviate flooding.

In spite of all these benefits, the Irish hedgerow is suffering 'death by a thousand cuts'. They are frequently mismanaged, flayed to within an inch of their existence, or simply removed during the construction of one-off houses and replaced with invasive alien cherry laurel – a plant of no value to wildlife. Commented Padraic Fogarty - IWT Chairperson.

Minister Gormley has highlighted this issue to Local Authorities and has promised to prosecute those who have been shown to have broken the law. The IWT would like to support him in this commitment and we are currently undertaking a campaign to report all instances of hedge cutting between now and the end of August to his office, as well as the relevant Local Authority and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

We are appealing to the public to report such instances to us by logging onto www.iwt.ie or emailing: enquiries@iwt.ie and sending the date, time and location of the hedge cutting incident to us and where possible a photograph and name of person or organisation involved. The future of Ireland's hedgerows is in your hands.

Golden Eagle Trust petition

The Golden Eagle Trust has organised an online petition to show the support for the ongoing reintroduction of Golden Eagles, White-tailed Eagles and Red Kites in Ireland, and for efforts to put a stop to illegal poisoning. At the time of writing, there are less than 300 signatories, a number that I fear could easily be equalled or surpassed by a counter-petition, should any organisation put one together. If as many people as possible could take a minute to sign the petition and to forward it on to a couple of people who they think might consider signing it, we could have a significant impact.

The petition can be found below at: http://www.goldeneagle.ie/portal.php?z=197

Water Matters

water matters

"Help us plan!"

Water Information Days

We would like to invite you to the Water Information Days that will be held in the South Western

District in April and May 2009.

The Draft River Basin Management Plan for the South Western River Basin District was published on

the 22nd December 2008. The plan sets out how we plan to manage our rivers, lakes, groundwaters

and coastal water to ensure their protection. We'd like to hear your views on what we've proposed for

the waters of the South Western District before the plan is finalised in December 2009.

So drop in and "Help us Plan" for the future of all our waters!

Date Location Venue

• Tuesday 28th April Cork Foyer, County Hall, Co. Cork

• Tuesday 5th May Waterford Foyer, Waterford County Council, Civic Offices, Davitts Quay, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.

• Thursday 7th May Cork Mallow GAA Sports Complex, St Joseph's Rd, Carrigoon, Mallow, Co. Cork

• Monday 11th May Cork Council Chambers, Town Council Offices, North Street, Skibbereen, Co. Cork

• Tuesday 12th May Kerry Killarney Library, Rock Road, Killarney, Co. Kerry

All the information days will run from 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

The information days will give you the opportunity to:

• meet the project team,

• collect information on the South Western River Basin District,

• search our new interactive web map to find out more about your local river, lake or groundwater,

• give your views on the Draft River Basin Management Plan and associated Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Assessment.

For further information please contact:

Mr Seán Ó Breasail

South Western River Basin District Office

Cork County Council

Environment Department

Inniscarra

Co Cork

sean.obreasail@corkoco.ie

Or visit our websites for more information:

www.swrbd.ie and www.wfdireland.ie

 

ESB green stimulus to create thousands of jobs

ESB green stimulus to create thousands of jobs

ESB yesterday announced a series of initiatives to create up to 6,000 new jobs and training opportunities. Up to 3,700 new jobs will be created outside the company in Ireland in sectors such as smart networks and smart metering, wind energy, electric vehicles, home insulation and new sustainable technologies. The company also expects to create a further 1300 jobs - again outside the company - through further investment in power generation and network infrastructure. The company said yesterday that it will also recruit 250 new engineers and other professionals, and train 800 new apprentices.

The jobs will be created in a variety of ESB projects, including:

• The roll-out of Smart Metering
  
•  Novus Modus (ESB's new energy technology fund) has committed to a five year programme of investment in clean energy and energy efficiency. The fund has just invested €2.5 million in the Cork-based company, Nualight, which is creating up to 60 additional jobs locally.
• The roll-out of infrastructure to allow electric vehicles to be recharged.
• The redevelopment of ESB's head office complex in Dublin. An international design competition will be published next week to invite architectural proposals for the development.
• Free home-energy efficiency surveys in conjunction with SEI to 25,000 householders

Energy Minister Eamon Ryan said: "Today is the green economy writ large and in action. Based on Government policy, one of Ireland's finest semi-state companies is stepping up to the plate and helping provide the jobs of the future. 3,700 of these jobs are in the new green economy. Government initiatives such as smart meters, smart networks, electric cars, renewable energy, green technology and home insulation are bearing fruit."

"This Government has set a new direction for energy policy in Ireland. Our sustainable energy plans will transform electricity generation, motoring in Ireland and how we heat our homes. These plans bring with them thousands of jobs we need at this time. Today we are stimulating the economy, shortening the dole queues and helping the environment at the same time. It is clear evidence of a plan that is working and one that works best when we work together," he said.