We’re having an event here in Kinsale to mark earth hour. Reckon we are going to have a big turnout and we’re hoping we have another memorable Earth Hour like last year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqenPTgbg4w . Please see following link for poster.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/14235850/Earth%20Hour%20Poster%205.pdf
With thanks, Liz
Elizabeth Creed
Transition Town Kinsale
Mobile 087 2894077
Phone 021 4706012
See following link for the many events Midleton Tidy Towns have organised during National Spring Clean month.
(across from O’Sullivans Pub)
Saturday 31st March
1pm – 3pm
(3yrs + with Parents book in would be great or just drop by)
(Adult Beginners) & Seed Swap – bring seeds you have and swap with someone.
Bring a small pot to plant something on the day and take home
Learn how you can get involved.
Join some local walkers to share stories and history of the area and all can join in the hunt for eggs as we walk along.
Info from owners of Churchfield Allotments and find out about summer gardening and planting workshops for the community
This activity is organised in partnership with Faranree Health Action Zone, Cork Environmental Forum, RAPID and local residents in association with the
Life Long Learning Festival 2012
SECAD Green Your Community is an environmental training programme for community groups currently taking place in South and East Cork. The programme, which is a joint initiative between An Taisce and the South and East Cork Area Development Ltd, is open to all individuals and community groups operating in the SECAD area and is completely free of charge. There are currently a few places remaining on the training programme, particularly in the Carrigaline area.
Training will be available in several key areas such as biodiversity, invasive species, community gardening and social media. Training sessions will take place on midweek evenings and will be held in both Carrigaline and Midleton. The programme will also include several half-day fieldtrips which will give participants practical hands-on experience in Habitat mapping, Marram Grass planting and Invasive Species management techniques.
If you would like find out more about the programme, or to register for training sessions, please contact:
Alison Hyland,
Phone: 01 4002205
Email: ahyland@eeu.antaisce.org
Book Review
BEES, HIVES, HONEY! Tim Rowe
This is a wonderful book written for children who like the outdoor and are interested in nature. It is full of beautifully detailed pictures and all the information, both children and adults, will need to start their own bee hive. It definitely grabbed the interest of my 3 children, aged 6 - 13.
The book gives instructions on everything from making your own hive and collecting a swarm of bees, right through to harvesting your very own honey. At the back of the book, there is a great section for the supporting adult. Throughout the book, a huge emphasis is placed on safety, both while assembling the hive and working as a bee keeper.
From a practical point of view, I feel that the cutting list for making your own hive could have been laid out in a clearer format. However, if carpentry isn’t your thing, there are details of where to buy a hive kit so that your children won’t lose out on the fun of assembling it.
This is a truly inspiring book, not only for children, but also for the would-be adult bee keeper. With the growing decline of our bee population, it is great to see such an inspiring book and I wish Tim every success with it. Happy bee keeping!
Eilish Munday
GAP Facilitator
The book is available from Vibes and Scribes in Cork, the bookshops in Bantry and Skibbereen, from Amazon and can be purchased through the website www.childrensbeekeeping.com. Any library or bookshop should be able to order it too.
Ecostore, Ballincollig
Water Butt Special Offer 19th – 24th March
To coincide with UN World Water Day 2012, the Ecostore in Ballincollig are offering great value on both 190 Ltr and 200 Ltr Water Butts for just €40 + €5 delivery. Originally €59 this is a saving of approximately 33%. Save money, save water and help the environment!
This offer can only be availed of by placing your order by phone to Lo Call 0818719955 or 021 4214904 and mentioning Cork Environmental Forum.
Please find links to a new Land Trust Co-operative in the Glen of Aherlow, modelled on the Future Orchard Project in Glanmire.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/14235850/Land%20Trust%20Cooperatives/What%20Is%20The%20Land%20Trust.pdf
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/14235850/Land%20Trust%20Cooperatives/The%20Glen%20Membership%20Contract.pdf
Dear Sir/Madam
You may wish to read this report and disseminate to colleagues. It is of enormous significance to the health and welfare of people living in Ireland and to the protection of its natural resources.
The findings of the report are of particular importance to parents of infants under 12 months of age, diabetics and women who have both been found by international scientific committees to be most at risk from the toxic effect of fluoride compounds in the body. The environmental impact of fluoride emissions on protected freshwater fisheries from waste water treatment plants is also examined in light of recent scientific findings.
This report has been submitted amongst others to the Government of Ireland, its agencies, the EU commission, EU parliament, World Health Organisation, the Irish Medical Council, Children’s Ombudsman, the EU Consumers Protection Agency, European Environment Bureau, European Environment Agency.
You may download both the full technical report from:
http://www.enviro.ie/risk.html
Please read and circulate.
Kind regards
Declan
Declan Waugh BSc. C.WEM. CEnv. MCIWEM. MIEMA. MCIWM. MIOA. Grad EI. ALI
Director
Enviro Management Services
11 Riverview
O Doherty's Rd
Bandon
Co. Cork
Ireland
T:023-8841933
M:086-3853363
E: declan@enviro.ie
W: www.enviro.ie
Submissions invited on Draft Septic Tank Standards
Members of the public are being invited to make submissions on the draft standards over the next four weeks.
The draft standards are available to view and download from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government’s website: www.environ.ie. The closing date for receipt of submissions is 4 pm on Friday, 30 March, 2012.
Submissions in relation to the draft standards can be made by email to wate...@environ.ie or, in writing, to the address below.
Domestic Waste Water Systems – Consultations,
Water Services Policy Section,
Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government,
Newtown Road,
Wexford.
Please note that all submissions and comments submitted to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government for this purpose are subject to release under the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003
Launching the public consultation ‘Our Ocean Wealth’, Minister Coveney said, “We need to change the way we in Ireland think about the sea and look for new opportunities to harness the potential of our 220 million acre marine resource. This government is determined to generate the momentum to drive forward a new era of sustainable economic development across the maritime sectors – we must avail of these opportunities to assist in our recovery. We want your help to shape our plan, to shape our future and to assist in our drive towards our nation’s economic recovery”.
This public consultation represents a significant step in a process to develop an Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland and move from generating only 1.2% of GDP from this vast and diverse marine resource, which covers an area 10 times the size of Ireland’s land mass.
Minister Coveney added “We need an Integrated Marine Plan to harness our ocean wealth, get the environment right for investment and use the potential of our marine economy to create jobs in a sustainable manner”.
Get informed about the issues and join the debate at www.ouroceanwealth.ie
The consultation phase will be open until 31st March 2012 and it is envisaged that an Integrated Marine Plan will be published during summer 2012.
This consultation is being held in the context of the ongoing policy development process initiated by Minister Hogan in November 2011 with the publication of the Review of national climate policy. At that time, the Minister announced a three-pronged approach to the development of a robust and comprehensive response to Ireland’s obligations, challenges and opportunities in the area of climate policy:
For more information visit:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/Atmosphere/ClimateChange/ClimatePolicyDevelopmentConsultation/
For other consultation calls check out the Irish Environmental Network website at www.ien.ie
Cork Environmental Forum are being helped by communities in Cork City and County to plant over 1000 trees during National Tree Week. This has been possible through the kind donation by local Cork man Padraig Coakley. One of Padraig’s hobbies is to grow the oak saplings from acorns and the ash from seed gathered locally.
The Irish Natural Forestry Foundation will kick off the planting of the saplings on Sunday 4th March as part of their open day. Other communities and projects involved include Midleton Tidy Towns who are planting 100 trees in conjunction with local schools. At Fota on the 8th March 20 trees will be planted at the Scouting Ireland Campsite, Fota Wildlife Park are planting an additional 200 trees in the park during tree week. IRD Duhallow will support the planting of 100 trees in a number of communities in their area. Macroom – 100 trees will be planted in the Carrigaphooca Castle Demense and Liscarroll Community Council will plant a further 50 trees in their area. Ballygarvan –Green-Schools Ireland are supporting local schools with the planting of 200 trees at Ballygarvan Nature Farm –this planting will take place a little later on 20th March.
In the city Colaiste Chriost Ri will plant 100 trees at their community garden at Capwell. NICHE Food Focus Project in Knocknaheeny are planting 45 trees with community members in a green area near the community garden site. Douglas Community Association/ Tidy Towns will plant 10 trees in the Mangala Park and the Lifetime Lab. will add 10 trees to their garden. A further 18 trees will be planted by the community in Togher, with Blackpool Community Centre planting 10 trees.
Why not plant a few more trees in your own garden, to encourage us all to plant during tree week some garden centres are offering special deals and related talks e.g. Griffins www.griffinsgardencentre.ie .
Walks & Champion Trees
There will be a walk at Fota Arboretum at 2pm on March 7th lead by OPW head gardener and in conjunction with Coillte at the Glounthuane Heritage Walk. However, there are lots of lovely woodlands all over the county so maybe make a special effort to take a walk in your own local woodland. The Tree Council has surveyed “Champion Trees” these appear to be quite clustered in Cork e.g. Fota Arboretum, Glengarriff, Glounthaune – contact CEF if you would like details or check out details and updates of events at the Tree Council website: www.treecoucil.ie/treeweek.
There will be a workshop this Saturday, 3rd March from 10am -1pm, at the Cork Community Bike Project which is located at the Foyer project, Assumption Road, Blackpool. Do please join us it’s an opportunity to be creative and have fun.