Tapping into trees: In Celtic times, Samhain marked the beginning of the year and Crann's annual festival of trees, Féile Shamhna na gCrann ( October 11th to November 8th), taps into this mood of renewal and reflection.
Guided forest walks, stories about trees, hedgerow workshops, community tree planting and practical demonstrations on seed saving and tree propagation take place around the country. The Tree Council of Ireland will host Ireland's sixth annual Tree Day on Thursday, October 17th, with guided woodland walks at more than 120 locations. (Contact the Tree Council on 01-2849211 for details). The Irish section of the Ancient Tree Forum, an organisation dedicated to the conservation and management of "veteran" trees, will be launched in Crom Estate, Co Fermanagh, over the weekend of November 1st to 3rd. Contact Kate Crane on 0405-55879 for details. For programme details of the tree festival see www.crann.ie or e-mail info@crann.ie
Sowing the seeds . . .
The annual seed collection season organised by Conservation Volunteers Ireland begins this weekend with seed collecting in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, today and tomorrow between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. (meeting point at the end of Furze Road, on the edge of the park at 11 a.m.). The aim of the event is to encourage local communities and schools to collect and grow seeds for planting in gardens, public spaces, schools, parks and community centres. A booklet is available from CVI with information on how to collect, store and propagate the most common native tree and shrub species. The guide includes information on how to establish a tree nursery and plant and care for saplings. For a full list of venues contact CVI at 01-4952878.
Defending the bats
Did you know that bats represent more than a third of Irish mammals with a total of nine species? And, did you know that Ireland has the second largest national population of lesser horseshoe bats in Europe? Aware that bats are becoming increasingly vulnerable through habitat loss and pesticide use, the Heritage Council has published a bat conservation leaflet, with guidelines on how local authorities can help the conservation of bats when undertaking or giving approval to building construction, bridge maintenance and habitat management.
Drop the peat
The Irish Peatland Conservation Council has called on moss peat producers to develop and market a wider range of peat-free composts, such as bark mulch, coconut fibre and compost manures. In a report on peat-free gardening, the IPCC also urges garden centres to sell more peat-free composts. Campaign co-ordinator Noreen McLoughlin says the council is "very concerned about All Saint's Bog in Co Offaly - an EU Special Area of Conservation - which is currently being mined for moss peat". In Britain, peat will no longer be a constituent of gardening products from 2011. Copies of the report (on CD; cost €100) available from IPCC, 119 Capel Street, Dublin. Tel: 01-8722397.