Lease of life for Green Map: The floundering Dublin Green Map project has been kick-started back into action with a grant from the Local Environmental Partnership award scheme.
The original plan to map Dublin City, noting eco-buildings and environmental centres of excellence, has been altered (we're still waiting for most of them). The plan now is to map the location of all recycling centres.
However, the team working on the project also wants to include other facilities, such as architectural salvage yards, computer recycling depots, composting schemes, etc. Those involved in such projects should send details to cultivate@sustainable.ie. For more information on the international Green Map system, see www.greenmap.org.
In a somewhat similar drive to improve public knowledge of environmental activities, the Dublin Community Forum is developing a database of local environmental groups in Dublin. It is interested in a variety of groups, from school environmental projects to protest lobby groups and neighbourhood clean-ups. No project is too small to get a mention, so send your details to Marcus Collier at mcollier@iolfree.ie or tel: 01-4531866 between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.
Appealing for sanctuary
Birdwatch Ireland is currently appealing to the public for financial support for the purchase of land next to its bird reserve at Termoncarragh Lake on the north-west coast of Co Mayo.
Threatened species such as corncrake and quail are slowly returning to the region, following changes to farming practices in the areas surrounding the bird reserve. Approximately 20 acres have recently been purchased and there are opportunities to buy more land, which will lead to a larger bird reserve over time. This beautiful, almost abandoned landscape contains an excellent mix of habitats which attract barnacle and Greenland white-fronted geese and whooper swans in winter and lapwings and dunlins in summer. Birdwatchers are also hoping the rarer, red-necked phalaropes will join them. Donations to the Termoncarragh Appeal, Birdwatch Ireland, Rutledge House , 8 Longford Place, Monkstown, Co Dublin. Funds raised will be matched by monies from the EU Life-Nature Fund. The appeal deadline is September 30th. See also www.birdwatchireland.ie.
Walking with Georgians
A walking tour through the fine Victorian and Edwardian architecture of the south Dublin suburb of Donnybrook goes ahead next Saturday.
Led by Irish Georgian Society member and Donnybrook resident John Holohan, the tour will begin at the Royal Hospital, Bloomfield Avenue, at 10 a.m. (Cost: €10).
Also, a little advance notice for a day tour of the interesting homes and public buildings of counties Laois and Offaly on September 13th.
Contact the IGS on tel: 01-6767053 for details.