The monolith of globalisation replicates artisan workshops from Tuscany to Provence and San Marino to San Gimignano, selling the notion of popular national folklore and fantasy medievalism, writes Sylvia Thompson.
Head for real Italian hills
So says Italian conservationist Daniele Kihlgren in an inspiring article in the current issue of Heritage Outlook, the magazine of the Heritage Council. Kihlgren won last year's Europa Nostra Award for the Conservation of Cultural Landscapes for his project in the Italian hilltop village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio.
"Our idea is to present a tourist destination that maintains real links with the history of the local people and their culture," he writes. Following the sensitive restoration of much of the village, Kihlgren set about protecting the area from unsuitable development. The results are an innovative commercial project that sustains the beauty and identity of a local area.
"Travellers who would by tradition head for Tuscany are now beginning to find that Santo Stefano is an antidote to that region's Chiantishireisation," he says. See www.sextantio.it.
Ten green talks
The Cultivate Centre in Dublin's Temple Bar is the venue for a 10-week series of green building seminars organised with the Environmental and Sustainable Construction Association (www.easca.ie).
Each Tuesday evening at 7pm from March 25th to June 3rd, experts including Duncan Stewart, ecological architect Brian O'Brien and renewable energy consultants Quentin Gargan and Xavier Dubuisson will explore topics including timber frame and passive houses, intelligent green building and natural building materials.
The series begins with a talk by Heritage Council architect Colm Murray on retrofitting a period house in an ecological manner without compromising original features. The cost is €30 per seminar or €255 for all 10. More details on 01-6745773, www.cultivate.ie
Watch the sky this spring
With the first sightings of swallows recorded earlier this month, Birdwatch Ireland is reminding birdwatchers throughout the country to look out for cuckoos, swallows and swifts as their migration season begins.
As well as reporting sightings to Birdwatch itself, individuals and school groups can record them on the international site www.springalive.net.
"This site allows the public to watch the fascinating spread of spring across Europe as our migrants return, while at the same time allowing us to gather important scientific data that will help us to gauge the impact of problems such as habitat loss and climate change," says Niall Hatch of Birdwatch Ireland.
Last year, Ireland had the highest number of records on the site of any European country. This year, the site has been upgraded to allow people to upload photos and stories. There are also lesson plans and ideas for class projects offering teachers an innovative way to teach geography and science.
More details on 01-2819878, write to Spring Alive, Birdwatch Ireland, PO Box 12, Greystones, Co Wicklow, or see www.birdwatchireland.ie
Kids get hopping
Children keen to get outdoors over the Easter holidays could go on the Easter Frog Day at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Rathangan, Co Kildare on Thursday from 10am-1pm. Open to seven- to 13-year-olds, the activities will include pond dipping, searching for frogs, and crafts. Cost €15, booking on 045-860133.
www.thebigask.eu
Information on the Europe-wide climate campaign to get governments and the EU to commit to legally binding annual cuts in carbon emissions to fight climate change. The Irish sister site is www.actforclimate.ie.