A round-up of this week's Heritage and Habitat news
Sustainable park
Heralded as Ireland’s first wholly sustainable park, Fr Collins Park in Donaghmede, north Dublin was officially opened recently. The 52-acre park contains five wind turbines which will supply all the electricity needs of the park – lighting, water-pumping systems and maintenance depots. A series of ponds and wetlands contain and treat water on site as part of the systems that will keep the main water features clean. Other sustainable elements include native trees and cycling paths to the Clongriffin Dart station, which is due to open in 2010. The park was designed by Argentinian architects, Abelleyro and Romero.
Eco summer schools
The fifth Offaly Biodiversity Summer School will be held in Ferbane from June 29th to July 3rd. Run by environmentalist and author John Feehan, the course will focus on the landscape of the midlands and its insect and plant life. Tel: 057-9346839. Cost €100.
Meanwhile, Paddy Sleeman and Geoff Oliver will host the annual Cape Clear Ecology course this year from July 6th to 10th. Held on Cape Clear Island (right), it will give participants an opportunity to experience environmental issues in a Gaeltacht area. Tel: 028-39191. Cost €200. See oilean-chleire.ie
Green schools grow
As more and more schools sign up for the Green Schools schemes, teachers need to get up to speed on how to incorporate themes such as waste and water management and energy efficiency into the curriculum. The Green Schools office of An Taisce runs three-day teacher-training summer courses, which examine the connections between local natural and built environments and your everyday actions.
Based on daily lectures, field trips and workshops/demonstrations, the courses are certified by the Drumcondra Education Centre.
See greenschoolsireland.org.
Ecoweb
www.dublinwaste.ie
The free trade section of this Dublin City Council website is attracting more and more people who want to pass on anything from bicycles to musical instruments. The section on recycling shows the nearest place to recycle anything you can’t put in your green bin, such as clothes and batteries. Also, check out the discussion board of how to reduce litter in our capital city.
