HORIZONS

Ireland's Green Schools programme is the fasting growing in Europe, according to national co-ordinators, An Taisce. About 20 per cent of Irish schools (over 800 schools) are now part of this European initiative, whose aim is to encourage school children to take practical action to reduce the damage we do to our environment. An Taisce issued 24 Green Flags last year to schools whose work was of a particularly high standard. Green Flag winners included Scoil Maelruain (senior) National School in Co Dublin, where the pupils now separate all their waste and collect waste for re-using, recycling and composting at break times in their custom-made Billie Bins; and Feenagh National School, where pupils worked so hard to reduce their waste that Limerick County Council gave Feenagh village its own recycling centre. Several Green Schools are now displaying their work on the Internet. New schools can join by registering with An Taisce. Tel: 014541819 or e-mail: greenschools@ antaisce.org

Celtic spirituality meets psychotherapy is an unusual series of workshops to be held on four Celtic feast days throughout the year. Co-ordinator Pauline Beegan explains how the idea came about: "It was born out of the notion that psychotherapy is always practised inside a building which tends to ignore the relationship we have - or do not have with nature". She herself became more aware of the importance of this relationship following the completion of the Santiago de Compostela walk in Spain last year. The workshops will include visits to sacred sites, time-out-of-doors in the elements (rain, hail or sunshine, as it were) and opportunities to experience the heat of a traditional Irish sweat lodge, made from willow canes and tarpaulin. The dates and venues for these "journeys" are Imbolc/St Brigid's Day from February 1st4th in the Hermitage, Clogheen, Co Tipperary; Bealtaine, May 4th-7th, on Inis Mor, Aran Islands; Lughanasagh, July 26th-29th, in Co Armagh; and Samhain, October 26th-29th, in Dunderry Park, Navan, Co Meath. Cost: £295 for each workshop (which includes full board and shared accommodation). Tel: 01-8335888 for more details.

Conservation Volunteers Ireland offers plenty of opportunities for would-be environmentalists to increase their practical knowledge and skills on its weekend and evening courses. For instance, on February 10th, CVI is running a winter flora identification course (cost: £45/£40). In this, trees will be examined as a marker on the health of specific habitats. CVI is also running living willow sculpture workshops on February 24th and 25th at its headquarters in Griffith College, Dublin. Cost £22.50/ £20. During February, volunteers can join in activities which include habitat management, tree planting and hedgelaying. Tel: 01-4547185; e-mail: info@cvi.ie.

James Maguire (12) won first prize in the junior category of the ESB Environmental Photography Awards for his cutsey photograph of a tightly packed basket of ducklings taken at the Moynalty Steam Threshing Festival in Moynalty, Co Westmeath. He certainly captured the essence of the awards, which Ken O'Hara, chief executive of the ESB, described as "promoting an awareness of the unique and fragile beauty of our surroundings". Congratulations to the 13 winners whose work was chosen from 3,000 entries - the highest number to date in the competition's four years.

The exhibition continues at the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre until February 2nd. It will show in the Gallery of Photography from February 5th to 17th, before going on a countrywide tour.

Web World

www.ipcc.ie

This website of the Irish Peatland Conservation Council is a lively, informative and visually pleasing site. Use it to learn how raised bogs provided protective covering for archaeological sites, see how turf is harvested and discover what species live on cutover and cutaway bogs. An excellent source of information for school projects.