Gardening schoolSchool gardens have become a popular and successful way to teach children about the environment. Their success has been due to the enthusiasm and commitment of people such as Paddy Madden, who has worked with children in Christian Brothers' schools for the past three years developing school gardens through Hands On Project on the Environment (HOPE).
The HOPE project has sadly run out of funding but Paddy Madden has developed an excellent manual for schools to use throughout the year in their school gardens. Simply called, The School Garden - What to Do and When to Do It, it is available for €6 (€8 including p&p) from Paddy Madden, School Wildlife Garden Association, Tuckmilltown, Straffan, Co Kildare. Tel: 01-6272117. e-mail pamadden@gofree.indigo.ie
Heritage and industry
Those interested in the conservation of our industrial heritage may like to join a guided tour of the Tankardstown 19th Century Cornish Engine house, near Bunmahon, Co Waterford, on Sunday, December 12th, at 2 p.m. The building, which was constructed in 1851 to house machinery used in the Bunmahon mines, was abandoned in 1875. Now, Cornerstone Building Company from Cobh, Co Cork, is about to restore the building to its former glory using traditional lime plaster, salvaged timber lintels, random rubble stonework and traditional brickwork. Following the conservation work, a viewing platform and interpretative panels on the geological and mining history of the area will be put in place. The project is part of plans to develop geotourism in the area following its designation as UNESCO Global Geopark earlier this year. Tel: 051-292828 or see www.ccgeopark.net for details.
New hide in Fingal
A new "hide" built on an elevated site (for better birdwatching) on the north side of the Rogerstown Estuary, in Fingal, Co Dublin, was officially launched last week. The hide is open on Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. until March for use by Birdwatch Ireland members. The new elevated hide gives wonderful views over the estuary and species such as Pectoral Sandpiper, Ruff, Little Egret, Osprey, Kingfisher and American Wigeon have already been seen from it. A bird count will take place there next Saturday at 9.30 a.m. Tel: 01-8435106 for more details or e-mail cormaccrowley@eircom.net
The price of sustainability
"Understanding the Economics of Sustainability" is the title of a part-time evening course from January 17th-March 13th next year. Organised by FEASTA, the Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability with the Development Studies Centre, the course will be held in Kimmage Manor, Whitehall Road, Dublin 12, on Monday evenings. More details from Tom Campbell on tom.campbell@dsckim.ie