Keeping a good house

Horizons: The newly appointed chief executive officer of the Irish Heritage Trust, Kevin Baird, is the keynote speaker at the fourth annual Historic Houses of Ireland conference at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co Kildare on September 1st and 2nd.

An architect by profession, Baird has been active in the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society and the Buildings Preservation Trust Movement. He is a member of the management committee for Ulster Garden Villages Ltd and a board member of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. He will speak about how the heritage environment has changed in recent years and outline the initial aspirations of the Irish Heritage Trust. Other speakers will include Vicomte do Rohan, President of the Societé des Amis de Versailles who will speak about fundraising for the Chateau de Versailles, and architectural historian Kevin Mulligan, who will look at the restoration of ruined houses in the midlands.

The conference is open to the public. Details from colette.c.jordan@nuim.ie or 01-7086959.

Eco-friendly food guide

Northern Ireland Environment Link together with the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens is compiling a guide to local food initiatives and community green spaces in Northern Ireland. The aim is to help "dig out" opportunities to connect with real food, get into gardening and support local producers. Anyone interested in having their green space included should contact Michelle McKay, Northern Ireland Environment Link, Loopland Drive, Belfast, BT6 9DW (048-90942150).

Preaching the green gospel

Church of England bishops have begun preaching the environmental message from their pulpits. This summer, the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, became the third senior Anglican bishop to publicise his eco-views. With his new booklet, Treasures of the Earth, he hopes to encourage vicars to preach more green sermons and warn congregations that Christians are morally obliged to lead eco-friendly lifestyles. He declared it sinful to contribute to climate change by flying on holidays, driving "gas-guzzling" cars or failing to use energy-saving measures at home. Chartes, who chairs the bishops' panel on the environment, said, "there is now an overriding imperative to walk more lightly upon the earth". The Church of England has also asked vicars to carry out energy audits to reduce their "carbon footprints".

Scrap Saturday

Recycling charges for some waste electronic and electrical equipment will be reduced from the start of September. Prices for disposing of a large television set will cost €15, down from €20. Large household appliances will cost €10, down from €20, and medium and small consumer products will cost €1 and 50c and not €5 and €1. Meanwhile, the recycling depot at TechRec, Park West, Dublin is holding an open day on Saturday September 2nd. The public are invited to bring all their unwanted electrical appliances - radios, fridges, washing machines, computers, phones, kettles, irons, toasters - and dispose of them free of charge on that day.