Horizons

In Horizons this week, Sylvia Thompson writes on a Native trees book, Cetacean spotting, Hedging one's bets and a Fair trade school fair.

Native trees book

"The spirit of the woods is at last being revived for and by the nation . . . And with the turn of the Millennium, a will to act has risen like sap in springtime birches," writes environmentalist and Irish Times columnist Michael Viney in his foreword to the wonderful new book, Native Trees and Forests of Ireland (Gill & Macmillan, €30). Written by David Hickie with photography by Mike O'Toole, the book's publication this month coincides with the recent completion of the first phase of the People's Millennium Forest Project. It contains sections on the history of the great forests and native trees of Ireland, the myth, magic and spirit associated with trees, information panels on each native tree and a summary of the People's Millennium Forest project. Native Trees and Forests of Ireland is dedicated to the late Freda Rountree who, in 1997, was the driving force behind the project to restore our native woodlands.

An excellent Christmas present.

Cetacean spotting

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group has recently published its first review of Cetacean Sighting schemes covering the period 1991 to 2001. It was written both to provide information on present knowledge of where dolphin and whale species have been seen over the years and to stimulate an interest in recording cetaceans - an outdoor pursuit which is growing in popularity in this country. Almost 3,000 sightings of 17 species have been recorded over the 10 years.

The most frequently reported species was the harbour porpoise (946 records), followed by the common dolphin (545 records), bottlenose dolphin (341 records) and minke whale (265 records). The review also provides tips on where, when and how to look for cetaceans in Irish waters and includes a sighting form for casual sightings. The review costs €10 and is available from The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Merchants Quay, Kilrush, Co Clare.

See www.iwdg.ie for more details.

Hedge your bets

Hedgelaying - sometimes called hedgestretching - is an environmentally friendly method of rejuvenating and reinforcing older "gappy" hedgerows. A traditional countryside skill which has almost died out, it is now being taught by Conservation Volunteers Ireland at one-day courses.

The next courses are scheduled for December 7th, 2002 and February 8th and February 22nd, 2003. Run from the CVI headquarters in The Steward's House, Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin 14, from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. each day, the cost is €70 per day-long course. Booking and further information on 01-4952878.

Fair trade school fair

The second annual Fair Trade Christmas Fair run by St Conleth's College and Warrenmount goes ahead next Saturday in St Conleth's College, Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin. Everything for sale - from food and Christmas decorations to crafts - is from developing countries and the fair is supported by the Fairtrade Mark Ireland and Oxfam. It will be open from noon to 6 p.m. Workshops on fair trade are scheduled for the afternoon.