Horizons

Upcoming Nature events

Fairtrade fortnight

One in four Irish people now recognise the Fairtrade mark, according to a survey. The international product label guarantees producers in developing countries get a fair price for their produce. Guatemalan coffee producer Felipe Miza Castro comes to Ireland next week to launch this year's Fairtrade fortnight and a new web-based schools pack on Fairtrade. Some of the ways you can show your concern are to organise a Fairtrade coffee break, ask for Fairtrade food and drink to be served in your place of work or study, help your town or village gain the Fairtrade status or simply buy Fairtrade coffee, tea, chocolate and juices in your local supermarket. More details on www.fairtrade.ie . Tel. 01-4753515 or e-mail info@fairtrade.ie

Otter spotters

You've heard of suburban foxes - but suburban otters? Sightings of these shy river creatures are on the increase, particularly in the north Dublin suburb of Swords. Otters are rare across Europe but Ireland is believed to have one of the healthiest populations. Tomorrow, members of the Irish Wildlife Trust are setting out on their second otter spotting mission (meeting at the gate of Swords Town Park at 11 a.m.). The aim is to study the otter habitats along the Ward and Broadmeadow rivers in Fingal and see what needs to be done to keep them safe. To find out more, tel. 01-6604530 or e-mail enquiries@iwt.ie

Big days out in big houses

Members of the Irish Georgian Society will have an overnight stay at Ballymaloe House, the north Cork country home of the Allen family and cookery school next weekend. The trip is the first in a series entitled "The Big House Revisited" in which owners will explain how they have adapted their homes for the 21st century.

The following week, archaeologist and architectural historian Terence Reeves-Smyth will give a lecture on Ireland's First Country Houses - Jacobean Manorial Architecture in Ireland 1600-1640 on Wednesday, March 10th, at 7.30 p.m. at 63 Merrion Square, Dublin 2. Admission €10 (Tel: 01 6767053).

Meanwhile, well-known places to visit such as Kylemore Abbey in Co Galway and Mount Stewart, Co Down sit alongside lesser-known yet impressive country houses such as Riverstown House, Co Cork and Shankill Castle and Gardens, Co Kilkenny in the 2004 guide to Houses, Castles and Gardens of Ireland. The guide, published by a non-profit voluntary association of owners of these properties, gives a short history of each site with directions and details of opening hours, and is available in tourist offices.

Bog standard building

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council is beginning work on its new premises at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre (formerly Peatland World), Lullymore, Co Kildare. Aiming to build a nature space focusing on the heritage of bogs, the IPCC will carry out a survey of the bog to identify habitats and plans to mount an exhibition of carnivorous plants which are unique to bogs. A pond will also be created. To follow these developments, see www.ipcc.ie or contact the IPCC on 045-860133.

EcoWeb

[ www.cures-network.org ]

A new network of NGOs campaigning for international action on renewable energy. The Citizens United for Renewable Energies and Sustainability (CURES) community is lobbying the Government to adopt a new, enhanced target for renewable energy.