Horizons

One of the biggest problems in protecting wildlife and promoting conservation is linked to the lack of opportunities people have for seeing Irish wildlife, either on television or first-hand at wildlife parks, according to Jim Wilson of Birdwatch Ireland. This, says Wilson is the key to becoming passionate about protecting it: "We need wildlife reserves with hides and educational facilities in all counties so that young and old alike can go and see our wildlife heritage at first-hand, before it is devoured by the Celtic Tiger". He invites questions or comments on any environmental issues to Natural Comment, c/o Birdwatch Ireland, 8 Longford Place, Monkstown, Co Dublin.

The exhibition of the shortlisted entries and winners of the ESB Environmental Photography Awards 2000 moves out of its Dublin city centre location today. It begins a countrywide tour of venues - starting with the Civic Theatre in Tallaght (February 20th-March 15th) - which will continue until the end of the year. This year is the first time the exhibition will be shown in two venues simultaneously. It is at Carlow County Library until next Saturday. Then it will be shown in Kilkenny Castle, from March 17th to April 5th, and in the Offaly Exhibition and Research Centre, Tullamore, from March 1st to 29th.

Meanwhile, prospective entrants for this year's competition can relish the thought that they have until September to take their perfect photograph. The themes to be pursued include plant magic, waterworld, animal wonders, the built environment, form and composition (natural subjects treated in an abstract way) and the world in our hands. The latter category offers potential for some environmental photo-reportage on the harmful relationship between humans and the environment, a theme which seems to have been under-exploited in the current show.

Owners of period houses and professional conservators will be interested in a seminar, "Housekeeping in Historic Houses", which will be held in Castletown House, Celbridge, Co Kildare, on Saturday, March 31st.

"Many owners of period houses are so pressurised by the vastness of their house or the number of visitors that routine maintenance work and cleaning are often not fulfilled," says Christopher Moore, whose idea it was to run the seminar. "By the end of March, we will have completed the first phase of conservation work at Castletown - which includes rehanging of paintings, conservation of prints and conservation of the Aubusson needlepoint rugs. We have also thoroughly cleaned the house," continues Moore, who is a board member of the Castletown House Educational charity.

The conservators involved with Castletown will speak at the seminar. Christine Lachelin, conservator for Northern Ireland, will discuss preventative conservation and Colin Piper, from the Conservation and Restoration Centre, Letterfrack, Co Galway, will look specifically at furniture conservation. Mary McGrath, a painting conservator, will talk about how to conserve painted ceilings and work out colour schemes in period houses, while Christopher Moore will present an updated account of the restoration work and conservation at Castletown House. The seminar will conclude with a tour of Castletown.

Contact the Irish Georgian Society for a booking form, which must be returned by March 1st. Cost: £45 for private home owners and members of the IGS; £75 for professional conservators. Tel:016767053.

Wild Ireland, one of Ireland's most comprehensive environmental magazines, is currently carrying out a frog-spawn survey with the help of its younger readers. The magazine is also interested in finding out from readers if there has been a decline in frog numbers and frog habitats. But Wild Ireland reminds us not to take the frogspawn home in jars - because frogs are on the protected species list. E-mail your sightings to surveys@wildireland.ie (or fill in the form in the current issue and fax it to 045-894905 or post it to Wild Ireland Survey, Wild Ireland, Leinster Mills, Naas, Co Kildare).