Horizons

While many of us are shocked and saddened by the killing of thousands of cattle and sheep to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland, there is very little attention given to the plight of wild animals in this tragedy. The editorial in the current issue of An Broc (newsletter of Badgerwatch Ireland) has some cautionary words for those involved in any culling or quarantining of wildlife.

"While we fully acknowledge the effects of foot-and-mouth disease and its consequences, we believe any emergency containment action which includes teams of riflemen from Army Rangers to be drastic . . . Such a measure of wildlife control has been rejected (so far) in Britain after leading experts in the fields of agriculture and wildlife management advised that such a measure could merely exacerbate the problem by the dispersal of wildlife who may be potential carriers into clean areas," the article says.

The editorial advises against all badgerwatching and sett monitoring at present as the foot-and-mouth virus may live for up to 14 days on fur, clothing and footwear. Badgers and foxes are not susceptible to the disease but, like many other animals, may be carriers. Duchas, the Heritage Service, and the Department of Agriculture organised a cull of wild goats and deer on the Cooley peninsula last week, following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease there.

MEANWHILE, the voluntary countryside wardens have been busy over the past few weekends sending walkers away from car-parks leading to the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. This new anti-foot-and-mouth role is a change from their usual job of encouraging members of the public to keep their dogs on leads (most dogs which get lost in the mountains are never found, according to the wardens), to avoid breaking fences and to have respect for farmers (by closing gates and not leaving any litter). The countryside warden scheme was set up by Wicklow Uplands Council to improve communication between walkers and farmers. The wardens are mountaineers who give of their time for free.

Wicklow Uplands Council is willing to share its experience of setting up a warden scheme with other groups (tel: 040443958). Meanwhile, a number of mountaineering clubs in the south-east of the country have come together to ensure that all carparks leading to hill walks carry notices asking people not to walk, during the foot-and-mouth crisis.

DUCHAS, the Heritage Service, has reopened the sites which it believes carry no risk of spreading foot-and-mouth disease. These include the Pearse Museum, St Enda's Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin; Cahir Castle, Cahir, Co Tipperary; Roscrea Heritage Centre, Roscrea, Co Tipperary; Reginald's Tower, Waterford; Iveagh Gardens, Dublin; Garinish Island, Co Cork; Bru na Boinne Visitor's Centre, Co Meath; Barryscourt Castle, Carrigtwohill, Co Cork; Jerpoint Abbey, Co Kilkenny; and The Blasket Island Centre, Dun Chaoin, Co Kerry. Visitors are, of course, requested to use the disinfection facilities and should not go outside the sites on to farmland. All national parks remain closed until further notice.

"WISH I Had Been Present" is a novel element in the "Researching 9thCentury Ireland" programme running at Mount St Joseph Cistercian Abbey in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, from April 20th to 22nd. In this slot, eminent speakers will share their personal wish to have been present at some historical event.

In other events, guests such as Prof Peter Harbison, Prof Michael Ryan and Prof Donnchadh O Corrain will discuss topics including "High Crosses", "Liturgy and Metalwork" and "The First Viking Age". The conference fee is £30. Tel: 050521711 for booking details.

THE Shannon and Fergus estuary, Wexford Harbour, Dundalk Bay and Cork Harbour are among the sites containing the highest concentration of water-birds in Ireland. The recently published fifth annual Irish Wetland Bird Survey (IWeBS, 1998-99) found that almost 40 sites held large enough concentrations of waterbirds to be designated "Wetlands of International Importance". Record high counts were made of 12 species, including blackthroated divers, little and great crested grebes, little egrets, Canada geese, teal, gadwells, oystercatchers and curlews. The report is available from Birdwatch Ireland for £10 plus postage and packing (tel: 012804322).

Webworld

www.greenliving.org

THIS site is an excellent starting-point for anyone who wants to begin managing their homes on environmental principles. It is filled with tips on everything from reducing your energy bills by 80 per cent (with room-by-room suggestions) to homemade cleaning formulas (which cost one-tenth of the price of their commercial counterparts) to choosing the best paints, carpets and flea treatments for pets. It's nicely laid-out too, with bright, colourful illustrations and good-sized information chunks.

horizons@irish-times.ie