Horizons

Do you worry about the quality of the drinking water that comes into your home? Are you concerned about the increasing traffic congestion that is polluting our cities and towns? Do you ever think about the amount of rubbish you throw out every week? These are just some of the questions that will be addressed by a new RTE documentary series on the environment, which starts next week. The seven-part series, The State We're In, is presented by Duncan Stewart, the well-known architect and presenter of About The House. The first programme, "The Tiger's Tale", which goes out on RTE1 at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, draws attention to some of the worst environmental problems faced by Ireland. Subsequent programmes look at the quality of our drinking, fishing and bathing waters; the effects of global warming; the waste disposal crisis; and developments in renewable energy.

Green building and design, fair trade, technology for the common good, organic food - if these concepts and practices are of interest to you, check out the programme for the second annual Convergence Festival, which begins next Saturday. Among the subjects of day-long conferences at the festival are: "Holistic and Sustainable Approaches to Design" (April 23rd at the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle); "Human and Earth-centred Technology" (April 26th, Irish Film Centre, Dublin); "Green Building" (April 27th, Irish Film Centre); and "Debt and Globalisation" (April 28th, Irish Film Centre). Exhibitions, workshops, heritage tours and an Earth fair are also scheduled. More details from 01-4912773 or www.convergence01.org

If you are spring-cleaning your home and wish to dispose of any of the following items in the most environmentally friendly manner, take note of the following mobile "bring centres". The items accepted include paints, batteries, fluorescent tubes, aerosols, garden weed-killers, cleaning agents, waste oils and old medicines. The mobile hazardous household waste facility known as "chemcar" is at Cornelscourt, Co Dublin, today and every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will also be at Molloy's shop, Renmore (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and Kumarket, Ballybane (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.) in Galway city today. Next Saturday, hazardous household waste can be disposed of at the Parkway Shopping Centre (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and City Hall, Merchants Quay (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.) in Limerick city; at the omniplex, Headford Road (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and Joyce's supermarket, Knocknacarra (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.) in Galway city; at Kanturk churchyard, Kanturk, Co Cork (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.); and at Mallow Town Hall, Mallow, Co Cork (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.). On April 28th, the chemcar will be at Terenure car-park, Dublin (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and at the Crescent Shopping Centre, Dooradoyle, Co Limerick.

If you are under 23 years old, living in Dublin and interested in Georgian architecture, there is an unmissable opportunity next Wednesday. Edward McParland, a lecturer in art history at Trinity College and a board member of the Irish Georgian Society, will conduct a free tour of the Provost's house at TCD at 2.30 p.m. Built in 1759, the house, at 1 Grafton Street, is thought to be the only one of Dublin's great Georgian houses still used as a dwelling. Built from Liverpool sandstone, its outstanding features include its octagonal staircase and a saloon that runs the length of the west front with a rich coved ceiling and columnar screens. This room is considered the finest private reception room in Dublin. Contact the Irish Georgian Society on 01-6767053 to reserve your place.

A Douglas fir standing 56 metres tall, at Powerscourt Estate, Co Wicklow, has the honour of being the tallest tree measured by the Tree Register of Ireland. Set up in 1999 to compile a comprehensive database of remarkable trees in the Republic and Northern Ireland, the register now has details of more than 5,000 champion trees. The oak woods at Charleville Castle, Co Offaly (some of which are still under threat pending decisions on the chosen route for the Tullamore bypass) hold some of the largest oaks (9 metres in girth) in the country, while the largest ash (7.68 metres in girth) stands nearby at Durrow Abbey, Co Offaly. One of the most important functions of the Tree Register of Ireland is to ensure that the locations of these trees are taken into consideration when felling licences are being issued. Details and photographs of all the trees are available to the public at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin.