Horizons

The Leinster branch of the Irish Deer Society is holding its annual open day in the Phoenix Park tomorrow. Members and non-members are welcome. Meet at the Ordnance Survey entrance at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. (bring packed lunches, rain-gear and walking boots. No dogs allowed). The open day has a dual function. On a practical level, it provides an opportunity for the tagging of fawns by members of the Mammal Research group in the Zoology Department of University College Dublin. And on a social level, it gives members of the public - particularly children - a chance to see these young fallow fawns up close. The Mammal Research group is carrying out a long-term study into the Phoenix Park fallow deer, observing their mating behaviour, their reproduction success, their grouping behaviour and mortality rates. Fallow deer were first introduced to Ireland after the Norman invasion in the 13th Century. They are now the most widespread deer and are the species most likely to be seen in deer parks, according to Tom Hayden and Rory Harrington, in their beautiful book, Exploring Irish Mammals (Townhouse)Apart from the Phoenix Park herd, there are fallow deer in Doneraile Park, Co Cork; Portumna Forest Park, Co Galway; Lough Fea Estate, Co Monaghan; Shane Castle and Randalstown Forest, Co Antrim; and Parkanaur Forest, Co Tyrone. There are also many fallow deer farms throughout the country. For more details of the open day, e-mail: irishdeersociety@hotmail.com or tel:087 6549894.

Many wildlife enthusiasts will be singing the praises of the Heritage Council at the moment, as 18 projects make plans on how to spend grants issued from the council's £110,000 wildlife fund. A study of Ireland's butterflies, a study of the tree sparrow in the North Slob, Co Wexford, a study of red squirrels in east Co Waterford, the creation of an inventory of fen sites and an assessment of the conservation value of a blanket bog landscape in an area west of Galway city were among the projects awarded grants.

Environmentalists throughout Britain have succeeded in halting a genetically modified maize trail, which was due to begin last month in a farm, less than two miles from Europe's largest organic research centre. "We feel that this has set a precedent and that the 3km distance for a maize crop has to be taken seriously in future trials," says a spokesperson for the Henry Doubleday Research Association Centre at Ryton near Coventry. Research by Greenpeace and the Soil Association in Britain has discovered that 31 other trials for GM crops across England and Scotland are located around 3km from organic farms. Friends of the Earth in Britain is organising an anti-GM crops rally to the British parliament on July 4th. E-mail: seedsquad@foe.co.uk for more details. See also www.hdra.org.uk

An exhibition by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) opens on Tuesday in ENFO, at 17 Andrew Street, Dublin 2. The exhibition will highlight research, goals, projects and plans of the IWDG. Opening times are from Monday to Saturday, 10a.m.-5 p.m.. Admission is free. Tel: 1890-200191 (See also webworld).