Horizons

"Global warming has emerged as the greatest threat to the survival of nature and the well-being of people around the world. Our planet is warming faster than at any time in the past 10,000 years, driven by global warming gases, which have reached their highest level for 420,000 years."

So says Dr Claude Martin, director-general of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in his introduction to Images Beyond the Naked Eye, a WWF photographic exhibition on climate change at ENFO on Andrews Street, Dublin 2.

Many of the captionless photographs by the 26 international photographic artists are starkly beautiful, provocative or downright shocking. Go see for yourself. The exhibition runs from Monday to Saturday until November 29th, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission free.

Dublin Civic Trust, the independent heritage organisation, has just published its first newsletter and its first series of public lectures begins next week.

Jeremy Williams, architect and expert on Victorian architecture, will speak on Dublin's Victorian heritage on Tuesday at 6.30 p.m. John McCullen, the Phoenix Park's chief parks superintendent and horticulturist will speak on the history of Phoenix Park, Europe's largest enclosed city park, on Tuesday, November 27th, at 6.30 p.m. The architect Jim Kilroy, who also manages the Dublin Transport Museum in Howth, will document the history of the Dublin tram on Tuesday, December 4th at 6.30 p.m.

All will take place in the Dublin Civic Trust building at 4 Castle Street, Dublin 2. Admission is £3/£2. Tel: 01-4756911; or e-mail: educate@dublincivictrust.ie

Dublin Civic Trust continues its valuable work documenting our heritage with a new series of four books (available from DCT at £8 each), each of which focuses on one city centre street and its environs. The books - Camden Street and Wexford Street by MβirΘad N∅ Chonghaile , Capel Street by Olwyn James, Pearse Street by Katriona Byrne and Thomas Street by Emmeline Henderson - trace the social, cultural and architectural history of the streets. As well as providing intricate historic detail, the authors also put forward recommendations for street conservation and future enhancement.

Have you found yourself tripping over badly positioned paving slabs on Dublin's city streets? If so, now you have an opportunity to make a complaint. When utility companies such as Eircom, ESB or Bord Gβis dig up pavements under licence, they are obliged to return the pavement to its prior condition. As we all know, this is not always the case. Members of the public can now make official complaints to the Infrastructure Management Unit at the Roads Maintenance Department of Dublin Corporation. Tel: 01-6796111.

Hardy souls keen to appreciate nature in winter can join the Irish Wildlife Trust on one of their forthcoming Sunday walks. Tomorrow, Anja Murray will lead a guided walk through Knocksink Wood, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, meeting at 1 p.m. in the Knocksink Wood car park. In Co Waterford, Ray McGrath will lead a walk along Creadan Head, Woodtown, meeting in the Upper Woodstown beach car park at 1.30 p.m. or outside the Munster Bar, the Mall, Waterford at 1 p.m. (for carpooling). Next Sunday, the winter wader birds will be observed at close quarters in Booterstown Marsh, meeting in the Booterstown Dart Station at 1.30 p.m.

Meanwhile, Limerick environmentalists should take note of a talk on waste management by Pauline McDonagh of Limerick County Council in Murroe, Co Limerick, on Thursday, November 29th at 8 p.m. Admission is free to all events and non-members are welcome. Tel: 01-6768588 for details. See also www.iwt.ie

www.landscape-forum-ireland.com

Anyone interested in the quality of Irish landscape - rural, urban or suburban - will find food for thought at this site. However, prepare yourself for reading long essays on subjects including rights of way, Irish stone walls, Irish placenames, art in landscape. IT also provides updates on Irish and European legislation on the landscape.