National spring clean: Promoting the notion of personal responsibility for litter is one of the chief aims of the annual National Spring Clean run by An Taisce.
Now in its fifth year, the National Spring Clean encourages groups of all ages to organise a clean-up event in their locality during April. Last year, more than 200,000 volunteers participated throughout the country and 11,000 tonnes of rubbish were collected. To register for your free clean-up kit (which includes plastic bags, cleaning gear and posters to advertise your event), contact An Taisce on 01- 7077066 or register at www.antaisce.org/projects/nsc.html
Painting the zoo green: Dublin Zoo's Green Scene, a three-week- long focus on environmental issues, begins next Friday. Visitors will be given a Green Scene map to guide them to environmental stands around the zoo. These include a composting stand run by the Irish Peatlands Conservation Council, a display on energy use run by Sustainable Energy Ireland, and a photography exhibition from the Irish Photographic Federation Nature Competition. The Down to Earth Theatre Group will also put on short plays around the zoo. Normal admission rates apply: adults €11; children €7; Children under three get in free, and family tickets are available. Opening hours: 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m, Monday to Friday; 9.30 a.m. to dusk, Saturday, and 10.30 a.m to dusk, Sunday. Tel: 01- 4748900.
Free ornithological education: Primary school teachers and pupils can now avail of free expert knowledge on birds and other wildlife through the 2003 Heritage in Schools scheme, in which wildlife experts visit schools to give talks. The scheme, which is funded by the Heritage Council, is administered by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (tel: 01-8722533), which is currently sending the 2003 directory of heritage specialists to every primary school in Ireland.
Also, birdwatchers in the Dublin area should take note that the bird hide at Rogerstown Estuary, an excellent amenity for birdwatchers in North County Dublin, remains open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., only until the end of the month. Access is via the council allotments on Turvey Avenue, the last right off the N1 before Blake's Cross.
Bin that mobile phone: Have you got an unwanted mobile phone lying in your home or office? If so, you can now dispose of it safely in recycling bins at your local Superquinn store. This scheme is an extension of the Vodafone mobile phone recycling campaign in which mobile phone recycling bins were put into 100 Vodafone outlets last year. The bins are at the exit doorways of Superquinn stores throughout the country. The mobiles in each outlet will be collected by Returnbatt, an Irish company with an Environmental Protection Agency licence to dispose of batteries.