Horizons

Environmental events from around the country

Environmental business

Controlling air emissions from transport and energy production, reducing water pollution from local authority and agricultural sources and improving waste management and nature protection have been highlighted as the most important environmental issues facing Ireland today. The Environment Ireland conference on September 7th in Dublin aims to look at the most significant developments in environmental policy to date and plan for the future environmental policy agenda. The conference will be of interest to anyone in business who realises the importance of including environmental issues on the top of their own company agendas. Experts will address key environmental issues such as the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive, the latest developments in the European Emissions Trading scheme and practical issues facing environmental managers. The now-statutory requirement of Strategic Environmental Assessments will also be explained in detail.

Tel: 01-6613786 or e-mail bookings@bmfconferences.com for more details.

Catch the buzz

Up to 4,000 beekeepers from more than 100 countries are expected in Dublin for the world beekeeping congress, Apimondia, which runs from tomorrow until Friday in the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin. Aside from the official programme of practical beekeeping workshops and scientific papers, there will be a world honey show, candle-making demonstrations and information about the health benefits of bee products (apitherapy).

Public opening hours (via Anglesea Road entrance to the RDS) are tomorrow 1pm-6pm and Monday to Thursday, 9am-6pm. Admission €10 adults, €5 concessions. See also www.apimondia2005.com

Castle upkeep

Running a country house in the present day is the theme of a talk by Sammy Leslie from Castle Leslie in Co Monaghan at the third annual Historic Houses of Ireland conference at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co Kildare on September 9th and 10th. Joanne Cramsie will speak about the OPW management of Castletown House in Co Kildare, while Pyers O'Conor Nash's discussion of Clonalis House in Co Roscommon is playfully entitled Breastfeeding a Dinosaur. Other speakers will address issues around conservation, restoration and attracting tourists to these stately homes.

More details on Tel: 01-7086152. See also www.historicirishhouses.ie

Trees of knowledge

The Tree Council of Ireland is holding two training courses for anyone who leads forest or nature walks for schoolchildren. The first goes ahead in Mount Saint Joseph Abbey, Roscrea, Co Tipperary on Friday, September 9th, and the second will be held in the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin on October 7th. The courses should be of interest to ecologists, foresters and park staff who are asked to lead nature walks for schools, and want to make them interesting and accessible to children.

E-mail trees@treecouncil.ie or tel: 01-2849211 for more details.