Native woodlands scheme

HORIZONS: Foresters, ecologists and landowners are equally joyful about the new Native Woodlands Scheme.

It's principal aim is to conserve and enhance native woodlands. "For the first time, significant grant aid from the National Development Plan is available to private landowners, Dúchas, the Heritage Service, and Coillte, the Irish Forestry Board, to enhance existing native woodlands, to transform non-native woodland to native woodland and to develop new native woodlands on bare sites," says Kevin Collins, forestry inspector with the Forest Service, Department of the Marine and Natural Resources. Collins, who is managing the Native Woodland Scheme, says about 20 applications are being processed, representing 400 hectares of existing and new native woodland. "This scheme is the first multi-sectoral approach towards the protective management of an important habitat," adds Declan Little, director of Woodlands of Ireland. Native species, such as oak, ash, hazel, alder and willow, make up the thousands of hectares of woodland which it is hoped will be conserved. Up to 60 per cent of these woodlands is in private ownership. Contact Kevin Collins, Forest Service on 01-6199383 for more details.

Creating solutions to architectural conservation issues and complying with current legislation when working on protected structures is causing new and difficult challenges for architects and other professionals. The Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland is holding a conference on May 18th and 19th in Cork City Hall to examine working on protected structures. Speakers include Jukka Jokilehto, a Finnish architect and expert on the management of world heritage cultural sites, David Mackay, an architect who has worked on many innovative projects throughout Europe and is currently an adviser to Dublin City Council and Irish architects, Seán O'Laoire and Shane O'Toole. Tel: 01-6761703; e-mail: info@riai.ie for details. See also www.riai.ie

The annual journal published to coincide with the Convergence Festival, held in Temple Bar, Dublin, last month is available from the Sustainable Ireland office. The 60-page magazine Convergence '02, features articles on ecological design, permaculture, natural building and holistic education and includes contributions from festival participants, such as economist and environmentalist Richard Douthwaite, and Scottish environmentalist Alastair MacIntosh. Cost €3 plus €1 p&p to Sustainable Ireland Co-operative, 159 Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 6; e-mail: sustainable.ireland@anu.ie

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre at Castle Espie, Comber, Co Down, has a host of wonderful nature activities for adults and children as the days begin to stretch. From 1.30 p.m.-5 p.m. tomorrow and Monday, Don Scott will give everyone an opportunity to get up close to Snowy Owls, Eagle Owls and Great Grey Owls. Children can also join a bank holiday workshop from noon to 4 p.m. on Monday. The annual early morning walk with Royal Society for the Protection of Birds warden Anthony McGeehan goes ahead at 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 18th. Castle Espie is open Mon-Sat, 10.30 a.m.-5 p.m. and 11.30 a.m.-5.30 p.m. on Sundays. Tel: 02891-874146 for details.