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Author Archive for Sustainable Skibbereen

Cycle to school in Skibbereen!

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· March 2, 2020 

Starting on Thursday 5th March children in Skibbereen will be able to cycle safely to school as part of the new Cycle Bus scheme.

Three schools are taking part- St Patrick’s Boys, Abestrewry National and the Skibbereen Gaelscoil.  Any students who want to cycle safely to school can register with their school and join the convoy as it travels through the town, picking up cyclists on the way and delivering them to the three schools.

The convoy will run on Thursdays and be accompanied by adult volunteeers and a cycling Ban Garda.  It is being organsied by Katie Mann of Cycle Sense.  

Cycle Sense write “Soon children in Skibbereen will be able to go to school on their bike by joining a Cycle Bus (a group of cyclists supervised by marshals) This group will stop at various places around town and finish at the school… Watch this space!”

To find out more contact your school.

Why cycle to school?

In the Uk and Ireland many local authorities and cities are encouraging cycling for all generations.  Broxap reports

With children spending more time behind screens than outside, cycling can be a healthy and fun way of encouraging children to enjoy the outdoors. People of all ages can enjoy cycling, but learning to ride from a young age will equip children with a skill for life.  Cycling to school is a good starting point to get children out and about and on their bikes. Providing cycle parking at school will encourage more pupils to ride to school.

Benefits of Cycling To School

  • Encourages independence and builds confidence
  • Good for the environment
  • Reduces congestion – especially around school gates, making it safer
  • Provides an active start to the day, children will be more alert in lessons

Pictured are Katie of Cycle Sense and Brian of Sustainable Skibbereen and St Patrick’s BNS.

 

Categories : News

Tidy Towns Clean Up

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· June 12, 2018 

 

Welcome to Sustainable Skibbereen

Who are we?

 

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We are a collaboration of groups based in Skibbereen working to make our town and environment attractive and sustainable .

Members

Our members include Skibbereen Tidy Towns, Chamber of Commerce, Incredible Edible, Apple Town, Herb Ville, Plastic Recycling Project, Wildlife Group, Men’s Sheds, Skibbereen Walks and Zero Waste.  We are a not-for-profit organisation supported financially by Cork County Council, The Gwendoline Harold Barry Trust, Skibbereen Chamber of Commerce and Tidy Towns.  We are working with the Heritage Centre, Schools, Russagh Mill Hostel, Taste of West Cork Food Festival and Co-Action.

Sustainability in Ireland

“Sustainable Development in Ireland sets out the challenges and options to ensure that quality of life and general well-being can be improved and sustained. Translating these goals is simple. It starts with each individual, in the community, taking a first step.  Many people are already contributing to a sustainable future in their day to day lives. Many others only need to make small adjustments to everyday actions to reach the Sustainable Development goals. Education and awareness initiatives can help us meet these Goals”.   Tidy Towns Ireland.

EU Sustainability

“The EU Next Steps for a Sustainable European Future 2030 is committed to development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. A life of dignity for all within the planet’s limits that reconciles economic prosperity and efficiency, peaceful societies, social inclusion and environmental responsibility is at the essence of sustainable development.’

next-steps-sustainable-europe-2016

Sustainable Skibbereen Projects

We have started a number of projects around the town to protect and enhance its environment.  We will be launching soon with a website and full information about our projects.

In the meantime please click the link below to our contact form and send us a message and/or ask to be kept informed by joining our emailing list.

Contact Us

You can message us and be kept informed by clicking the link here, and joining our mailing list.  Volunteers, collaborators, suggestions, donations and offers of help all welcome.

CLICK THE LINKS HERE TO

EMAIL US

Facebook /sustainableskibbereen

Twitter  @sustainableskib

Committee:

Chair: Bev Cotton, Vice Chair: Paul Granaghan, Treasurer: Susan Boland.  Address c/o Russagh Mill Hostel, Castletownsend Rd.  email  contact@sustainableskibbereen.com  tel: 089 4352675  Bank TSB Skibbereen.

 

 

 

one tidy town shared doc Image Map

 

one ticy town Image Map

Calling all residents and business owners in Skibbereen.

We are hosting a WEEK LONG clean up before theSuperValu Ireland national tidy towns judging competition commences next week!!

Every night Monday to Friday this week we will be going out doing one big clean sweep of the town. Meeting at 7 PM behind the Fairfield bar.

Can you come out just one night and help us?

Think how you could improve your own premises:
– Brushing
– weeding the footpath
– cleaning moss from the base of your building
– washing windows
– power hosing your building
– painting your building or gates
– hanging flower baskets or putting out pots of plants

We lose marks every year in the competition due to unkept premises, litter and especially cigarette butts!

Please rally together this week and see what you can do for beautiful Skibbereen! 😊

Let’s win silver this year!!

Categories : Tidy Towns

Wildlife Group Plan

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· June 2, 2018 

Wildlife Strategy Overview Prepared by Calvin Jones, Ireland’s Wildlife

calvin@irelandswildlife.com | www.irelandswildlife.com

Introduction

Natural spaces are a crucial component of our urban and suburban landscapes. Managed properly they can provide areas for wildlife to thrive, and offer a calming counterbalance to the hustle and bustle of urban living. Increasingly studies in Ireland and internationally show that spending time in these outdoor spaces, maintaining our connection with the natural world around us, is vital to our physical wellbeing and mental health.

Sustainable Skibbereen recognises the importance of well-managed natural spaces, and the imperative for a coordinated approach to preserving and enhancing biodiversity in and around the town. Through the Wildlife Group the organisation is putting together a High Level Wildlife Strategy for the town, which aims to identify specific high-value wildlife projects around Skibbereen, and to ensure that regular maintenance and ongoing development around the town happens in a wildlife-friendly way.

Stream 1: Assessment and monitoring

In order to preserve and enhance something, you first need to understand what you already have. So a natural first step in establishing a wildlife strategy for Skibbereen is to examine the wildlife assets already present in and around the town, explore opportunities to preserve and enhance those, and identify new areas where a more wildlife centric approach will offer the most effective impact for both wildlife and the community.

The Assessment and Monitoring stream will be the first to start, but it’s important to note that this is not a one-time endeavour. Monitoring should be an ongoing part of the town’s wildlife strategy moving forward.

 

This stream will include:

  • A qualitative assessment of key wildlife habitats in the skibbereen area, pinpointing areas of high wildlife value and potential
  • An overview of current management practices for public outdoor spaces in the town, with a view to establishing more wildlife-friendly alternatives wherever appropriate
  • Identification of areas of both public and private land in and around the town that could potentially be developed/maintained as wildlife amenity areas
  • Identification of key challenges for wildlife and biodiversity in the town, with suggestions on how to minimise their impact wherever possible.

 

It will not include a comprehensive survey of species occurring in the area at this time.

While a species list is important, and establishes a baseline against which we can measure the success of wildlife initiatives, flag potential areas of wildlife concern and identify noteworthy species that may need special attention, it falls outside the scope of this initial strategic assessment. Developing a comprehensive species list will form a key part of the strategy emerging from this process, ideally involving local schools, community volunteers, local enthusiasts and experts with links to the town/region.

Stream 2: Core Wildlife Projects

This stream focuses on taking the outcomes of the Assessment and Monitoring stream, and using them to identify a suite of core wildlife projects that the group can focus on. These will include both site-specific projects (developing a particular location as a wildlife amenity, for example), or initiatives with a broader scope that encourage wildlife-friendly management practices across the town’s public and private spaces (developing a pollinator corridor, or town-wide hedgerow management guidelines, for example).

With finite resources, the key here is to prioritise high-potential projects that can yield maximum value (for both wildlife and people) making the most efficient use of available resources.

This stream will include:

  • The identification of a core suite of wildlife projects to be implemented as part of the Sustainable Skibbereen wildlife strategy
  • Recommendations for best practice to achieve the desired outcome for wildlife and people
  • Identification of key stakeholders for each project listed

Stream 3: Communication & Engagement

One of the most critical aspects of developing a wildlife strategy is communication and engagement. Ensuring people are aware of what the group is proposing, and how it will benefit the town is fundamental to getting local buy-in to the concept, attracting volunteers to help with wildlife projects and ongoing monitoring work, and encouraging people to do their bit for wildlife on their own private Skibbereen patch.

Collectively private gardens represent a significant chunk of available habitat in Skibbereen. Engaging with local people to promote a more wildlife friendly approach in their own gardens has the potential to dramatically improve the overall wildlife value of the town.

This stream will include:

  • A strategic media plan to communicate the group’s objectives and achievements over time (traditional national and local media as well as social media and other online channels)
  • Recommendations for the development of a network of interpretive wildlife signage and notices around the town at key wildlife sites.
  • Development of an information/promotional guide to Skibbereen’s wildlife suitable for locals and tourists, featuring key species and locations with a map and tips to help visitors see more wildlife.

Outcomes

At the end of this initial strategic consultation Sustainable Skibbereen will have a coordinated Wildlife Strategy Document that can be used as a reference to enhance the wildlife value of the town moving forward. The strategy will help the group make wildlife-friendly management decisions in relation to the ongoing maintenance of the town’s public spaces, help improve biodiversity in public and private spaces across the town and identify a core suite of wildlife projects that will deliver maximum wildlife benefit.

Having a central coordinated wildlife strategy will allow Skibbereen to establish a stable foundation as a wildlife-friendly town — a foundation it can build on, year-on-year, for everyone’s benefit.

Categories : Wildlife

Bicycle Buffet

Posted by Sustainable Skibbereen 
· April 27, 2018 

The Sustainable Skibbereen Bicycle Buffet will provide cyclists with a wonderful journey around Skibbereen while enjoying four sumptious courses of beautfully prepared local ingredients.  One of the few events in the festival that leaves you fitter as well as well fed!

How it works:  On arrival, enjoy a ‘mocktail’ made from incredible local edibles. Then mount your bicycle* and ride to two mystery locations where pop up food vendors will supply delicious food using the finest local ingredients and incredible edible produce. Then take a leisurely cycle back to a mystery destination no 3 for an incredibly edible dessert!

Buy your tickets below.

Meet at Chapel Quay, North St. Skibbereen (by the civil defense building/library) 5.00pm Friday 13th Sept.

Parking is available opposite the cathedral

Part of the Taste of West Cork Food Festival 2019!

Only €25

*Some bicycles available for loan. Email us to book.

Fill out my online form.

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