Lord Mayor Community and Voluntary Awardees: Climate Action & Sustainable Development
The Glen Community Garden includes vegetables, a whole range of plants, flowers and herbs, as well as a sensory garden and meditation area. Photo: The Glen Community Garden.
People making a difference in their communities in Cork are set to be recognised at this year’s Cork City Lord Mayor Community and Voluntary Awards.
Organisations promoting social inclusion, advocacy, health and wellbeing, arts and culture, sustainable development and community development have been shortlisted for the awards which will take place at the Concert Hall in City Hall on Wednesday, April 10.
Nominees will be recognised under six different categories including Community Development and Continuing Education; Social Services, Charities and Environment; Social Inclusion, Advocacy and Integration; Climate Action and Sustainable Development; Recreation, Sport, Health and Wellbeing; and Arts Culture Recreation and Heritage, with the overall winner announced on the night.
Those shortlisted under the Climate Action & Sustainable Development category of the awards include Douglas Tidy Towns, Cork Nature Network and The Glen Community Garden.
Since 2000, the Douglas Tidy Towns group, with the support of the Douglas Community Association, has been working as a voluntary group to enhance the village.
The group aims to keep Douglas clean and litter-free, enhance the visual attractiveness of public areas, improve biodiversity and promote recycling among Douglas residents.
Douglas Tidy Towns delivers projects under the national competition categories which include nature, biodiversity and sustainability.
Projects include its Trees for Ireland project where Douglas Tidy Towns has planted over 2,500 trees locally, including its annual hedgerow planting.
Speaking to The Echo, Tara de Montfort of Douglas Tidy Towns, said: “We launched our Biodiversity Action Plan in 2022 and in 2023 undertook a survey of invasive species in our area so that we can plan their management and eradication with the City Council.
“We gather leaves each autumn and create leaf mould which is used to improve the soil in all our planting activities.
“We have not used pesticides including weed killer since 2017. In 2020, we converted all our planting schemes to perennial pollinator plants.
“We have recycled redundant items such as old wheelbarrows into planters and used old scaffolding boards to make our nocturnal pollinator garden.”
Highlighting concerns about climate change and what can be done to conserve and restore natural spaces, Ms de Montfort said: “Climate change is playing an increasingly important role in the decline of biodiversity as it has altered and continues to alter marine, terrestrial, and freshwater ecosystems.
Speaking about the group’s nomination for an award, Ms de Montfort said Douglas Tidy Towns is “delighted” to be recognised for its work.
“We are delighted to have been nominated for this award as it is a recognition of the value of the work we do and the importance of working together on climate action and sustainable development,” she said.
Cork Nature Network has also been nominated under the Climate Action & Sustainable Development category of this year’s awards.
Cork Nature Network was established in 2015 by an experienced and enthusiastic team who wanted to make a change using a bottom-up approach to nature conservation. The group wanted people to get involved in nature protection and conservation through awareness raising and education.
A not-for-profit organisation with upwards of 40 volunteers, Cork Nature Network’s goal is to protect and conserve biodiversity, green spaces and natural habitats in Ireland.
Cork Nature Network does this through research, education, awareness, and committed effort from our team of volunteers.
Cork Nature Network provides a range of initiatives aimed at promoting conservation, environmental education, and community engagement.
Many of its projects and events include organising nature walks, wildlife projects, educational workshops, to increase awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation.
Their work involves the establishment of otter trails along with research that shows how urban areas are havens for a thriving otter population. Ireland’s otter population is thriving in comparison to many of our European neighbours.
The organisation also manage Beaumont Quarry for its biodiversity, which contains a rare piece of habitat known as calcareous grassland with multiple rare plant species.
Speaking to The Echo, Gill Weyman of Cork Nature Network said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be nominated for this award. Our organisation consists of 50 volunteers, all who give their time, commitment and support to our cause. Being nominated shows that we are doing something right and it also gives our volunteers a boost by showing that their efforts are highly valued.
Ms Weyman said that the work of Cork Nature Network greatly impacts lives by encouraging people to make a deeper connection with nature.
“Our work greatly impacts people's lives by encouraging a deeper connection with nature, raising awareness about local environmental issues, and empowering communities to take action to protect their natural surroundings,” she said.
The Glen Community Garden has also been nominated for an award in recognition of its aims to tackle health inequalities and food poverty in the local area.
Shortlisted under the Climate Action and Sustainable Development award, the garden, located on the grounds of The Glen Resource Centre, is a safe haven in the locality.
Continually expanding the garden’s offerings, full-time community gardener Barry Hickey organises a range of various workshops, such as composting workshops and garden pallet workshops.
The Garden includes but is not limited to fruit, vegetables, a whole range of plants, flowers and herbs, as well as a sensory garden and meditation area.
The garden grows an abundance of food that is shared locally as well as hosting workshops to encourage locals to make their own food.
It hosts art projects, events that focus on biodiversity and climate awareness, a parent and toddler group while also working with other local groups and services to promote community development.
Mr Hickey also runs a social and gardening educational group for all ages and abilities twice weekly.
The group has hosted a number of networking events over the past year for the community garden including Community Gardens Ireland’s annual gathering and Cork Community Gardens Networks' inaugural meet-up.
The aim of the group is to serve its community and promote health, nutrition and climate action.
“We are a hive of activity every day of the week as we run daily groups and meet-ups throughout the week as well as always having our doors open and kettle on for anyone who wants to drop by for a chat,” Mr Hickey said.
“We also compost all organic, paper and cardboard waste from the campus of The Resource Centre and the different projects on-site there.” Local groups and organisations are also welcome to arrange a visit or garden talk or workshop.
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