Minutes of the Dublin 15 Environment Group Meeting Date: Monday 23 January 2006 Time: 7pm Present: Monica, Maria, Maeve, Petrina, Valerie Absent: Deivis, Frédéric   The meeting was a mis-mash of various ideas/plans for 2006. National Tree Week (March) Gardening for Wildlife Workshop We will try to run this on 14th of March, 6:30->8 + Q&A. Maeve to write article for CV/Blanch Gazette (picturedesk@gazettegroup.com). Maeve to ask IPCC if they will run it on that date. They previously quoted €754 for a 3 hour workshop which includes composting. We would want a shorter one, no composting. And aimed at d15 householders, i.e. not massive country gardens. Small walled in/fenced in ones and patios. Petrina saw a presentation by a lady in Farmleigh (Ina Ni something) who did something like this. May be an idea to get her involved if IPCC can’t do it. Monica will look into plaque for the tree. May also need to ask the centre if they are still OK with us putting one up.   Tolka Valley Renewal (Febuary) Theresa Casey of Fingal Co Co Parks dept has asked us about this again. Maria will attend a meeting they are hosting on Wednesday 25 January. Will ask Deivis also. Will ask that the park be wildlife friendly, to redo/balance all the destruction of habitats the housing developments have caused. They are also running a Woodland Management Program on Febuary 18th and 25th. Maeve & Maria can attend on the 25th. Valerie is to forward us Theresa email so that we have her contact details and can arrange this.   Hanging Backets/Seed Distribution (April) Monica will ask a Ray if he would be interested in running a workshop on this. If not we may need to start looking for alternatives. Maeve is to get in contact with Patricia Kennedy of Fingal CoCo who ran the Cleaner Communities awards last year. She may be able give contacts of people who are clearly interested in this type of thing.   World Environment Day (June) Petrina would like to run a larger event which would draw passing crowds, as opposed to small workshops. Outdoorsy. The initial idea is about 10 stalls in the foyar of the libraray or Draicht. Stalls would showcase various things such as: -Composting -Seeds -Bonsai -Crafts -Alternative Energy sources -Tolka Renewal Project -Stalls from events Petrina has seen in Farmleigh Somebody (I cant’ recall who) will ask a Rory or Lillian about availabilty of the venue from 2-6pm on a Saturday or Sunday 17th or 18th of June.   Any Other Business Maria distributed ENFO Calenders. Valerie advised we have received an additional €1000 from Fingal CoCo. So in total we have €3,321. Monica advised the council are already looking into the issue of light pollution raised at the previous meeting. This remains a work in progress. Golf Clubs – Maeve to ask them if there is anything (small) they can do which we would endorse/publizise. The ‘green golf’ programs they have running in the UK and elsewhere are major professional undertakings, which would be too much for us to take on. Monica will ask a lady from CSC to our next meeting, she expressed an interest in joining. A receipt for envelopes from July is missing. Monica & Maeve to look for it. May need to ask Viking to re-issue it. Valerie will send details on who does the councils T-Shirts to Maria. The ring fort we discussed in previous meetings still has no protected status. The man behind the campaign (Sean) would be interested in meeting us, Valerie will invite him. We may also ask Gerry Clabbe what the story is. With Valeries impending maternity leave, she asked if we would like someone else from the council to attend the meetings in her stead. We agreed if someone is interested and wants to come they are as always welcome. But if they are not really into it, we would be happy with just a contact in the council in case we need their help.   The proposed date for the next meeting is Tuesday 7th of Febuary. No room was booked.