WHAT’S COMING UP
The countdown to the start of the Judging in the SuperValu National Tidy Towns Competition has finally started.  There is still so much to do as we attempt to retain gold medal status.
Also commencing this week is the Cork County Council Anti Litter Competition (see banner on website homepage for details https://www.ballincolligtidytowns.ie) or visit https://www.corkcoco.ie/environment/litter-illegal-dumping. Various estates are visited during the judging as too are commercial and school areas and the streets themselves.  Each piece of litter is marked so it will be important to clear any overnight littering early each morning. Businesses can also do their bit by clearing litter near to their premises especially if the birds have attacked bins.
National Volunteering Week (13th – 19th May) is the perfect time to find out how to get involved with events happening all over the country. Find an event near you: https://www.volunteer.ie/…/…/national-volunteer-week-events/
LITTER PICK
On Sunday last, the 5th May, we had twenty nine Volunteers including three Transition Year students participating in the weekly litter pick.  From east to west all the usual routes were covered and in the hour we collected twenty two bags of litter including eleven bags segregated for recycling.
In a pick outside the boundary area two Volunteers collected two bags of waste.
During the week previous Volunteers were active each day and picked five bags, three of waste and two of recyclable materials.
CE/TÚS WORK GROUP
Works in the allotment during the week to Sunday the 5th consisted of weeding and sorting waste. The kerbs and footpath from Muskerry Estate to the White Horse were cleaned.  The winter/spring planting on the railing baskets was removed and while it is bare now it will not be long until the summer baskets will be put in place.
OTHER WORK CARRIED OUT
The work night on Tuesday 30th April was well attended with over a dozen working on various tasks.  Two volunteers were cutting grass edges in the Regional Park, two teams of four cleared dirt and weeds from traffic islands and others were doing litter picks.  Thursday evening was cancelled in advance due to a poor forecast but a few brave volunteers carried out litter picks in the Town centre area and cleared weeds from under benches.
Early last week the pollinator planting at Poulavone was completed and this will help in our aim to create biodiversity corridors through Ballincollig.
Local businessman John O’Donovan of O’Donovan Agri Environmental Services steam cleaned several traffic islands for us. Thank you John for the time and effort you put in.
In the Regional Park the excellent maintenance by Cork County Council continued with over 900 sq m of herbaceous planting completed on Monday the 29th April.
Over twenty volunteers from VMWare worked in the Regional Park to remove the grass from the footpath edges.They put in a great effort and made real headway on that particular job for which we are very grateful.
ESTATES
Residents in various estates have been carrying out ongoing cleanups over the past few months.. Last week green waste was collected from Aylesbury, Leo Murphy Terrace, Coolroe Meadows and Muskerry Estate. This green waste came from weed growth having been removed from kerb sides and shrub beds.
 
DARKNESS INTO LIGHT WALK TAKES PLACE ON SATURDAY 11TH MAY AT 4.15 AM. A LARGE CROWD IS EXPECTED AGAIN THIS YEAR. THE WALK IS OPEN TO EVERYONE. COME ALONG AND SUPPORT THIS GREAT CAUSE. 
Take some time to look through our website https://www.ballincolligtidytowns.ie
Press on ‘other’ to read the National Tidy Towns Reports for the past number of years. You can also fill in the Registration Form here to become a member. The website is updated to daily.
 
If you are interested in joining us any Sunday just come along to Quish’s SuperValu West End where we meet up at 11 am for our weekly litter pick. Or if you would like to help out on our Tuesday and/or Thursday Work Nights come along at 7 pm to Main Street outside AIB.