STAY THE DISTANCE
In the past several weeks, we have seen the number of Coronavirus cases increase and sadly several more deaths. We are now learning to live with this deadly virus in the community and so it is up to each and every one of us to do what we can to protect ourselves and others.
Now that the schools are open and limited attendances at venues like matches, weddings and churches are allowed, we are mixing more with each other and therefore we need to be more careful. When we meet up keep apart.
WASH YOUR HANDS WEAR YOUR MASK
LITTER PICK NEWS
Last Sunday morning seventeen Volunteers gathered and carried out Litter Picks in various locations throughout Ballincollig. There were seven bags of litter collected and one bag of green waste.
During the week several Volunteers were out doing smaller Litter Picks and collected five bags of waste, one bag of glass and one bag of cans.
The Residents of Leecourt have been busy this week and two bags of green waste were collected from them.
Five bags of plastic bottles were collected from Ballincollig Community School. Well done to the students for their efforts in recycling plastic bottles.
THERE THEY WERE……GONE
The flowers in the Pole Planters have now passed their best and so this week they were removed and taken to the compost bay at the Allotment. It was lovely that we got the extra few weeks from them after so much damage was done by storm Ellen.
On Wednesday the Pole Planters were washed and put in storage for 2021. We also emptied the Towers on Main Street. These too were cleaned and put in storage. We are delighted with the positive feedback we received on the Towers and we intend adding more of them to the town next year.
WORK BEING DONE The CE Workers removed four tonne bags of weeds, mostly bindweed, from the raised flowerbed near An Caislean on the Castle Road. They also filled ten fertilizer bags with suckers removed from the trees in Coolroe Meadows.
The grass from Gaelscoil Ui Riordain to the Killumney Roundabout was cut by our Workers. They also cut the grass outside the Allotment.
WATERING
Watering was carried out on the Planters at Eastgate and on all the Wooden Planters. It took 600 litres of water in total. Two people took one hour each to get this done.
‘LADIES IN RED’
Ballincollig Tidy Towns has been asked to include the following item on the website so that it can be brought to the attention of as many as possible. Hopefully several people will wish to partake.
‘The Irish Ladybird Research Project calls on the public to help log records’
People in Ballincollig are asked to send in sightings of ladybirds this Autumn. Images and the address details of the ladybird sightings can be mailed to ladybird@fotawildlife.ie to be in with a chance to win one of several fun spot prizes in a draw, including a family day-ticket to Fota Wildlife Park.
If you spot ladybirds in your garden, email a clear photo showing the wing cases and head to irishladybirds@yahoo.com along with the address and Eircode. Type ‘draw’ as the subject of the email. It is also important to find out if you don’t have ladybirds in your garden. If so, please email us to let us know (also with the subject ‘draw’ in the email). The closing date is the 1st October so there’s plenty of time to enter. You can enter as many times as you like.
The research has been instigated by a ladybird called “The Harlequin”, which originates in Asia and preys on the larvae of native ladybirds. It outcompetes our native species in terms of diet and reproduction. It is now established in Cork City, but we need to know from this survey how far across the country it has spread. Ladybirds play such an important role in our environment – it’s important to understand where they are located and what they feed on.
Fota Wildlife Park in partnership with University College Cork, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences co-manage the Irish Ladybird Research Project run by scholar Gill Weyman. The Ladybird Research Project is funded by the Irish Research Council and Fota Wildlife Park.
It is a citizen science project which means that the public nationwide is required to get involved and record the sightings of ladybirds wherever and at whatever time of the year they see them; this will help give a greater understanding of the impact of the invasive species, the Harlequin, on the native ladybirds.’
PARKLETS
Following the success of the Parklet on Douglas Street and as part of the ‘Reimagining Cork’ programme, Cork City Council is seeking to provide up to ten more parklets in the city centre and wider city.
Business owners, institutions, neighbourhood organisations, and other community-based groups are eligible to apply to be a “Parklet Partner.”
Parklets convert a few parking spaces into public open space and are a cost-effective way to create more vibrant streets, support local business, and provide an inviting green space for residents and passers-by to sit, relax, and interact.
The new parklets will be similar to the current parklet on Douglas Street and will incorporate seating and pollinator-friendly planting. The parklet can be used by customers if it is associated with a business, but it must be available for public use and will include signage indicating that it is a public space.
Cork City Council will fund and install the parklet. The Parklet Partner will be responsible for the day-to-day upkeep of the parklet and its planting.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Joe Kavanagh said: “Parklets attract people to different areas so they can relax and have a chat and maybe bring along a cup of tea or coffee. They are another initiative by Cork City Council to help people of all ages to enjoy the city safely and thereby to support traders. Business owners and community associations can become a ‘Parklet Partner’ and we’re encouraging people to sign up from the end of the week. From Friday, the form will be online at www.corkcity.ie so please fill it out and watch your neighbourhood blossom”.
Parklets will initially be in place for one year. After a year, they will be evaluated to consider whether they should be kept in place for another year, replaced with more permanent seating, or moved to a new location.
Those interested can complete and submit the Parklet Partner Application form which will be on www.corkcity.ie this Friday September 11.
Ballincollig Tidy Towns has applied to be a ‘Parklet Partner’ as the Chairman Tom Butler said he feels it will enhance both the streetscape and the Pollinator Corridor in the town.
