Ballincollig Tidy Towns would like to wish its Volunteers, Transition Year Students and the local community a very Happy Easter.
A QUIET WEEK
It has been a quiet week at the allotment. Work has been slow not only because of the weather but also due to holidays.
John sorted the week’s litter and filled another bag of plastic which made two in total for the week together with one of cans and a crate of glass.
On Wednesday he cut the grass on the Killumney Road.
CORK CITY AGE FRIENDLY SEATING
Chief Executive Cork City Council Ann Doherty accompanied by the Cork Age Friendly City Older Persons Representatives Nora O’Donovan, Phil Ní Mhurchú, Noel Dempsey and Finbarr Coughlan, together with John Mullins, Executive Chairman Amarenco and Age Friendly Ambassador for Cork City, officially launched the Age Friendly Seating in Cork City centre on Monday 28th March.
Made possible with funding from the National Transport Authority, the retrofitted age friendly seating is attached to concrete and marble plinths in five locations in the city centre, including Grand Parade, Cornmarket Street, and St. Patrick’s Street. , in order to meet the criteria identified to qualify as age friendly seating, the retro fitting includes wooden slats and backs, and arm rests. Additionally, five other benches will be retro fitted with arm rests on the Grand Parade Promenade in 2022.
Following consultation with the Cork Age Friendly City Older Persons Representatives and a cross-directorate team the project was initiated and drawn together to deliver the Age Friendly seating. The team included the City Architect’s Department who designed the seating, the Operations Directorate, Infrastructure Directorate engineers and the Community, Culture and Placemaking Directorate.
SPORTS CAPITAL GRANTS SCHEME
Cork City Council’s longstanding support for sporting organisations and clubs continues with the approval of €450,000 in Sports Capital Grants for 2022. It recognises that clubs run by volunteers, are essential to maintaining a vibrant, sustainable sports sector.
The grants scheme provides funds for projects directly related to enhancing facilities or purchasing of equipment.
This scheme has assisted all types of clubs and organisations over the years, from rowing and football to athletics and taekwondo. When the scheme for 2021 was announced almost 100 applications were received.
The consistent financial support offered by Cork City Council not only greatly assists clubs but benefits the wider community.
The grants are not intended as an alternative to other sources of funding. They complement other schemes, helping to bolster local contributions or assisting with funding where certain works are not covered by other grant schemes.
They allow for minor capital work towards enhancement of premises, pitches, etc., as well as funding non-personal sports equipment that will be used for at least five years.
Sporting clubs and organisations can find further information and apply for a grant online at Sports Capital Grants – Cork
LITTER PICK
On Sunday morning 21 of our Volunteers and 1 Transition Year student carried out the weekly litter pick. They managed to cover quite a wide area in the hour.
During the week several Volunteers carried out their usual litter picks on Main Street.
When Sunday’s collected litter was added to the week’s collections it yielded one bag of plastic, one bag of glass and one bag of cans.
Our Volunteers also filled a large black bag with nappies which continue to be thrown on the roadside. Our thanks to a member of the public who stopped and helped our volunteer to gather them.
As already stated in previous newsletters we are taking advice on how best to put a stop to the person(s) doing this.
COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY AWARDS
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Colm Kelleher, recently launched the 2022 Lord Mayor’s Community & Voluntary Awards recognising the enormous contribution Volunteers and Community and Voluntary organisations make to the fabric of the city.
Held annually since 2004, the Lord Mayor’s Community and Voluntary Awards recognise in a very public way the contribution voluntary and community groups make in all facets of life throughout the city. The awards will be presented to one overall winner and to five category winners at a Gala event in the Concert Hall, City Hall, Cork on 24th May.
The five categories are: Advocacy/Information/Guidance; Social Services, Charities & Environment Arts, Culture, Recreation and Sport; Community Development and Continuing Education; Health & Well Being.
The closing date for nominations for the Lord Mayor’s Community & Voluntary Awards 2022 is Wednesday 27th April.
The public is invited to nominate the groups they would like to see recognised for the good work in which they engage. Nomination forms may be obtained from the Community, Culture & Placemaking Directorate, City Hall or by contacting Chris Dorgan at chrisdorgan@corkcity.ie
CUTTING NEWS
Many of you may have been wondering why the grass on the Poulavone Roundabout has not yet been cut. Well, the reason we haven’t done so is to give the bees coming out of hibernation a chance to feed on the dandelions.
Saturday week is the date we have penciled in to cut the roundabout and all the waste will be gathered and taken to the compost bays at the allotment.
Plans for planting the beds on the roundabout are well advanced.
TOP TIPS FOR TIDY TOWNS GROUPS TO SAVE THE BEES
Let Dandelions bloom – they provide vital food for hungry bees in spring.
Make the most of your space – plant pollinator friendly flowers in any free green areas in your community or in window boxes and outdoor plant pots.
Reduce mowing – mow every 6 weeks from mid-April to allow flowers like clover to grow and provide food.
Create safe habitats for bees – remember not all bees live in hives. Bumble bees and solitary bees need safe places to live too. Why not provide some safe places for them to make their nests in your garden.
Don’t spray – the overuse of herbicides is making it difficult for pollinators to find enough flowers to feed from.
Don’t be afraid of bees – wild bees will never attack humans (even if threatened). If one comes near you sit still and it will fly away once it realises you’re not a flower.
Record your actions – log your actions on pollinators.ie to help us track the increase in pollinator resources in the landscape. The save the bees cards will help identify the types of bees in your window box or garden.
Encourage local schools to get involved – why not link in with your local schools and encourage them to enter SuperValu Save The Bees School Award.
WASTE PREVENTION GRANT SCHEME
Cork City Council’s annual Waste Prevention Scheme has been launched and is calling on community and voluntary groups and schools to apply for funding of up to €1,000 per project under the scheme. As part of its Waste Prevention Programme and its commitments under the Southern Region Waste Management Plan the grant is funded by the Community, Culture & Placemaking Directorate of Cork City Council.
The scheme is for Cork City groups to implement waste prevention, re-use and repair initiatives in their local communities and to encourage partnership between local community and voluntary groups, local charities, schools and businesses.
The closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday 27th April, 2022.
