Newsletter 07 September 2024
Sunday Morning Litter Pick
On Sunday Morning we had 28 volunteers out for our Weekly Litter Pick. We meet every Sunday Morning at the Car Park at Quish’s SuperValu West Village and we Litter Pick for Only One Hour and then we go to The Plaza for the all important Cuppa, treat and chat. New Volunteers are always welcome.
This Sunday Pat collected 9 bags of general litter which was segregated on Monday morning.
Pat also collected 3 bags of litter and 1 bag of cans from litter picks by our volunteers during the week.
Ballincollig in Bloom
This week we received some lovely compliments about the floral displays around Ballincollig. We are delighted to receive these comments as a lot of work goes into these by BTT. From planning well in advance to caring for them through our Watering and Dead Heading Teams it takes a lot of time and effort. Looking at the displays where year on year we have increased the number of pollinators in the planting we are delighted this year with the results. We are already planning for 2025.
Thank you for your lovely comments we do appreciate it.
Sunday Works
Cleaning kerb side weeds at Cleburne Mews estate yesterday.
Monday morning
On Monday morning Gay, Keith, Sunday and Tom were busy close to HQ. They cut and cleared away over growing grass and weeds from in front of the allotment fence at HQ.
The section at the Scoil Barra side will have to be finished early in the morning before school starts so as not to be disruptive for the students and teachers of Scoil Barra. They also planted daisies in the corner which will hopefully enhance the area next year and for years to come.
The lads also sorted the rubbish from Sunday and during the week.
A busy morning.
Busy Tuesday
On Tuesday morning Jimmy, Keith and Sunday were busy working in Fr Sexton Park. We have a plan here to test our natural way of keeping weeds at bay.
The lads removed all weeds and grasses removed from kerbs and cracks/joints in roadway in the estate.
They filled 7 plastic bags of weeds/sweepings plus one ton bag of leaves. They also picked up Two black plastic bags of leaves collected by the residents.
Once all the weeds were removed we applied Saltwater to those locations and will monitor this area and reapply if necessary.
The lads then collected 4 bags of sweepings from Rosewood who had been busy in advance of their Community Day on Sunday.
Job Finished
Early on Tuesday Morning before the students of Scoil Barra started Sunday finished off the work we started on Monday cleaning near the fence.
Tuesday Worknight
On Tuesday evening 14 Volunteers met on The Link Road to continue the work from our previous Worknight there. Our two edging machines were busy preparing the area before our volunteers removed the overhanging sod from the footpath on both sides. The volunteers did an amazing job in just one hour.
The pictures tell a story but the real story is the dedication and the commitment by this group and so many other people who volunteer week in week out
An Amazing Team.
Watering Teams
Our Watering Teams continue to be amazed at how much water the planters take at different times. When we think they should take a lot because of the weather they don’t and we we think they shouldn’t take much it’s the opposite.
An example on Tuesday night when the Waterboys 2 were watering.
After only 3 days between watering they used 1,100 litres of water and feed or 367 litres per day, compared to the previous Tuesday night when they only used 1,000 litres after 9 days.
Tuesday night some baskets took no water while others were virtually dry.
The lads spent 3 hours watering and ensuring that everything was filled.
The planters at Eastgate took only 750 litres this week.
Generosity
On Thursday afternoon one of our committee was in a well known city centre Safety Equipment Company when he was praised for the work that Ballincollig Tidy Towns was doing and handed him 3 bags of safety gloves for our volunteers. This generosity is really appreciated and the gloves will be put to good use.
Thursday Works
On Thursday Ger, Tom and Sunday removed 2 tonne bags of bind weed, briars & ivy from the hedge opposite entrance to Coolroe Heights.
Together with the edging from Tuesday nights Worknight and from the work on Wednesday everyone was taken for recycling.
Welcome to our Monthly Magazine – We’re thrilled to share the strides we’ve made in our ongoing mission to combat wasted resources, and their detrimental impacts on our environment.
In this issue, we’re highlighting our new North County Dublin Fingal Cup Project, the ongoing success of our West Cork Waste Not, Want Not initiative, and giving you a sneak peek at our upcoming anti-fast fashion website launching in September—plus much more!
Fingal Cup Project – Fingal County Council has teamed up with VOICE to mentor the communities of Rush and Malahide on their journey to eliminate single-use cups!
Stay tuned for updates as these communities, with the help of Lyndsey, work together to make Fingal’s dream of becoming Ireland’s first county to go single-use cup free a reality.
Exciting news! After months of hard work, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of our brand new website: Fabric of Change – Ireland’s first-ever hub dedicated to sustainable fashion!
We created this website to help you connect the dots between your wardrobe and the planet, offering everything from eye-opening insights to practical tips. Whether you’re looking to make more mindful choices or simply curious about the impact of fashion, this is your go-to space.
But it’s more than just a resource—it’s a movement. We’re shining a spotlight on Irish changemakers and imagining a future where a creative and ciruclar fashion is the norm.
Be ready on the 23rd of September!
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT – CLONAKILTY
This September Waste Not, Want Not is co-hosting three events in Clonakilty and focusing our efforts on the mighty apple!
But before we delve in to a celebration of the land of the Ard Cairn Russet (a native Cork desert apple!) please save the date for two events we will be hosting this month in collaboration with Clonakilty Guitar Festival and Culture night. From 7:30pm on Thursday September 19th all are invited to join us at Clonakilty Meals on Wheels (Casement Park) to celebrate the work of these community food heroes with music and dancing!
And on Friday 20th of September from 6pm-8pm pop into the Green Dot Café to see an exhibition by local photographer and passionate food advocate Thady Trá entitled ‘Waisted: The Culture of Food’. It will be a feast for the senses! Both events are part of a series we will be running this autumn to celebrate local food champions and grow our Waste Not, Want Not community.
And now – It’s Apple Time! To celebrate this harvest, Waste Not, Want Not is helping to create the new West Cork Harvest Festival and hosting the first annual Clon Apple Fest! With support from the Friends of Asylum Seekers, we’ve planned a day full of free events and talks alongside the annual apple pressing – for all ages – at the Clonakilty Community Garden, from 12-6pm on September 29th including special talks by Apple Expert, Cillian Boyd. Find out all the details on our website.
This year, make the Most of Your Apple Harvest. Gather your family and friends, pick those apples, and share the bounty with your neighbours. If you don’t have a tree but love apples, don’t hesitate to ask around or connect with local community groups. Many older residents in our community have apple trees that could use a helping hand for the harvest.
You might be surprised to learn that a single tree can produce up to 840 pounds of apples! That’s enough to keep everyone stocked up on homemade pies, chutneys, and juice for months. Apple sharing is a great way to build connections while ensuring that no apple goes to waste.
Waste Not Want Not in Clonakilty: A Whole Community Approach to Food Waste!
“Waste Not, Want Not” is a collaborative effort with local stakeholders, including Clonakilty Tidy Towns and Clonakilty Community Resource Center.
Photo Credit L to R – Aifric Rohan, Grace Rohan, Molly Donovan and Mya Cronin apple fest
COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER
Free Webinar: Waste Incineration and the Environment; The webinar and the report will provide a comprehensive overview of current knowledge on waste incineration and its specific impacts on the environment and human health. They will also discuss how waste incineration contributes to the current Triple Planetary Crisis: climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Registration Link
VOICE IN THE NEWS
Free Webinar: Waste Incineration and the Environment; The webinar and the report will provide a comprehensive overview of current knowledge on waste incineration and its specific impacts on the environment and human health. They will also discuss how waste incineration contributes to the current Triple Planetary Crisis: climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Registration Link