If you've ever wondered what you can do to help to conserve Ireland's landscape and ecosystems, don't miss Walls to Wildflowers: Conservation in Action, an exhibition at the ENFO Exhibition Centre. This informative display, developed by Conservation Volunteers Ireland in conjunction with ENFO, takes visitors on a pictorial journey through Irish hedgerows, dry stone walls, urban amenities, ponds, sand dunes and wildflower meadows.
It also shows how individuals can take action at a local level to preserve and restore our rich natural heritage.
Walls to Wildflowers continues at the ENFO Centre, 17 St Andrew's Street, Dublin 2 until September 15th. Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday. Information from 1890-200191 and www.enfo.ie
A recent survey conducted by Play Space in the UK found that children frequently don't play outside because they don't feel safe. In the survey, 25 per cent of the children questioned felt unable to play outside for fear of being bullied and 17 per cent were deterred by traffic.
"There is little new in this latest study, and the response of children here would be little different," says Margaret Webb, co-founder of Sugradh, an Irish organisation founded in 1997 to promote and protect children's right to play, as defined by the UN Convention on children's rights. "The bottom line is that we need to provide more playgrounds, play schemes and safe environments where children live so that they can meet friends and play outside safely close to home."
The 2001 Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland Regional Awards exhibition has moved to Limerick on its tour of the country. Celebrating the range and quality of work done by Irish architects at home and abroad, this year's exhibition features displays of the 29 award-winning works - the highest number since the scheme began 12 years ago.
The importance of the awards lies in the fact that "immediate recognition is given to good architecture in the year of its completion", says RIAI director John Graby.
You can visit the exhibition at City Hall, Merchant's Quay, Limerick until September 4th.
Companies and services that generate waste - as most do - needn't put it out to be dumped in an unecological landfill. Irish company Wastechange works internationally to facilitate the exchange of commercial waste for recycling across the globe.
It's not only the environment that benefits from the recycling of waste - so too do the companies, who can make money by sending on their recyclable waste to someone who can use it, as well as receiving commercial waste products they can upgrade and recycle themselves. These include batteries, paper, chemical oils, glass, metals, IT equipment and plastics.
Wastechange will help companies to get the best deal available, in its international search to find the right match for buyers and sellers. It can also help to improve an existing deal. The service is free.
Interested companies should visit the website (www.wastechange.com) or ring the commercial waste helpline on 1580-925211.