1) ‘Giving Back to Nature’ : a celebration to mark the gift of land to Green Sod Land Trust
To mark the donation of the first piece of land to Green Sod Land Trust, benefactor David Rowe, directors, volunteers and supporters of Green Sod Land Trust gathered with the local community in Red Bog, Co. Carlow on April 16th 2011. The seventy people who attended left their cars in Clonmore and walked the half mile boreen to the celebration, in order to reduce the impact on the local environment. As the sun shone brightly on the garden in Red Bog, Sheila Gallagher, chairperson of the Trust, welcomed everybody to the historic occasion and emphasized the importance of saving natural habitats for all species. Will Paton, chairman of Carlow County Council, expressed his delight in attending and invited people to be still for a moment to listen to the voice of nature, and one and all delighted in the chorus of birdsong which ensued. Mary Collier, president of Carlow ICA, read a very apt poem and thanked the Trust for what it is doing in Carlow.
David said an emotional and inspiring few words which culminated in the handing over of the land. Local musician Leslie Dunne, friends and students provided lively entertainment, playing traditional Irish music during the afternoon, while guests enjoyed light refreshments. Green Sod Land Trust would like to extend a special word of thanks to all who made this day the wonderful success that it was.
“The handing over of this land is a defining moment for us, and a start on the path to what we envisage will be the creation of green corridors the length and breadth of this island” Nellie McLaughlin, director.
2) Social Entrepreneurs Ireland
Green Sod Land Trust chairperson Sheila Gallagher has successfully made it to the final 18 of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, from an initial field of 209. The 2011 Social Impact Programme sought applications from individuals developing new, big ideas to address the social and environmental challenges we face in Ireland today. Next up for Sheila is a lengthy interview on May 6th. Sheila’s colleague and fellow director Melissa Griffith will also attend this interview.
Already the benefits from the involvement with Social Entrepreneurs Ireland are evident. “There is a clarity about the steps we need to take now to move the Trust forward. We are setting new goals and targets. We are pushing ourselves right out of our comfort zone” says Sheila, as she prepares for her interview. Workshops with volunteers and directors have begun, using the Powerpoint presentations on funding, PR, and social networking that Sheila received at bootcamp in March.
3) Membership
We have set ourselves the goal of signing up 500 new members by the end of 2011. We need YOU! Please consider spending €20 now to make Ireland a greener place. Log on to http://greensodlandtrust.ie/contact/membership and become a member today, or write to us at Green Sod Land Trust, 8 Bowling Green, Galway, Ireland. For a limited time, we will give each new member an organic Fair Trade cotton carrier bag with the Trust’s logo.
Thank you! Your membership is greatly appreciated.
4) New Website
The new and improved Green Sod Land Trust website is online! Offering comprehensive information about the Trust in particular, and about Ireland’s natural heritage in general, we hope that this long-awaited resource will appeal to all www.greensodlandtrust.ie. Míle buíochas (a thousand thank you’s) to our dedicated volunteer Onenn le Menn, who has worked tirelessly and professionally for over a year to make the website a reality, and we wish her luck in her new job.
5) ‘Awakening to the world of nature’
This 2 day course in An Gairdin, Portumna is led by the noted John Feehan. John has researched and written extensively on many facets of Ireland’s environmental heritage and history, co-authoring the definitive book on Ireland’s peatlands. He is a senior lecturer in the School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine at UCD, and is a recipient of the Annual Environmental Merit Award of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, and of a special award from Bord na Móna for his work in communicating environmental values. John will lead participants into the world of plants, insects, invertebrates and their habitats. John’s intimate knowledge, enthusiasm and vast experience will make this course one of exciting learning and marvellous discovery. The course takes place on May 21st and June 11th and places are limited. Please contact An Gairdin for more details www.angairdin.com. This event is free to Green Sod Land Trust volunteers, and a 20% discount is available to members of GSLT.
6) Flora Women’s Mini Marathon 2011
If you have signed up to run or walk in the 2011 Flora Women’s Mini-Marathon this June bank holiday on our behalf, you might like to let us know. We can add your profile to our sponsorship page. Please visit the donate page on our website to register yourself as a participant, or to sponsor our office administrator Olivia and/or other registered participants http://greensodlandtrust.ie/contact/fundraising
7) Volunteer with the Trust
If you wish to get involved in environmental protection, then why not volunteer with Green Sod Land Trust. The vital qualification is a genuine passion for protecting the environment. Our current groups in Dublin, Mayo, and our h.q. in Galway, along with a future group in Wexford, will welcome your energy and enthusiasm. We are now seeking volunteers in Co. Carlow. For young people, volunteering is a great way to improve your CV and to get involved in teamwork, but there is also plenty of work for the more mature person and the active elderly. With GSLT, you will not only serve the community and gain valuable experience working to protect land in Ireland, you will also be part of the greatest work of all: taking care of the only home we have, ‘Earth’. Don’t delay, contact us today, we are waiting to hear from you.
8) Spread the (e)News
If there is someone you think would be interested in hearing about Green Sod Land Trust, please link this post to them.
9) Your Details
If you would like to join us, please visit http://greensodlandtrust.ie/contact/subscribe to register now.
