URBAN OCTOBER – CELEBRATING CORK CITY CENTRE’S PUBLIC SPACES

This October the public is invited to look at Cork City Centre through fresh eyes – to see its advantages and attractions, to celebrate what it already has to offer, and to imagine how it could be improved.

Urban October in Cork is a programme of free events celebrating the City Centre, and will include tours and talks, performances, workshops, and a whole lot more, aimed at all ages.

The event will showcase how well designed and managed public spaces have a positive impact on people who live or work in the city.

A thriving city centre is essential for Cork’s economic prosperity and also plays an essential role in its social and cultural identity.  During October the public will discover how Cork’s City Centre is being revitalised and can explore creatively how it could be further enhanced.

CEF is involved in a number of Urban October events including Wildlife Walks, a Halloween Decoration Workshop, the EcCoWell/ Core Seminar “Towards a Sustainable City” and the initiatives under ReUse Month.

Darragh Murphy will lead a number of walks to reveal and celebrate the plants and animals that inhabit the city walls, water quays and green spaces. Walks on Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th October at 2pm, 3pm & 4pm both days. Limited to 8 per walk, book at 083 1468064 or

bernadette@cef.ie Meet at the Gate Cinema. 

Halloween Willow & ReUse Workshops  at St. Peter’s Exhibition Centre, North Main Street Sat 29th

Workshop at 10.30am Ages 4 -7 (spaces) 

Workshop at 1pm 7+ 

Creative workshops to make jam jar and willow lanterns and other spooky Halloween decorations from waste items, facilitated by Jessica Mason. Bookings contact 083 1468064 or bernadette@cef.ie

There are a number of Christmas Decoration Workshops taking place in the next few weeks as follows:

Children Workshop         Lifetime Lab, Saturday 28th November 11am -1pm & 2pm -4pm

Childrens Workshop       Future Forests, Saturday 5th December  Flexible Drop in 1pm -4pm

Adult Workshop              Dunmanway Community Garden, Monday 30th November 10.30am -12.30pm –  natural craft workshop with willow and foilage

Booking is essential as numbers limited, email bernadette@cef.ie or call 083 1468064

Cork Environmental Forum is to run a number of Global Action Plan courses with funding secured from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Places are limited so please book – see details and contacts following.

Two GAP Greener Living programmes for householders will take place:

Bantry

Innishannon

The third course is aimed at accommodation providers will take place in Kinsale from the 27^th January 2015.

Our Annual Christmas Upcycling decoration workshops, faciliatated by Jessica Mason and some assistants, recently took place in Ballingeary, Turners Cross and Cloughduv. The workshops which are all about making decorations from waste materials proved very popular. In Ballingeary both children and adults get involved with creating all sorts of wonderful seasonal decorations using paper, cards, old light bulbs, CDs/DVDs,  fabric and willow.

The workshops are a creative hive of activity but there is a serious message as it is the time of year when we consume huge amounts of precious resources. Maybe you too can get inspiration from these pictures of the wonderful creations.

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We are all only too aware of the debate regarding water at the present moment, but that aside, water is a precious commodity, and we should strive to make better use of it.

On next Thursday November 13th there will be an opportunity to educate yourself and your family in water conservation. Aspects dealt with include an overview in relation to water supply and why it needs to be conserved.  There will be practical information and discussion on leaks, flow and tanks, use of equipment such as dishwashers, showers and washing machines.  How choosing different products can reduce consumption, water harvesting and its uses etc.  Some practical examples of easy adaptors will be available to view such as aerated showerheads and tap insets.  The aim is to make the information session as interactive and engaging as possible.

Pictures from the Workshop

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Irish Wildlife Trust Cork – Invasive Species Workshop

This event is being organised by the Irish Wildlife Trust (Cork branch) and the IRD Duhallow LIFE project. The event will include a field visit to demonstrate the Himalayan Balsam removal work in the River Allow catchment and the invasive spread of Japanese Knotweed along the roadside and its threats to watercourses.

For the Legends Cork St Patrick’s Day parade CEF in conjunction with Mahon Youth Group is creating a 3D “Salmon of Knowledge” out of discarded CDs/DVDs and willow. If you have a stash of old CD you wish to get rid of we will gladly take them. Please contact me at 083 1468064 or email bernadette@cef.ie and I will arrange collection. If possible we need these by Wednesday 5th March.