Water is the most precious natural resource on the planet. With the imminent introduction of water charges, the whole country is thinking about water usage. Regardless of one’s opinion on water charges, as a nation we must address our often wasteful use of water, particularly as we can expect uneven distribution of rain in the future. We discuss some of the main issues around water usage and a number of ways in which we can use it more sustainably, and keep our bills down.

Humans are made up of about 65% of the stuff, we need it to keep us alive and wash ourselves with. Clean water is so important to human survival and quality of life. We are lucky in Ireland that we have access to clean water and that we have the infrastructure to treat and distribute it. However it does cost a lot to treat water so that it is of drinkable quality and if our rivers and lakes are polluted the cost of treatment can be very high. It is often assumed that we don’t need to worry about how much water we use as it rains so much here. This is not quite the case. In recent weeks, off shore islands, including The Aran islands and Cape Clear, have had to import up to 50,000 litres of water per day, as a result of the dry weather.

It is predicted that climate change will lead to drier summers, resulting in certain parts of the country becoming affected by drought, while the population of the driest parts of Ireland, along the east coast, will increase.

 What can I do?

 Using Less Water

Saving water often comes down to awareness and monitoring usage. An average Irish person uses 150 litres of water every day, much of which is flushed away, although this figure can vary greatly. For example, a seven minute power shower uses about 175 litres of water compared to 49 in a conventional shower – a massive difference! By simply doing things like taking shorter showers we can make a difference.

 Using water more efficiently

Another very simple step comes down to using water in a more efficient manner. Not leaving taps running, having leaks fixed and only using water when necessary all help. If you turn your tap off when brushing your teeth you can save 6 litres of water per minute, and up to 7,000 litres per year. Furthermore, devices such as washing machines, which use large amounts of water should only be used when full.

 Grey Water

Bathrooms see the most water use, with toilet flushing accounting for about 40% of a household’s average water usage. In many countries around the world, you will find cisterns with dual flush options, which limit the amount of water used. An alternative to this would be to use a toilet displacement device, which can either be purchased very cheaply, or home made. It is a device, such as a plastic bottle or tube, filled with water, which you place in the cistern. This displaces some of the water needed to flush the toilet, and it can save you up to 3 litres of water per flush. A device can be made from an empty juice bottle or carton, of about 1.5 – 2 litres. You fill it to add weight to it, which will then displace the water. At least a part of it should be filled with sand or gravel, so that it does not bounce around the cistern.  Another option, is the recycling of grey water from showers and washing machines. While this water may appear dirty, it is perfectly fine to use in the garden. Grey water recycling kits or pipe add ons can be purchased at a low cost.

Rainwater Collection

It is a  shame that we don’t make maximum use of our abundant rainfall.  Rainwater collection tanks or rainwater harvesters are excellent and can be hooked up to domestic water tanks. Usually rainwater is used for non-drininking uses but there are add-on devices available to make rainwater drinkable. . At a simple level, tanks and barrels can be used to collect rainwater for garden use, saving your mains supply.

Water butts are tanks, of around 200 litres, that are connected to the end of downpipes, diverting rainwater from drains, allowing it to be collected and used in the garden.  More complex tanks can be purchased with filtration systems and pumping mechanisms. In many countries rain water collection is very common and is heavily encouraged due to extremely dry conditions. Earlier this year, former Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, announced plans to introduce legislation requiring all new builds to have rainwater harvesters installed, stating that this could reduce household consumption by 50%.

 Conclusion

Water will only become an even bigger issue in the future. We can save ourselves money and do our bit to conserve our most precious natural resource by following some of the steps above.

Tuesday, 19 August last was ‘Earth Overshoot Day’ – the date our ‘Ecological Footprint’ exceeded our planet’s annual budget.  Ecological footprint is a measure of human demand on the Earth’s ecosystems.This year it has taken less than eight months for humans to use up nature’s entire budget for the year and go into ecological overshoot, according to data from Global Footprint Network, an international sustainability think tank. They calculate that it would currently take 1.5 Earths to produce the natural resources now needed to support human requirements.

In 2000 Earth Overshoot Day was not reached until October while back in 1961 it was not reached at all. At that stage we used about three-quarters of the earth’s capacity to produce food, timber, fish and to absorb greenhouse gases and most countries had more resources than they consumed. Most of the world’s population live in countries where the demands made on nature – the nation’s ecological footprint – outstrip what that country’s resources can cope with. Per head of population, we in Ireland are among the countries with the highest ecological footprint in the world and are helping to propel the world into deep ecological debt.  The Global Footprint Network says that the costs of our ecological overspending are becoming more evident by the day. They say that the interest we are paying on that mounting ecological debt in the form of deforestation, fresh-water scarcity, soil erosion, biodiversity loss and the build-up of CO2 in our atmosphere also comes with mounting human and economic costs. They see countries with resource deficits and low incomes as being exceptionally vulnerable.

The message poses challenges for Governments, corporations, communities and us as individuals. Many products and services are used with little or no account taken of the ecological impact of that decision. This can range from decisions by Governments and corporations such as the decision to extract oil from tar sands or by fracking to the decisions we make when buying an item in a shop such as one made from non-certified hardwood from a tropical rainforest.

For more information on the Global Footprint Network and its work in tracking humanity’s demand on the planet (Ecological Footprint) against nature’s biocapacity see www.footprintnetwork.org. If you wish to calculate your own carbon footprint see www.foe.ie/justoneearth/carboncalculator.

In Brief

Having a ‘greener’ back to school

The first day of school of the new school year is upon us and as parents and guardians prepare to send the little (and not so little) ones back to their classrooms, the organisation Voice suggests ways to reduce the impact of ‘back to school’ on the environment and even save money along the way.  They say ‘greening’ your school preparations does not only mean buying from sustainable sources and products from recycled material, it also means reusing items that still have good life in them. Suggestions include sourcing used uniforms and school books, covering school books, having nutritious lunches minus throwaway packaging and walking/cycling to school. See www.voiceireland.org for more details.

Save money on your energy bill this winter and into the future

The ‘Better Energy Homes Scheme’ provides grants to homeowners to upgrade their homes with energy efficiency measures which can include such works as roof insulation, wall insulation, boiler and heating control upgrades and installation of solar panels. These will not just reduce your energy use and costs, they also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For details, see http://www.seai.ie/grants.

Certain social welfare recipients may avail of free home insulation. CAMCAS (Cavan & Monaghan Community Area Services), work with Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to carry out the’ Warmer Home Scheme’, providing Attic and Cavity Wall Insulation. For further information and to see if you are eligible, contact the CAMCAS office on 049 9527384

Monaghan project in national display of young people’s eco action projects

A showcase of young people’s environmental action projects from around Ireland including a winning project from the Teach na nDaoine Family Resource Centre,  Monaghan is running until Friday, 12 September in the European Union House on Dawson Street in Dublin. The Teach na nDaoine project was entitled ‘Class Trash’ and was a winner in the Junior Waste/ECO Art & Design category. The exhibition displays over 20 projects from young people island-wide who participated in ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards 2014 programme. There were 75 finalists at the Young Environmental Awards Showcase and Ceremony in May 2014 and the exhibition displays a number of the winning projects along with some highly commended groups.

Our former President and founder of the Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Justice, Mary Robinson has now been appointed to the role of UN Special Envoy for Climate Change. It’s a very important role in the run up to next year’s Climate Talks in Paris. She intends to focus on the severity and human rights implications of Climate Change. Mary Robinson has a big challenge ahead, as has all of humanity, but can she make a difference in her new role.   

Former Uachtarán na hÉireann, Mary Robinson, has been appointed UN Special Envoy for Climate Change.

Over the last number of years, Mary Robinson has been extremely vocal on the need for all of society to take urgent action on Climate Change. She is the president of the Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Justice, based in Dublin, which focuses on highlighting the injustice of climate change and the disproportionate effect it is having on the world’s poorest.

In stark and committed language, she laid out her agenda on a number of morning radio programmes on Monday of last week, saying that climate change is a “huge existential threat to all of us.” She promised to focus her work and energy on reminding leaders that we can’t continue with “business as usual, nor is business as usual with a little bit of green on the side acceptable”. She acknowledged the role that business has to play in combatting climate change and that everyone, as consumers, has a level of responsibility.  She is aware of the huge challenges that exist in combatting climate change, in particular keeping warming below the critical threshold of 2 degrees Celsius. If we were to do this, we need to aim towards having a zero carbon economy before 2050. She said that while we only have two decades to act and that it is possible to do it.  Countries that act soonest will be rewarded. According to Mary Robinson we need a robust and fair pathway, and that a zero carbon future must be equitable, i.e. ‘less developed’ countries have to be treated fairly.   She claimed that the first countries that make moves towards renewable energy will be the ones where jobs will exist in the future and she claims that Ireland can give great global leadership in this area.

Global leaders have promised to construct an international agreement by 2015, that will provide a pathway for action on climate change. While time is running out to achieve meaningful action, there is a growing urgency and recognition that Climate Change is serious and requires a matched response. The signs are everywhere. Global CO2 levels have remained at an historic high of 400 parts per million for the last year, wind storms are on the increase, and this June saw global temperatures 0.7c above the average. We may not see the worst effects of climate change in Monaghan, or in Ireland in the short term but there is no doubt that we will be affected by the impact of climate change in other parts of the world. In many countries climate change is happening more quickly than in Ireland and they have fewer resources to help cope with the effects of extreme weather events and so food shortages and new refugees are the result.  It is literally a matter of life or death for many people in these countries who are essentially being affected by the burning of fossil fuels over many years by more developed countries in Europe, America and elsewhere.  Rising sea levels is another consequence of climate change and we could see many of the Pacific Islands ceasing  to exist this century, while hundreds of thousands of people in low lying areas such as Bangladesh will be displaced. It is estimated that up to 700 million people will be displaced by 2050 as a result of climate change.

Climate Change is real, it is accelerating and it will only get worse without radical action. Mary Robinson certainly has her work cut out, to bring about change in an antiquated system that is often slow to act and bows to pressure from vested interests. However, with her passion, commitment and vision we can be hopeful that she will have a positive impact in her new role and will be a strong voice for a stable future for the planet. We here in her home country need to campaign and give strong leadership in addressing climate change. We can give her our full support by ensuring that Ireland becomes a place that significantly reduces its CO2 emissions. We as consumers have to play our part by cutting our use of oil, gas and coal and also of course reducing our purchases of goods and services that during their production and transport have generated high CO2 emissions.    We wish our former President, Mary Robinson, well in her new role.

Over 1,200 submissions have been received by the Government in response to its call for submissions on its Green Paper on Energy in Ireland. One of these submissions was compiled by Transition Ireland. The submission calls for a National Energy Transition Plan bringing together all sectors to create one shared vision for Ireland’s energy.

The large number of submissions received on the Energy Policy Green Paper reflects the fact that many groups and individuals realise that we are at what Minister for Energy, Alex White TD described as an “energy crossroads”.  It is generally accepted that we have to significantly reduce our reliance on imported coal, oil and gas, while becoming much more energy efficient and further increasing our output of renewable energy. Furthermore every country needs to move to a zero carbon or carbon neutral as soon as possible in order to meet our commitments to addressing climate change. Carbon neutrality, or having a net zero carbon footprint, is about achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing the amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount of carbon that is sequestered or captured.

 As well at the issues of wind turbines and pylons the controversial issue of possible fracking (hydraulic fracturing) in the border counties has emerged. Fracking is the process of drilling and injecting fluid into the ground at a high pressure in order to fracture shale rocks to release natural gas inside.  The issue of energy security has also come to the fore with the recent political and military developments in Ukraine and Russia which have highlighted Europe’s over-dependence on natural gas that is being imported by pipeline from Russia.  

The Transition movement has evolved to build community resilience to better prepare our communities for the inevitable environmental, societal, political and economic shocks that climate change and resource depletion are causing and will continue to cause. The aim of any transition initiative is to foster and strengthen its communityʼs resilience in light of these challenges. In this context the Transition movement has, in various countries, been involved in policy work and practical projects. A recent example has been the publication of an Energy Descent Action Plan for Co Kerry by the Transition Kerry initiative. In it the target is set out to have 100% renewable energy in Co Kerry by 2030.

The Transition submission on the Green Paper outlines some key elements to its proposal for a National Energy Transition Plan for Ireland. These  include  raising awareness, creating a shared vision, designing pathways for that vision and some definite proposals. The submission was co-ordinated by Theresa Carter. Theresa is passionate about sustainability and has undertaken a range of transition initiatives at national level and locally in Co Laois. The following are some of the key points in the submission.

Raising awareness and creating a shared vision

It is paramount that everybody has an understanding of the basic factors underpinning our national energy plans: climate change and energy security for all. There must be informed debates, discussions and conversation about all considerations for this national policy. The Aarhus Convention states that we all have a right to information relevant to our environment. The Irish Government needs to play an active role in providing impartial, factual information on all aspects of energy plans, policies and projects to its citizens at the preplanning stage.

Transition Ireland is calling for facilitated conversations in every town so that all considerations for national energy policy can be explored. Climate change and our over dependence on imported energy must be presented and discussed so that the challenges are understood and the solutions can be nurtured. Transition calls on the Government to set up a national public participation working group on energy policy, that can ensure public participation is given the consideration it deserves and ensure compliance with the Aarhus convention.

Targets and proposals

Once a vision has been created, a timeline of targets must be agreed. These need to be in line with our targets as part of the EU. However locally the targets will probably be higher as communities engage with the shared vision for a more sustainable economy and

Energy security is a massive threat to western society but the greatest known threat to humanity and life on earth in general, is climate change. Transition Ireland and Northern Ireland want to see:

• Remaining reserves of fossil fuel left in the ground
• Greater emphasis and work on carbon sequestration
• Radical acceleration of energy conservation and storage
• Community energy addressed and supported in line with Friends of the Earth

Community Energy Policy Position Paper

• No further discussions or intent to license fossil fuel exploration including fracking.

Next steps

According to the Department of Energy, the written public consultation will be followed by detailed analysis by officials in advance of further public engagement at various events commencing this October. Drafting of the White Paper will then begin with a view to publication in mid-2015. The Department says that the new Energy Policy Framework will be “timely, in that it will be guided by Ireland’s input to the EU’s 2030 Framework for Climate and Energy policies and the preparations for the UN’s COP21 in Paris (the 21^st Conference of the Parties within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) in November next year”. We await to see the extent to which the Government will take on board the suggestions put forward in submissions such as that of Transition Ireland.

Community gardeners (from left) Máire Brehony, Deirde McGinn, Helen Mooney and Eileen Kerr checking their tomato crop at the community polytunnel at Eagle Ridge Gardens, Drumillard Castleblayney.

The local Shows such as the recent one in Castleblayney was an opportunity for locally produced food and craft to be exhibited. As well as the competitions for horticultural and food produce there was the new Food Village – ‘From Field to Fork’ with stalls where  producers of a wide range of  local foods,  ranging from jams to sausages, displayed and sold their produce.  Castleblayney Community Gardens had a stand there displaying their fruit and vegetable produce from their community gardens. Some of the vegetables and herbs at their stand were using in the cookery demonstration in the Food Village. Elsewhere at the Show there were a number of stands of interest.  One of these was that of the cross border chapter of the Irish Woodturners Guild. They had a wide range of locally sourced and crafted wood products ranging from a fruit bowls to a traditional spinning wheel. Local sustainable produce has always been a feature of these annual Shows and it is great to see this element being further expanded this year by the committee of the Castleblayney Show Society.  Tydavnet Show takes place this Saturday 15 August at the showgrounds at Drumshevra, Scotstown. Why not go along and see the range of local produce on display.  More details are available elsewhere in this newspaper and at http://www.tydavnetshow.ie.

In today’s fast paced world, where almost everything is valued in monetary terms, it is easy to forget the true value and importance of that which sustains us – the natural world. Water, air, fuel and food are probably the most important elements of survival, all of which come from nature, and allow us to prosper. Of course, some of these resources are finite and others, such as water and air, become less useful if polluted. How we interact with these resources has an effect on their quality as well as our own health. As human beings, we have a responsibility to ourselves, the planet and future generations to act as stewards and take care of the natural world, so that our children and children’s children can continue to enjoy nature’s bounty.

Biodiversity garden at Glaslough

Biodiversity loss

Unfortunately, we haven’t been doing a great job at protecting our natural environment. Our biodiversity, has suffered a great decline in recent years with continued urban development and short sighted careless use of our natural resources. Scientists refer to this era as the ‘Anthropocene’. This term refers to the effect of humans on the planet, and is related to the fact that we are in an era of mass extinction, whereby species are being lost at up to 1000 times the normal rate. The last such mass extinction event occurred 65 million years ago and resulted in vast losses of species, including dinosaurs. Unsustainable use of natural resources, heavy pollution, intensive agriculture, climate change and ocean acidification, all related in their source are all factors contributing to this rapid decline.

Resources which cannot be monetised are often dismissed as unimportant or not exciting enough to care about, much to our own peril. While we certainly overlook the inherent and intrinsic value of nature and a healthy planet, we also overlook the ‘economic’ benefits that healthy eco systems bestow on us.

Bees

Right across the world, and Co. Monaghan is no exception, colonies of bees have been in rapid decline in recent decades. While bees may not always appear to be the most human friendly of creatures, by buzzing about from flower to flower they are doing tremendous work for our species and for farmers. Bees are vital pollinators, allowing flowers and flowering crops to flourish naturally. Unfortunately, wild and native bee species have suffered sharp declines in parts of the world. The main reasons for this are increased use of pesticides and the dramatic reduction in wild flowers in natural habitats. The Federation of Irish Beekeepers does great work in promoting the importance of bees and beekeeping and supports bee keepers across the country. There is a local branch in Monaghan / Armagh and in Louth and Cavan. See www.irishbeekeeping.ie for details.  As well as keeping bees, there are other way we can help. Planting wildflowers in a corner of our garden, or even having wildlife corners free to nature, are a big help to bees. Certain ornamental flowers such as borage and herbs such as oregano are attractive to bees.  

Earthworm

The earth worm is another great creature that is often overlooked, and has been threatened by the mass use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides, which damage the health and biodiversity of soil. A report commissioned by the Department of the Environment a few years ago put the value of the humble earthworm at €700 million per year for the services it provides. The small creatures, which live below the soil, digest and breakdown organic matter, releasing nutrients in forms which can be easily digested by plants and creatures living in the soil. By aerating the soil and moving nutrients through it, they help to boost its fertility. While pesticides and chemical laden artificial fertiliser might be a quick fix for fast growing grass, they damage the natural structure of the soil, diminishing its own natural ability to regenerate.

Local Interest

In Co. Monaghan, we have a number of areas that are particularly rich in biodiversity. The relative wilderness of Bragan is a fine example. Not only is it a refuge for wildlife, where one can hear the cuckoo or see the grouse or hen harrier, the extensive blanket bog is itself a rich and unique natural gem. Many of the world’s peatlands have disappeared or been exhausted, which makes conserving our own bogs more important. As well as our bogs, we have a number of biodiversity gardens in the county, including the ones photographed above at Doohamlet and Glaslough which were created by local voluntary groups. As well as being a lovely place for children and adults to stroll through they are also an important educational resource for local schools.

While there is no doubt that we have lost a great deal of our natural world and appreciation for it, we can still do a great deal to preserve what we have. We can all take simple steps to boost the biodiversity of where we live, by planting flowers or trees that support insects and birds, avoiding the use of artificial pesticides in our garden and simply opting to buy locally produced honey or organic fruit and vegetables.

This weekend, Blayney Rovers Football Club is holding a fundraising Scrap Metal Collection Weekend in Casltleblayney. It’s an opportunity for people in the mid Monaghan area to have a spring clean of their garages, backyards and farmyards.  Any metal item from as small as a biscuit tin to as big as a car or tractor will be accepted this Saturday and Sunday, 5 & 6 July between 10am and 5pm at Drumillard Industrial Estate to the rear of Lidl.  If you are within 20km of Castleblayney the members of the organising committee will arrange collection if you have a reasonable quantity of metal items for recycling. Phone 086 8266741 / 087 757299 / 086 7841097.

In taking metal items to the scrap collection weekend you are supporting the soccer club in Castleblayney in its work to develop a new soccer pitch in Drumillard. In addition you are ensuring that the metal will be recycled. If you don’t live in mid Monaghan there are options other than throwing mixed waste into a skip – the mixed waste skip is the worst option as it generally goes to landfill. There are recycling centres at Carrickmacross and Scotch Corner where you can take a trailer with metals and other items for recycling. The gate fee is just €2.

In the case of steel and to a greater extent in the case of aluminum, it is cheaper to recycle than to mine the ore and manipulate it through the production process to form new metals.  The energy saved by recycling steel worldwide reduces the annual energy consumption of the industry by about 75%, which is enough to power eighteen million homes for one year. If the world’s population was not increasing at the rate it is, we would probably have enough aluminum via recycling to meet the world’s needs and so no more bauxite would need to be mined and processed into aluminum. There are a range of initiatives to recycle aluminum cans via schools, businesses and community group such as Tidy Towns Associations. See www.everycancounts.ie and www.aluproireland.ie.

While it is important to recycle as much as possible, if one looks at the ‘waste hierarchy’, it is preferable to reuse metal items or even better to reduce the number being produced in the first place. See the inverse pyramid with the emphasis the preferred option of waste reduction at the top of the pyramid, while the least desirable option of disposal is at  the bottome.

If we are buying a product made of metal, plastic, concrete, glass, paper or tropical hardwood, the questions we can ask ourselves are, “Do I really need it” and “What energy has gone into manufacture (CO2 and other greenhouse gasses emitted) and “How long will the product be useful to me and what will happen when it’s no longer of use to me”?   For metal products that we have already purchased –  and are no longer of use to us –  why not take the opportunity to recycle them this weekend and help a good cause!

In Brief

 Foraging for wild food in July

In recent years, foraging has become more popular. Some well-known chefs have promoted  the fact that wild foods have a lot to offer in terms of flavour,  nutrition and food miles,. Many  types of wild food have medicinal properties. Some wild food plants are garden escapes and can be found among our native plants. July is a month when many plants are in flower and some are at the fruiting stage. Some of the wild edible plants you will find in July include: Blackcurrant, Common Comfrey, Common Mallow, Gooseberry,  Ground Elder,  , Horseradish, Lime Blossom, Marsh Samphire, Raspberry, Redcurrant, Rock Samphire, Sea Beet, Silverweed, Sweet Cicely,  Wild Chicory Flowers, Wild Fennel, Wild Marjoram, Wild Mint, Wild Rose Flower, Wild Strawberry, Wild Thyme and Yarrow. If you are not familiar with a lot of wild plants it is advisable to get some expert help and not to eat something unless you are fully sure you know it is safe. This is especially true when it comes to mushrooms. Apart from plants there are other wild foods such as fungi, wild animals and fish. The list of protected species and relevant regulations should be consulted if hunting or fishing.   See www.npws.ie.

Be there for the Barn Owl

The barn owl is Ireland’s most iconic species, but unfortunately one of the most endangered, with very few breeding pairs left.If you are out walking at dusk these evenings you may see the ghostly sight of the Barn Owl ‘whoosh’ past you. According to Birdwatch Ireland they are a Red-listed Bird of Conservation Concern In Ireland due to a decline of over 50% in their population during the past 25 years. They are also listed as a Species of European Conservation Concern (SPEC3) having an unfavourable conservation status in Europe.

The reasons for the Barn owls decline are not fully understood, but can most likely be attributed to the loss of suitable habitat due to various aspects of agricultural intensification and the increased use of rat poisons. Other factors that have been implicated in their decline are the loss of suitable nest sites and some severe winters a few years back.

Under the ‘Be there for the Barn Owl’ project volunteer fieldworkers throughout Northern Ireland that have been trained up and are currently scouring the landscape for old buildings and mature trees where barn owls may be nesting. Details of the ‘Be there for the Barn Owl’ project and a video of a Barn Owl’s nest in Co Armagh can be seen at www.ulsterwildlife.org/barnowl.

In 2013, the European Environment Agency (EEA) published a report called Environment and Human Health which highlights and reviews what they conclude are the most significant impacts of our environment on our health. The report covers topics we expect to see such as water quality, air quality and climate change. But with increasing population numbers and densities, urban expansion and industrial development, it also emphasises the importance of having access to natural green spaces.

How often do we get into the green spaces around us?

The growing recognition of multiple factors behind major public health issues, such as obesity, cancer, mental illness, and other chronic diseases, as well as the ageing of the European population, has generated an increasing interest in the role of residential environments and access to green spaces.

In summary, the EEA advises that access to natural, green environments can offer multiple benefits to physical health, mental and social well-being and improved quality of life. As we might expect, available data suggest that people with better access to a green environment are more likely to be physically active and have a reduced tendency to become overweight. However, there are many more critical benefits which we need to recognise.

The EEA report refers to numerous health and environment studies identifying issues associated with poor health for populations who don’t have adequate access to a healthy environment. Some studies for example have linked poor health with high pollution levels (polluted water or air), poor quality housing, limited access to green space and generally degraded environments.  In particular, green space has been shown to contribute to reducing health inequalities. Access to green space has also been shown to increase longevity and social interaction among urban senior citizens.

In addition to physical health benefits, further studies have shown that contact with nature can improve psychological well-being and social cohesion among all members of society. Access to safe green-spaces and contact with wildlife has been shown to be particularly beneficial for exploratory mental and social development of children and young people, in both urban and rural settings. Contact with nature, or even views of nature from hospital beds, can speed up recovery time for patients and for others can have a positive impact on stress and fatigue.

Green spaces have been closely linked with neighbourhood identity and safe, accessible green spaces have been shown to encourage activities across different social groups as well as increasing the satisfaction of residents within the area and reducing levels of anti-social behaviour. Community gardens, parks and other common areas provide space for recreation, facilitate neighbourhood improvement, and strengthen a sense of community and connection to the environment, thus contributing to improved health and well-being.

The role of urban allotment gardens in food provision is also important, especially in the context of food sustainability and promotion of locally-grown food. There is also a value in (re)connecting urban citizens with nature, and increasing everyone’s awareness of the value of nature and ecosystems services. Furthermore, greening the urban environment plays an important role in the context of climate change, increased biodiversity, protection against air pollution (by absorbing particulates, heavy metals, gases etc.), reducing the effects of noise pollution, flood control and prevention of soil erosion as well as regulating our micro-climate.

In 2005, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment introduced the concept of Ecosystem Services. This concept linked human health and well-being to biodiversity and the functioning of ecosystems. The assessment identified a range of services provided to us by our ecosystems e.g. provisioning services (e.g. food, fibre), regulating and supporting services (e.g. nutrient, water and carbon cycling) and cultural services (e.g. recreational opportunities). Well-functioning ecosystems thus contribute in multiple ways to human health and well‑being.

In light of the many critical links between green spaces, ecosystems, biodiversity and human health highlighted above, the European Commission released their Green Infrastructure Strategy in 2013 aimed at improving the provision and quality of green spaces across its member states. In County Monaghan, we are lucky to be living in a relatively high quality, natural, rural environment. However, the facts above emphasise the importance of retaining and enhancing the quality and use of our existing green spaces as well as planning and creating additional new spaces which are accessible to the public and provide a range of uses and benefits. This is particularly important around our towns and villages and in the context of the development of residential areas.

The beautiful Ballybay Wetlands Centre provided a very suitable location for a weekend of discussions and workshops on living sustainably. The sun shone on the drumlins surrounding the Dromore River, and the birds gently tweeted as Marella Fyffe, from Omagh Co. Tyrone, led Transition Monaghan’s weekend workshop on Sustainable Living Skills / Permaculture.

Participants of the Permaculture Course at the sunny Wetlands Centre

Permaculture, a principle that originated in Australia, is all about careful design of systems that enables us to interact with nature and our surroundings in a positive way that can enhance our lives without having a negative impact on the environment. It can be defined as a method for building sustainable human habitats that are ecologically sound an economically viable. We can apply principles related to sustainability to enhance every aspect of our lives.

Our early discussions revolved around the importance about us as individuals being focused and not taking on too many projects. The role of ethics and values was also discussed ,and how determining these with respect of the environment in mind can lead to better decision making and long term planning. Marella introduced us to the 12 Holmgren Principles, which are key to permaculture’s holistic outlook on the design of systems, whether that be a household, a suburban garden, a small agricultural holding or a community garden or forest. These principles focus on the importance of planning, and making  sure that elements of a system are in the right place and that every aspect of a system can be utilised without creating much or any waste.

One of the tasks that we were given was to arrange a layout for a permaculture small holding. This comprised a grazing area for animals, out-houses, a river, a small wind turbine, water mill, forest garden, vegetable patch, reed bed system and more. Arranging these according to permaculture principles we had to take careful consideration of the best location for each element of the system. For example, the house was placed in a south facing direction, while the herb and vegetable garden was placed near the house, so that the occupant could keep an eye on these parts of the garden that need regular maintenance. Forest gardens and agro- forestry plots would be placed further away from the house, as they did not require the same level of attention. It was commented that all these elements would be difficult for one person or family to maintain, and it would be better if a community would have access to these different resources that would help them become more self-sufficient and resilient. This is the case in the Eco Village in Co Tipperary.

While permaculture is an abbreviation for permanent agriculture it is so much more than simply about farming or growing food. The underlying message of the weekend was that we can all take aspects of permaculture’s teaching to make a difference in various areas from our personal lives, to our house and garden and to our community. If we all take small steps such as growing a small amount of our vegetable of choosing the bike over the car when possible, then these small actions collectively can be very powerful.

The Transition Town movement, which aspires to build a more resilient, low carbon world, is built on the principles of permaculture. Transition Monaghan is a voluntary initiative that applies these ideas here, and we always welcome new members, whether experienced activists or those wishing to get more involved in their community. We will soon be planning our next event, and would love to hear your ideas! Email transitionmonaghan@gmail.com.