Project Description
10th April
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20th March
Community Coffee Morning
Birdhill Tidy Towns will host a Community Coffee Morning in Birdhill Hall, on Sunday 24th March, 11.00am to 12.00. All members of the community are invited to attend. We would especially love to see newcomers to the area in attendance, just to sit and chat, meet and greet and get to know your neighbours. Since Covid, the number and frequency of community gatherings has diminished considerably. Let’s get back to the community spirit and togetherness for which Birdhill has always been renowned.
Spring Clean
April is the month when we get out to tidy our roadsides and collect the litter that has built up over the winter months. Can you help with this important work on your road. Starting on Sat 13th April, all local roads will be tackled. Look out for details on social media.
Art Exhibition
The annual Open Air Art Exhibition along the Pollagh Trail will be held again this summer. This has proved to be a great attraction over the past three years and promises to be just as exciting in 2024, with numerous enquiries already coming in. Interested artists should contact Melissa Ryan (087-9064401)
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13th March
Remembering John Buckley
We have planted an apple tree in Birdhill Community Park to perpetuate the memory of John Buckley, who had a busy garden centre and nursery on that same site, before moving to Kilmastulla in the early 1970s. It is a crab apple, propagated, raised and patented by John. He named it Dark Rosaleen due to the dark colour of the apples. The tree produces a mass of pink flowers in spring, along with dark red leaves which turn green in summer, before turning orange in autumn.
Other apple trees raised by John Buckley included ‘Graceland’ and ‘April Love.’
John Buckley’s name is also associated with two birch hybrids which he raised – ‘White Light’ and ‘Birdhill Beauty,’ many of which can be seen, conspicuous because of their white bark, in the Park and around the Village.
Thanks to Oliver Kierse who grafted and raised this sample of Dark Rosaleen on an MM106 rootstock.
Seachtain na Gaeilge
St Patrick’s Day marks the end of Seachtain na Gaeilge 2024, a period of celebration of all things Irish. All of us can help in developing our native culture and rich heritage. Why not engage in a cultural activity this week to show our pride in our country. With minimum effort, we can use the ‘cúpla focal’ that may be dormant in the recesses of our minds. Bain triail as.
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17th February
Love Your Community
The sign currently on display in Birdhill Village Green reminds us all of the role of community in our lives and invites us to be part of its well-being and development: Participate in local activities; Look out for your neighbours; Care for the local environment; Be a volunteer in local organisations. We are defined by our community but we can play a part in defining and developing the community in which we live.
Forthcoming tasks
- Preparing the polytunnel for planting
- Potting plugs for summer bedding
- Sowing shrubs
- Spring clean on all local roads
- Organising a get-together for Neighbours and Newcomers.
County & National Plans
Read Ireland’s 4th National Biodiversity Plan (2023 – 2030): d424b166-763b-4916-8eba-8afff955c5e5.pdf (assets.gov.ie)
Read Tipperary County Council’s Climate Action Plan 2024 – 2029 (Setting the Scene for Going Green): Tipperary County Council Climate Action Plan 2024 – 2029_0.pdf (tipperarycoco.ie)
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New Season
With the arrival of spring, we begin looking forward to a new season of Tidy Towns activities. Plans will soon be formulated, areas in need of attention will be identified, work schedules will be organised, social events will be planned. New ideas, new activities and new personnel are needed to drive Birdhill Tidy Towns forward. Why not get involved in the enhancement of your area and the development of your community.
Notice Nature
Reports have been submitted of the first sightings of snowdrops and crocuses in Birdhill on 5th January and of the first daffodils on 7th January. Keep a look out for spring awakenings and arrivals in your area and submit details to birdhilltidyvillage@gmail.com
Newsletters
See The Farming for Nature Spring Newsletter which includes some helpful advice on habitats for biodiversity: https://bit.ly/FFNSpring24
Read Tipperary County Council’s first Arts Office newsletter of 2024: Arts Office newsletter 11th January 2024