September 22, 2023 Launch of Glen River (Cork City) Booklet
August 24, 2023 Ahare River Booklet Launched!
Friends of the Ahare River have launched their new StreamScapes Catchment booklet. See https://bit.ly/47Wq8mK
May 8, 2023 StreamScapes 2023 Biodiversity Week Events
Come join us for 2023 National Biodiversity Week events at:
‘The StreamSchool’, Coomhola, Bantry, County Cork P75 TY47
Link to Poster (Events run from FRI 19 May to SUN 28 May):
October 27, 2022 StreamScapes wins ’2022 Water Heritage Award’
StreamScapes has won The Heritage Council’s ’2022 Water Heritage Award’ for development of the ‘Blue Dot Coomhola River’ engagement, booklet, and launch during National Heritage Week 2022.
Access the Booklet here: https://bit.ly/3A77hFb
September 12, 2022 Lough Arrow Booklet Launched
The wonderful ‘Old Schoolhouse Community Café’ in Ballinafad, Co. Sligo near the shores of Lough Arrow was the setting for the Launch of the StreamScapes Lough Arrow booklet on Saturday 10 September 2022. The Booklet was a collaboration between StreamScapes, the CANN Project (Collaborative Action for Natura Networks), Atlantic Technological University, LAWPro, EPA, with great inputs from TEAGASC, local Schools, Farmers, Fishers, Photographers, & Storytellers.
Photo below shows Ann O’Hara & Celine McCarrick of The Café w/Mark Boyden, StreamScapes; Karen Kennedy, LAWPro; Chris McCarney @theCANNproject & Paul Kearney, StreamScapes.
Download ‘Lough Arrow – A Gem in our Midst’ at: https://bit.ly/3eJZqGz
May 10, 2022 StreamScapes 2022 National Biodiversity Events
Coomhola Salmon Trust has announced its range of StreamScapes Events in support of 2022 National Biodiversity Week, all to be held at ‘The StreamSchool’, Coomhola, Bantry, County Cork P75 TY47, between 13-22 May.
Check out the activities, topics & times HERE.
All events FREE & open to the Public; come learn about River Ecology, Salmon Lifecycle, and what we can do to improve Water & Habitat quality. All welcome!
These events are graciously supported by Irish Environmental Network and the National Parks & Wildlife Service
November 12, 2021 Salmon Sanctuaries Course Launched
StreamScapes has launched an exciting new course, ‘Salmon Sanctuaries’…check out the course details HERE
View a PDF of the ‘Salmon Sanctuaries’ booklet at: https://bit.ly/3F3H1wt
Watch the ‘Salmon Sanctuaries’ short video at: https://bit.ly/3EJUmdk
If your School or Community Group would like to experience the ‘Salmon Sanctuaries’ course, contact us at: my.streamschool (at) gmail.com
or ring us on 027 50453
May 23, 2021 Launch of ‘Salmon Sanctuaries’ Booklet
Have you salmon in your local river?
Learn more about this treasure by viewing the new StreamScapes booklet, ‘Salmon Sanctuaries’, at https://bit.ly/3vkJVIU
or HERE
May 12, 2021 StreamScapes Nat’l Biodiversity Week Events
We’re hoping to see you at 1 or more of our free family-friendly Events during National Biodiversity Week.
Check out the Schedule: biodiversity-week-2021-streamscapes-events
As numbers are limited please reserve your place(s) by emailing streamscapes1 (at) gmail.com or ringing us on 027 50453
Coomhola Nat’l School students at ‘The StreamSchool’ field site (P75 TY47)
January 2, 2021 New River Camac/Clondalkin Publication
Huge congratulations to the fantastic ‘Friends of the Camac’ on the launch of their new Catchment publication!
View this wonderful booklet at: https://t.co/Y3UmAstmGc?amp=1
They got great assistance from Ken Whelan & LAWPRO
October 14, 2020 NEW Link for ‘Éire – Tír na naibhnahneacha’
Please note new amended Link for ‘Éire – Tír na naibhnahneacha’ (‘Ireland – Land of Rivers’); this exciting Irish-language book is intended for the use of Gaelscoileanna and Irish-speaking communities. A limited run of printed copies will be available shortly (watch this space!).
New Link is: https://bit.ly/30NiHNJ
English-language edition out soon.
October 1, 2020 ‘Éire – Tír na naibhnahneacha!’ available online
Check out the new StreamScapes publication, ‘Éire – Tír na naibhnahneacha!’, at https://bit.ly/2EQRQZp Especially for Gaelscoileanna but also for general readership! (English-language edition available shortly). With thanks to Cork, Kerry, & Limerick County Councils.
May 20, 2020 Citizen Science for Biodiversity Week
Would you like to learn more about Citizen Science? Check out our Introductory Leaflet, produced with EPA Catchments (with images graciously contributed by NPWS) and launched for National Biodiversity Week 2020.
Leaflet available at: Citizen Science Introductory Leaflet
February 26, 2020 Coomhola Salmon Trust comment on River Bride FRS
We’ve had some thoughts on the proposed Flood Defences for Cork City’s River Bride…check these out here
cst-river-bride-frs-submission
January 29, 2020 Borris Rivers Booklet Published
The wonderful Borris, County Carlow community have published their StreamScapes booklet ‘The Rivers of Borris; From the Blackstairs to the Barrow’, supported by StreamScapes and the Local Authorities Water Programme (LAWPRO). View it at: http://bit.ly/38IbVKy
December 11, 2019 Comment on EPA Water Q Report
The EPA’s just-published report, ‘Water Quality in Ireland 2013-2018’, reveals that the number of “pristine” Irish rivers has fallen from more than 500 in the 1980’s to just 20 last year.
Read StreamScapes take on this at: http://bit.ly/2LGcUSs
May 21, 2019 Cuan Baoi-Catchments of Bantry Bay
With Cork County Council we are engaging with local schools & community groups to explore the wonders of the Rivers that flow into Bantry Bay. Check out the StreamScapes Cuan Baoi Book (http://streamscapes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/StreamScapes-Cuan-Baoi-The-Catchments-of-Bantry-Bay.pdf) and come visit us at ‘The StreamSchool’ to learn more!
2019 Biodiversity Event #2
Drop by anytime on Sunday 26 May 2-6:00pm to the StreamSchool in Coomhola at P75 TY47 for Aquatic & Biodiversity wonders!
March 2, 2018 #WondersOfNature – Trout & salmon eggs hatching
Up along our local stream, enchanting to know that salmon & trout eggs are quickening and hatching under the ice snow and frigid waters! #WondersOfNature
May 24, 2017 Biodiversity Week Engagement
StreamScapes, supported by DAHRRGA, NPWS, & IEN, produced 2 engagement activities in Glengarriff Nature Reserve over last weekend; on Saturday we looked at the ‘Aquatic Biodiversity’ of the Glengarriff River, and on Sunday we discussed the ‘Terrestrial & Avian Biodiversity’ of the wider Catchment. Many thanks to Clare Heardman, NPWS Ranger; Stephanie O’Toole, StreamScapes Outreach Director, and all of the participants for 2 wonderful days of learning!
Participants just can’t wait to get their hands on those nets, see what lives in the River, and to learn about how we can minimise our impacts upon Aquatic Biodiversity!
Stephanie O’Toole of StreamScapes tells life-cycle stories about the aquatic inverts we found.
Glengarriff Nature Reserve / NPWS Ranger Clare Heardman shares wildlife stories with Biodiversity Week participants.
March 14, 2017 Great Engagement Day in Armagh!
The village of Cullyhanna, County Armagh, gave a great welcome to StreamScapes as part of an Environment Fair in St. Patrick’s GAA Club Community Hall, in the midst of the pleasant landscape and warm people of the Slieve Gullion region.
A partnership between Mullaghbane and Cullyhanna Community Association, Coomhola Salmon Trust/StreamScapes, Dundalk Institute of Technology’s ‘Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies’, Ulster Farmer’s Union, Newry Mourne and Down District Council’s Ring of Gullion Partnership and the Woodland Trust, with support from Northern Ireland’s Environment Agency’s ‘Challenge Fund’, produced the Fair to celebrate local waters and wildlife.
The Fair saw interested locals and families come through over the course of the afternoon to learn about water quality, pollinators, birds, trees, red squirrels, and local salmonids and other fish. Visitors included Newry Mourne & Down Chairperson Gillian Fitzpatrick, Father Kevin Cullen, and ‘Big Tom’ McBride, who has been an avid local angler all his life.
Local Authorities Waters and Communities Office (LAWCO) was represented by Bernie O’Flaherty and Greta McCarron to highlight the shared Catchment of the Rivers of Dundalk Bay, some of which arise in County Monaghan, flow through Armagh and enter the sea in County Louth.
Stephanie O’Toole of StreamScapes collaborated with Dr. Suzanne Linnane’s team from Dundalk IT’s ‘Shared Landscape Shared Waters’ Project to produce a virtual Field Trip of Aquatic Insects to demonstrate how these water bugs may indicate local water quality. Participants in this exercise were encouraged to determine what ‘Bugs’ were present in samples from the nearby Castletown River using ID Keys, and then to determine what the water quality was.
Mairéad Crawford and Oisin Duffy presented their stunning wildlife photographs as well as a collection of native tree twigs to prompt identification skills; Geoff Quinn of Brook Cottage Angling exhibited his wonderful collection of tied flies and live (!) wriggling angling baits that he uses to teach angling skills to schools and students throughout the region; and Therese Hamill of the Ring of Gullion Project introduced people to the wonders of the Red Squirrel and other local wildlife (and provided Badge colouring and fabrication!).
Over in another corner, Jess Mason of the ‘StreamScapes’ team led ‘Eco-Art’ sessions where visitors could make marbled-paper and willow fish to take home. ‘Big Tom’ produced a spectacular ‘marbled fish’, while LAWCO’s Greta McCarron encouraged people to imagine and express their vision of how the Aquatic & Biodiversity resources of the Rivers flowing into Dundalk Bay could be conserved and enhanced. Younger visitors availed of the creative face-painting on offer.
To top it off the Event enjoyed a short play produced by Scor na Og 2017 All Ireland finalist St Patrick’s G.F.C Cullyhanna, and the Story-telling skills of local man Peter Carragher.
Many thanks to Teresa Nugent of the Cullyhanna Community Association for providing the venue, Therese Hamill of the ‘Ring of Gullion’ Project for great organisation, to all Cullyhanna Project Exhibitors and Participants, and great appreciation to the wonderful staff of Tí Chulainn in Mullaghbane for hosting the StreamScapes team! Go raibh míle maith agat!
This Project was generously supported by ‘The 2017 Challenge Fund’.
February 6, 2017 IPB/LAMA Award Winner
LAMA Chairperson Councillor Mags Murray (Fingal Co. Council) and Councillor Winston J. Bennet (Cavan Co. Council) present Paul Kearney & Mark Boyden of StreamScapes with the ‘Most Significant Contribution to Water Quality’ Award
StreamScapes Wins Major National Award
The IPB/LAMA Award for ‘Most Significant Contribution to Water Quality’ has been won by Coomhola Salmon Trust of Bantry for their ‘StreamScapes Waters & Wilds Community Engagement’ Programme.
They were the only non-government organisation in the Award Shortlist which also included the Department’s Local Authorities Waters & Communities Office (LAWCO), Limerick City & County Council, and Cavan County Council. Coomhola Salmon Trust Directors Mark Boyden and Paul Kearney attended the Award Ceremony in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dublin, on Saturday 4 February. “We’re really surprised and delighted to receive this Award”, said Mr. Boyden, “and it’s furthermore a tribute to every school, student, teacher and Community that we have ever worked with throughout Ireland north and south, over the past twenty–five years. It’s their award too.”
The Local Authority Members’ Association/LAMA ‘Community & Council Awards’, sponsored by IPB Insurance, are presented annually to State Agencies, Local Authorities and Community initiatives which have achieved distinction, and the award to StreamScapes was to acknowledge their innovative ‘Catchment’-based approach to promoting citizens’ awareness and stewardship of local aquatic and biodiversity resources. StreamScapes projects have been produced in Catchments all around the country, from Cork and Kerry up through Limerick, Clare, Galway and including cross-border initiatives in the River Erne in Fermanagh and the Ulster Blackwater involving Monaghan, Tyrone, and Armagh.
Remarks from Judges:
Judge 1: The significant contribution to water quality made by Coomhola Salmon Trust is deserving of recognition on a number of fronts. Not only did they manage to construct a project that was challenging in terms of budget, they focussed on keeping the education of end users a priority to ensure long term sustainability. Their consideration for operational costs was equalled by their focus on changing attitudes and behaviours to create a win-win in terms of educating the citizen and making it a cost effective process in the long term. It is a model for embracing the “catchment concept” for managing water and wildlife and will inform, engage and motivate the local population for years to come – a true example of real life sustainability.
Judge 2: ‘Since the late eighties and early nineties the StreamScapes Project has been engaging with communities in various river catchments across Ireland to create better public and social awareness of the challenges in maintaining water quality and biodiversity. This is a very welcome ‘bottom up’ approach which very well compliments the ongoing local authority River Basin District Management Plans to implement state integrated protection and conservation plans to comply with the EU Water Framework Directive. Indeed the efforts of Coomhola Salmon Trust on a local basis predates the RBD Studies which only in recent years are engaging in full community engagement through the The Waters and Communities Office in an integrated basis across all river catchments. Coomhola Salmon Trust as a voluntary organisation are to be congratulated in recognising and implementing water quality measures on a community led basis over many years. They don’t have the resources which the public sector has to implement necessary engineering measures but they do have the skills to educate the community in best practice environmental management of our waters.’
January 26, 2017 Missed the ‘Eco-Eye’ Waters & Communities Programme? Available at http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/eco-eye-1112/10678092/
We’ve had several queries from people who missed the ‘Eco-Eye’ programme aired Tuesday, 24 January…you can watch it on RTE Player until 23 February at http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/eco-eye-1112/10678092/
January 24, 2017 Rivers & lakes: pollution and solutions @EcoEye 7pm tonite RTE1
Rivers & lakes: pollution and solutions @EcoEye 7pm tonite RTE1 with @swanireland @EPACatchments @StreamScapes & beautiful #Wicklow scenery
January 8, 2017 Dreaming up new Engagement ideas for 2017!
StreamScapes ‘think-tank’ has cranked up, coming up with new ideas to bring compelling and indelible engagement experiences for schools & communities throughout Ireland. Will your Catchment be part of this? Contact us for Project ideas.
December 21, 2016 Season’s Greetings from StreamScapes!
StreamScapes is concluding a hugely busy year serving communities throughout Ireland north & south. We thank all of our Project Participants for huge enthusiasm and willingness to take on management of their own local aquatic & biodiversity resources.
Check out our salmon-river-poetry-images for your seasonal enjoyment and reflection, and wishing all of you a wonderful 2017.
August 23, 2016 StreamScapes Autumn 2016 – Shaping up! (read more…)
StreamScapes Teams are shaping up for upcoming and exciting projects around Ireland, assisting local communities to be aware of the aquatic & biodiversity assets in their midst but to also to affirm their stewardship of these resources!
Autumn 2016 Projects include
* Wood River & Poulnasherry Bay (w/ Clare County Council)
* River Feale (joint project w/ Limerick & Kerry Councils, assisted by LA 21)
* Bantry Rivers (w/ Cork County Council & LA21)
Would you like to get your own Catchment Community involved? Contact us anytime for more information.
![R. Lee Fry Release [lo-res]](http://streamscapes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/R.-Lee-Fry-Release-lo-res.jpg)
Students released salmon fry as part of the ‘StreamScapes Lee’ 2016 Project
(Photo by StreamScapes Teacher Darragh Murphy)
February 9, 2016 ‘StreamScapes Gullion’ Project in Armagh & Down
StreamScapes is working with The Challenge Fund and Ring of Gullion AONB to produce the ‘StreamScapes Gullion’ Project during the week of Feb 8-12. Four Schools are actively participating in these local Aquatic & Biodiversity studies, and as part of the project participating schools are all hatching live brown trout eggs in their classrooms. Schools involved are:
St. Mary’s Primary School, Mullaghbawn, Co. Armagh
Dromintee Primary School, Dromintee, Co. Armagh
St. Joseph’s Primary School, Meigh, Co. Down
St. Paul’s High School, Bessbrook, Co. Down
StreamScapes staff have gotten a real warm welcome from schools and from the Tí Chulainn Centre in Mullaghbawn. Monday in St. Mary’s we were joined by Mickey Ruane, Chair of Newry, Mourne, and Down District Council, who is in photo below with St. Mary’s staff and students, Ring of Gullion AONB Officer Therese Hamill and StreamScapes staff.
December 9, 2015 2015 ‘Farming & Biodiversity’ Award Winners!
After difficult judging, we are happy to announce the Winners of the 2015 ‘Farming & Biodiversity’ Competition which is produced with IASTA and EPACatchments. This year’s theme was ‘Farming & Water Quality – Best Practice’ which yielded some very knowledgeable and interesting entries. There were some great images of controlling water run-off from farmyards, utilising rain water for watering animals as well as supplying an innovative Donegal bathtub, but the Judges’ favourites were efforts that had been undertaken to BUFFER the impacts of nutrients and silts from reaching wild rivers and streams.
5 winners each receive a Samsung Galaxy Tablet. Our congratulations goes to the winners, their teachers and schools:
Matty Casey, Millstreet Community School (Teacher: Sarah Buckley)
Christopher Merton, Wesley College (Teacher: Iain Wallace)
Aoife Buckley, Coláiste Mhuire Buttevant (Teacher: Patrick Curtin)
Sean Grayson, St. Peters College (Teacher: Willie White)
Daniel Furlong, St. Peters College (Teacher: Willie White)
View the winning images & captions: 2015 ‘Farm&Bio’ Winning Images
November 29, 2015 1 More Day! AgSci Competition-Deadline extended to Mon 30 November! 5 Samsung Galaxy Tablets to be won! Read more…
There’s been some VERY creative and imaginative entries to this year’s ‘Farming & Biodiversity’ Competition, the theme of which is ‘Farming & Water Quality’. We’re giving Irish 2nd level Agricultural Science students 1 more day to Tweet a photo and caption which shows ‘best-practice’ water management on farms to @StreamScapes and you must also mention @EPACatchments (EPA are kind sponsors of the competition which is produced by StreamScapes and Irish Ag Sci Teachers’ Association/IASTA).
See the Poster for full details >
2015 Farming & Biodiversity Poster (LR]
November 25, 2015 Paddy Woodworth launches StreamScapes Public Engagement Report at Dundalk Conference
Irish Times journalist Paddy Woodworth today launched EPA Research Report Report No. 155, ‘Public Engagement in Integrated Catchment Management: StreamScapes Recommendations’ at the TIMe Catchment Management Conference in Dundalk:
Access it here:
November 3, 2015 Deadline extended for ‘Farming & Biodiversity’ Competition to Nov 27th!
The deadline for submissions to the 2015 ‘Farming & Biodiversity’ Competition has been extended to November 27, 2015. 2nd-level Agricultural Science students in the Republic of Ireland can win a Samsung Galaxy Tablet by simply Tweeting a Photo & Caption which demonstrates their awareness of ‘Best-Practice’ in water management on farms.
Read more following:
This year’s theme is ‘Farming & Water Quality’ and features great prizes for winners (5 x Samsung Galaxy Tablets). This Twitter-based competition is supported by EPA Catchments (@EPACatchments) and produced by the Irish Agricultural Science Teachers’ Association (@AgScience) and StreamScapes (@StreamScapes).
Download the Poster below and NOTE THAT THE DEADLINE FOR YOUR TWITTER-BASED PHOTOGRAPHS AND CAPTIONS IS FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2015!!!
Download: 2015 Farming & Biodiversity Poster (LR]
2015 FARMING & BIODIVERSITY COMPETITION
FOR 2ND LEVEL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE STUDENTS (in Ireland)
THIS YEAR’S ‘TWITTER’-BASED THEME:
‘FARMING & WATER QUALITY: BEST PRACTICE’
5 Samsung Galaxy Tablets to be Won!!!
Tweet a photo & caption on ‘best practice’ water protection on the Farm to be in with a chance to win!
Rules & Guidelines:
- Take a photo of ‘best practice’ in water protection on the Farm; this could be an image of farmyard water management, use of rainwater harvest, provision of ‘buffer zones’ along water courses, etc.
- Tweet your photo, with a caption, to @StreamScapes AND YOU MUST ALSO MENTION @EPACatchments in your Twitter to qualify for the competition!
- Entries will be judged 60% on photo quality and 40% on caption!
- Deadline for entries Friday 27 November 2015
- To be a prize-winner, you must be able to attend the Award Ceremony
- Winners will be messaged and requested to provide their Name, School, Teacher Name, and Contact details (phone and email)
- Decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Produced by Irish Agricultural Science Teachers’ Association (IASTA) & StreamScapes for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
www.iasta.ie www.streamscapes.ie www.epa.ie
October 20, 2015 StreamScapes at Teagasc Biodiversity Conference: Launching ‘Proposal for an All-Ireland Wildlife Web’
StreamScapes proposes an ‘All-Ireland Wildlife Web’ to link existing Protected Areas (see Proposal- ‘All Ireland Wildlife Web’):
“Existing conservation areas have typically been established over time in a piecemeal, ad hoc way to protect specific endangered species or habitats rather than through a systematic process taking into account the full range of species, habitats, and ecological processes that comprise regional biodiversity…
developing linkages or corridors of natural vegetation between existing conservation areas has the potential to not only provide a pathway for dispersal, migration, pollination, and other ecological processes that are critical to maintain biodiversity within conservation areas, but also the potential to be designed in such a way that the corridors themselves incorporate additional habitats and species.”
Also at the conference the Poster advertising this year’s StreamScapes/IASTA ‘Farming & Biodiversity/Water Quality’ Competition for 2nd-level Ag. Sci. students is being distributed. This Project is supported by @EPACatchments and the Irish Agricultural Teachers’ Association (IASTA: see www.iasta.ie). See Competition Poster: 2015 Farming & Water Quality Poster
October 14, 2015 Announcing 2015 ‘Farming & Biodiversity’: A competition for 2nd level Ag Sci Students
Today we are pleased to announce the commencement of the 2015 ‘Farming & Biodiversity’ Competition for 2nd-Level Agricultural Science Students (sorry…Republic of Ireland only).
This year’s theme is ‘Farming & Water Quality’ and features great prizes for winners (5 x Samsung Galaxy Tablets). This Twitter-based competition is supported by EPA Catchments (@EPACatchments) and produced by the Irish Agricultural Science Teachers’ Association (@AgScience) and StreamScapes (@StreamScapes).
Download the Poster below and NOTE THAT THE DEADLINE FOR YOUR TWITTER-BASED PHOTOGRAPHS AND CAPTIONS IS FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2015!!!
Download: 2015 Farming & Water Quality Poster
2015 FARMING & BIODIVERSITY COMPETITION
FOR 2ND LEVEL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE STUDENTS (in Ireland)
THIS YEAR’S ‘TWITTER’-BASED THEME:
‘FARMING & WATER QUALITY: BEST PRACTICE’
5 Samsung Galaxy Tablets to be Won!!!
Tweet a photo & caption on ‘best practice’ water protection on the Farm to be in with a chance to win!
Rules & Guidelines:
- Take a photo of ‘best practice’ in water protection on the Farm; this could be an image of farmyard water management, use of rainwater harvest, provision of ‘buffer zones’ along water courses, etc.
- Tweet your photo, with a caption, to @StreamScapes AND YOU MUST ALSO MENTION @EPACatchments in your Twitter to qualify for the competition!
- Entries will be judged 60% on photo quality and 40% on caption!
- Deadline for entries Friday 6 November 2015
- To be a prize-winner, you must be able to attend the Award Ceremony during National Science Week (8-15 November)
- Winners will be messaged and requested to provide their Name, School, Teacher Name, and Contact details (phone and email)
- Decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Produced by Irish Agricultural Science Teachers’ Association (IASTA) & StreamScapes for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
www.iasta.ie www.streamscapes.ie www.epa.ie
October 8, 2015 StreamScapes flows on Twitter!
From today you can also follow StreamScapes on Twitter: see @StreamScapes
Watch for upcoming “Farming & Biodiversity” competition for Irish 2nd Level Agricultural Science students…this will be a Twitter-based event this Autumn with great prizes. Supported by @EPACatchments
August 21, 2015 Support ‘Atlantic Salmon – Lost at Sea!’
StreamScapes has supported this important Documentary…we hope you will too!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1121132260/atlantic-salmon-lost-at-sea
Professor Ken Whelan, Research Director at the Atlantic Salmon Trust and Deirdre Brennan (Documentary Producer) are in the final stages of completing an investigative film into the problem of the rapid decline in wild salmon from the Atlantic Ocean.
Statement from Ken Whelan:
“I would like to introduce you to an exciting project supported by the Atlantic Salmon Trust: the film, ‘Atlantic Salmon – Lost at Sea!’
It has been my pleasure to work closely with the producer Deirdre Brennan who has been making this film for 6 years in the rivers of Europe, North America, Iceland, Greenland, and at sea in the Atlantic Ocean. It tells the story of the collapse in abundance of wild Atlantic salmon over the last thirty years. The film records the urgent quest to try to solve the mystery of the salmon’s life at sea and to answer the question: “why are salmon dying in greater numbers than ever before in their ocean environment and not returning to their native rivers?”
The film, takes the viewer on a journey through the mysterious world of the King of Fish, and highlights some of the important research, conservation and restoration work of AST and others in all the wild Atlantic salmon countries. It describers the ground-breaking research programme to track salmon on their epic migration to try to find out why and where they are dying at sea.
Filming is now complete and it is ready to edit. In order to raise the last 10% of the budget needed, Deirdre has embarked on a Kickstarter campaign to bring in funds to finish the project. Kickstarter is a crowd-funding platform and in its 10 years has raised over $1.6 billion for creative projects, including many documentary films. All projects are vetted in advance. It is an all or nothing principle – if the goal is not reached, then no money changes hands. The campaign is for 30 days and will run until September 15th. The goal is €45,000.
Please support this most worthwhile venture. Its aim is to raise public awareness about the plight of our salmon. The film will be used widely at national, regional and local levels to raise money for salmon conservation. By contributing money – as much as you can afford, no matter how small an amount – to the film you are therefore directly supporting our international campaign to save the salmon.”
Please see the link below for more details:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1121132260/atlantic-salmon-lost-at-sea
August 14, 2015 September Launch for ‘StreamScapes X-Stream’!
A new StreamScapes publication, ‘StreamScapes X-Stream’, will be launched in September to enable wider engagement in ‘Citizen Science’. This resource will enable Farmers, Schools, & Adult Groups to access Awareness, Assessment, & Action tools which will aid them in conserving and restoring their local local streams and rivers. For further information contact us at streamscapes@eircom.net
This publication has been supported by Clare, Cork, Kerry & Waterford County Councils & the Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government under the Local Agenda 21 Programme
May 27, 2015 ‘Sustainable Streams’ Event Sunday 31 May in Coomhola
As part of ‘National Biodiversity Week’, the ‘Sustainable Streams’ event will take place at the Coomhola Inch, Coomhola, Ballylickey, Bantry, Co. Cork from 2:00-6:00pm on Sunday 31 May 2015. Come learn about Streams’ and Rivers’ vital role in supporting biodiversity as well as human health, enhanced agricultural produce value, and other benefits. See http://biodiversityweek.ie/event/sustainable-streams/ or contact 027 50453 or streamscapes@eircom.net for further info
April 15, 2015 Gearing up for StreamScapes Loobagh Project!
The River Loobagh (gaelic=An Lúbach; twisted, meandering), a tributary of the River Maigue which flows into Shannon Estuary, is a beautiful river passing through rich farmland and vibrant communities in south County Limerick.
The StreamScapes team will be working with Limerick City & County Council to produce the ‘StreamScapes Loobagh’ Project, which will engage 7 schools and 3 community groups in the Catchment in aquatic & biodiversity studies. A dedicated environmental education booklet is being produced in support of the project and will be distributed throughout the community; this publication will also be available for download from this website shortly!
Photo shows Kilmallock Abbey on the River Loobagh (image by Diarmuid O’Leary).
March 22, 2015 Today in Bantry Cinemax at 8:00pm: “River Runner” – an MP2Films Documentary on the River Lee
Attend a special screening of “River Runner” at Bantry Cinemax at 8pm on 22nd March 2015 to mark UN World Water Day. The film is the untold story of the River Lee from source to sea. It is an in-depth portrait of the Lee system which highlights the dilemma of the wild Atlantic Salmon, the demise of the Pearl Water Mussel and the clear felling of an ancient and rare inland forest delta. This event will have inputs from the Director, Declan O’Mahony, Lee angler Alan Nolan, Macroom environmentalist Kevin Corcoran, and Mark Boyden, StreamScapes director and Chair of the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN). If you miss tonight’s screening Bantry Cinemax will be showing it Monday 23 March – Thursday 26 March at 6:45pm
“The Celts’ respect for nature, especially trees and rivers, is the ancient core of our identity and spirituality.” – Declan O’Mahony, film maker
March 2, 2015 Back in the Erne Catchment!
StreamScapes Outreach Staff have returned to County Fermanagh today to engage five more schools with the StreamScapes Erne Project
February 1, 2015 St. Brigid’s Day! A new year of StreamScapes projects…
StreamScapes staff are gearing up for exciting projects & publications during 2015…we will be returning to Fermanagh, Monaghan/Armagh, and the River Laune in Kerry, with new projects to be announced shortly. New publications this year will include “StreamScapes X-Stream: A DIY Guide to Assessing, Conserving & Enhancing Your Local Stream”, and watch out for a new 16-page support booklet for StreamScapes Projects. Contact us for more info.
November 16, 2014 We have a Winner! ‘Farm & Bio’ Competition
WE HAVE A WINNER!
FARMING & BIODIVERSITY WINNING VIDEO:
“HABITAT: CREATION & CONSERVATION”
WINNER: CHOY-PING CLARKE-NG
WESLEY COLLEGE (TEACHER: IAIN WALLACE)
“This video combines simple & effective ideas with
high production values…splendid viewing.” (- the Judges)
VIEW WINNING VIDEO BY CLICKING THIS LINK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWqo6pVOh5c&feature=youtu.be
October 20, 2014 2014 “Farming & Biodiversity” Competition! Final Week! Deadline Friday 24 Oct!
Entry details available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRvFThXMKpI&feature=youtu.be
Great Prizes…Samsung Galaxy Tablet for winning entries and €250 for winning Schools’ Ag. Sci. Departments!
October 7, 2014 Working with Monaghan Co Co & DECLG to produce the ‘StreamScapes Ulster Blackwater’ Project
Monaghan / Armagh – Training in River Ecology
StreamScapes working with Bernie O’Flaherty and Nial O’Connor of Monaghan County Council have completed the pilot ‘StreamScapes Ulster Blackwater‘ Project. 4 Schools and 4 Adult Groups were engaged in Workshops and Field Trips focussing on the River Catchment.
The workshops are designed to increase awareness on river corridor ecology and water quality; help reconnect communities with their river catchment, discuss best practice and promote community projects and initiatives such as the River Blackwater Catchment Trust.
This project is supported by the Environment Section of Monaghan County Council and the Department of Environment Community and Local Government.
More information is available from either the Environment Section at Monaghan County Council 042 9661240 or Coomhola Salmon Trust on 027 50453.
‘StreamScapes Laune’ Project with Killorglin Tidy Towns & Kerry Co. Council
‘StreamScapes Laune’ is a pilot Aquatic & Biodiversity outreach project looking at the majestic River Laune which flows down from Killarney Lakes and the north side of Ireland’s highest mountains the MacGillicuddy Reeks. The Project is being produced with Rosie Magee of the very proactive Killorglin Tidy Towns group supported by Mícheál Ó Coileáin and the Environment Section of Kerry County Council, and is an action arising out of the ‘Killorglin Biodiversity Action Plan 2014’ prepared by Wetland Surveys Ireland.
More information from: www.wetlandsurveysireland.com
Photo by Ann O’Sullivan showing a calm, tidal River Laune at Killorglin Bridge with the backdrop of Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest mountain.
August 22, 2014 The ‘StreamScapes Ilen’ project has been nominated by ‘The Southern Star’ for the 2014 ‘Get-Involved’ competition
‘Get Involved’ is a sustainable community initiative developed by 51 local newspapers through their representative associations – NNI Local & the RNPAI. The 2014 ‘Get Involved’ initiative is aimed at community projects and the ‘StreamScapes Ilen’ project has been nominated under Categories “3: Nature/Biodiversity” (Projects that, enhance, restore and protect nature and ecosystems) and “5: Water” (Water sustainability and awareness of how critical this invaluable resource is to localities). The competition will be judged by the chairman of the judging panel, broadcaster and environmentalist, Duncan Stewart, along with panel members Anja Murray, independent ecologist, and Davie Philip, Cultivate Community Resilience Programme.
Further information: www.get-involved.ie