We are delighted to report that we again received the Green Flag award this year for our Community Orchard. And we are pleased to say that, for the second year running, we were also given a special award for our work on encouraging pollinators. The orchard is always open for visitors, so do go along and spend some time there.
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Apologies that this website is currently being updated. Please take a look at our recent page additions, but forgive us if its a little mixed up. We will endeavour to bring it up to date asap. For current events, please join us on facebook at Headford Environment Group.
You may notice that some new pages are being added on this site, including details of our plans for a Pollinator Trail, and (finally) a digital copy of our Headford Biodiversity Plan.
Also check out our ‘Upcoming Events’ link at the side, detailing our exciting project for Summer 2019, a series of Walking Wildlife Workshops.
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Come and join the environment group for a stroll down Sandybanks Lane. 
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Come along on Saturday and find out about the birds we are likely to hear around now.
Then join us for our Dawn Chorus the following morning at 5.30 am at Greenfields, Headford. We are hoping to beat the total of birds identified last year.
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We are very excited to tell you about this year’s major project, our Walking Wildlife Workshops, which will continue through the summer months of 2019. Funded by the Community Foundation of Ireland, these workshops will be led by specialsts in their field, who are willing to share their knowledge with our community. All events take place in Sandybanks Lane, off Bridge Street, Headford, and they are free and open to all ages. Children should be accompanied by an adult. Hope you can make it along. You can find more details in the brochure below.
Here’s our press release about our latest event.
Please sign up and come along….
Headford Environment Group are to host some of the country’s most well-known speakers on the subject of climate change on 16th April in He
adford, Co Galway. The small group has been busy working on the project, which aims to highlight the issue of climate change, with particular reference to the West of Ireland. “We particularly wanted to bring the conference to a community venue in Headford”, says Venetia Mc Ellin, ofthe group, “because we want to highlight the relevance of
climate change to the people of the West of Ireland.” It is designed so that local people, not just academics, can come and listen to what our scientists have to say and find out less reported facts, such as the effects on our biodiversity.
Speakers include Prof John Sweeney, who will give a global overview and predictions regarding the West of Ireland, John Gibbons who will talk on the political commitment to addressing climate change and Anja Murray discussing the effects of climate change on our biodiversity.
Entitled Climate Change and the West of Ireland, Global Perspectives – Local Solutions, the conference will aim to connect with farmers, homemakers, young people and our elders, anyone who wants to find out what we can expect to happen to our climate. However the group doesn’t want it to be all doom and gloom. “We also aim to highlight what we can do about climate change, as individuals and as a community”, says Venetia. “We hope to finish the afternoon by inviting some local people to tell us what they are doing in their own lives to combat climate change or create a sustainable lifestyle, and share their ideas with us”.
The event will run from 10.30am until 4.00pm and will be held in St Fursa’s Hall, Headford (opposite Joyce’s) on April 16th.
More details can be found on Facebook ‘Headford Environment Group’ and our event page Climate Change and the West of Ireland. The event is funded by Agenda 21 funding and is free to all, but the group is asking you to sign up in advance where possible so that they have an idea of the numbers.
You can register here Climate Change and West of Ireland
Spring is nearly here, and so are our Spring Talks!
by Kay Synott of Living Gardens
As more and more habitats for our native flora and fauna are lost, gardens are becoming important havens for wildlife. This illustrated talk will show how to make a beautiful garden that is also wildlife friendly and how to garden in an environmentally sustainable way. Topics will include selecting suitable plants to attract insects like bees and butterflies, how to make a bird-friendly garden and how to include meadows, ponds and hedgerows in a garden setting.
Kay Synott (http://www.livinggardens.ie) is a qualified horticulturalist, school gardening specialist (working under the ‘Heritage in Schools Scheme’) and garden designer with a particular emphasis on organic and wildlife gardening. Kay has won several awards for her school garden projects.
She gives gardening courses and workshops and is also involved in community garden projects and environmental education in County Galway and City. She is a member of the Brigit’s Garden environmental education team working mostly with primary school children.
From Falcons to Owls
Thursday 4th December, 2014@ 8pm
Headford Environment Group to Host a Talk by Well-known Ornithologist, John Lusby.
The locally-based environment group has been working in Headford for 4 years now, and aims to increase environmental awareness and appreciation of our natural heritage. “While we normally hold a series of talks in the Autumn, this year‘s three biodiversity signs and Golden Mile entry have kept us extremely busy” said Venetia McEllin, a member of the group. “However, we are delighted to welcome back one of our most popular speakers for December”.
John Lusby, a conservation officer with Birdwatch Ireland, who is most known for his work on RTE Radio 1, drew a large crowd of all ages when he last visited Headford. This time he will be speaking on the raptors of Galway, “From Falcons to Owls”.
John Lusby’s talk takes place on Thursday 4th December at 8pm in the Angler’s Rest Hotel, Headford. Everyone is welcome, there will be a raffle on the night, and while admittance is free, donations towards the group’s work will be very welcome.
GORDON D’ARCY TO LAUNCH A BIRD IDENTIFICATION SIGN AT
GREENFIELD, HEADFORD CO GALWAY
ON SUNDAY 11 MAY AT 7.00 AM
Gordon D’Arcy, author, artist and environmentalist, will officially launch a Bird Identification Sign on Sunday 11 May at 7.00 am, following a dawn chorus walk, starting at 5.30 am, at Greenfield, Headford.
This sign was planned by the Headford Environment Group. following a most enjoyable dawn chorus event at Greenfield in May 2013, when a total of 33 different species of bird were identified. The sign depicts and describes 21 species of bird which may be seen at Greenfield. “The aim of the sign is to raise awareness and provide information about the rich bird life and biodiversity in the area” said Dr Kate McAney of the Headford Environment Group, “and we are delighted to have Gordon D’Arcy coming to mark the occasion”.
The sign also features information on fishing at Greenfields, a description of the bird life to be found, and personal recollections of life on Inchiquin before the Causeway was built in the 1960s.
This project is part funded under Galway County Council’s Local Agenda 21 Environment Partnership Fund 2013.
Refreshments will be available for all those brave souls who set the early morning alarm to come and join us.
Our second talk of the 2014 Sprng Series of lectures will be given by Sindead Ni Mhainnin, Environmental Awareness Officer at Galway County Council.
It will focus on areas such as waste reduction, composting, refrigeration, energy consumption etc. and will show us how to become greener in the home.
This will take place on Wed 26th March ’14 at 8pm in the Angler’s Rest Hotel, Headford. We hope you will be able to attend and look forward to seeing you there. As usual, donations will be welcome at the door.
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The second of our Autumn 2013 talks is on the subject of:
WATER POLLUTION –
CAUSES, EFFECTS AND SOLUTIONS
a talk by Con McCole
at 8pm on
Wed 20 November, 2013
in the
Angler’s Rest Hotel, Headford
Admittance free – everyone welcome
Biodiversity Report for Headford
On 10th December, the third and final talk of the Autumn 2013 series, will be a report from a recent biodiversity study carried out in the town of Headford.
An exciting learning opportunity arose for 11 postgraduate students at NUIG to carry out surveys of the biodiversity found along the Sandybanks lane for Headford Environmental Group and the local community. The students carried out habitat mapping, and recorded plants and animals along stretches of the lane. The students are undertaking a taught MSc in Sustainable Resource Management Policy and Practice which is a multidisciplinary course jointly run by NUIG and UL.
Thanks to the students, who have kindly agreed to share their findings, we are delighted to welcome you to join us to hear the results of their work. Who knows, there may even be a mince pie or two….
10th December at 8pm in Anglers Rest Hotel, Headford.
All Welcome!
Here’s a taster of what they found….
One or two of our Headford residents.
‘The story of a Community Garden in Co. Galway’ by Lynn O’Keeffe-Lascar,
Headford Environment Group 