Carmel O’Neill sent us this latest news:
Just two weeks before her sudden passing , the late Sr Catherine Brennan RIP decided to present an award to Valleymount parish based on a number of biodiversity projects carried out over the past three years in the church grounds.
These included the creation of a Memory Garden dedicated to the memory of the residents of Ballinahown who sacrificed their homes and livelihoods for the construction of the Blessington lake and reservoir in 1940. The lake supplies water to Dublin city. Other projects included the restoration of Our Lady’s Grotto and the cultivation of an area of waste ground behind the grotto into a shaded garden.
In early Spring of this year, a community shed group was formed with eight members from the locality. It was decided to establish an organic vegetable garden using raised beds. Two beds were allocated to the primary school children, who with the help of their teachers planted lettuce scallions cabbage and marigolds during their lunch break. The main beds have produced peas, mange tout, cabbage, kale, broccoli and outdoor tomatoes.
The future plans are to erect a polytunnel and plant some veg indoors along with bee pollinator flowers for flower boxes in the village.
At the graduation ceremony for 6th class on June 26t,h Fr Richard blessed the plaque and Carmel O Neill encouraged the children to be pro active in their Green school initiatives in secondary school. We are relying on these students to be our future environmentalists and to play their part in addressing the problems caused by global warming and climate change.
Blessington Tidy Towns launched Blessington Bug Ambassadors earlier this year. The aim of the initiative is to inspire young people aged 9 and up foster a deep appreciation for the world of insects that inhabit our local area.
Under the guidance of local entomologist Bryan Murray of Bees of Ireland , 15 children and their parents embarked on a two hour field trip to Russborough House and Walled gardens. The vibrant flowers in the garden proved to be a hotspot for Irish bees, butterflies, hoverflies and ladybirds. Not only were the children helped to identify insects but also to recognise the vital role that insects play in maintaining a balanced thriving eco system. The event was a great success and is a shining example of the importance of engaging children with nature and instilling in them a sense of wonder and curiosity.
Lacken Bird Houses. One member of Lacken Tidy Village put his woodwork skills to good use by designing colourful bird boxes using recycled off cuts of timber. These were then treated with varnish to make them waterproof while the holes are 32 mm in size to attract finches. The three bird boxes are located in Lacken church car park and on two sections of the mass path in the village. We hope that these attractive bird boxes will provide shelter for our smaller bird population in winter and a safe breeding habitat in the Spring.
Blessington Sensory garden. Archbishop Dermot Farrell visited Blessington church on May 7th to present an eco award. To mark the occasion, an apple tree was blessed at the back of the church marked out for a new sensory garden. The parish Centre adjacent to this area now provides meals and social engagement for our Senior citizens four days weekly. Members of the Daycare Committee have been busy assembling portable planter boxes to grow lettuce scallions and tomatoes. Sunflowers and marigolds are planted in pots. A disused bird box was erected on the wall and to the delight of our senior citizens attracted a sparrow. A number of fledglings hatched out in late June
There are plans to develop other sensory aspects to this area by installing chime bells, a water feature and trailing climber plants to add colour to the bare walls.
