The Northern Ireland Creation Care Network met on Saturday 10 March in Lowe Memorial Presbyterian Church, Finaghy, Belfast.
The most exciting news was provided by Darren Houston who described the BallyNature Day event held recently in the village of Ballynure, Co Antrim when over 1,500 people attended and had the opportunity to visit 49 stalls, mostly occupied by major conservation organisations as well as by many small groups. It is expected that the 2019 event will be on an even larger scale!
Discussion ranged over many topics, including Drumalis’ ban on the use of plastic water bottles at its events; the poor quality of some environmentally-friendly cleaning agents; the growing realisation of the importance of maintaining good soil health; difficulties faced by waste bin users following local government changes; the role of car boot sales in reuse of materials; problems relating to the disposal of paper waste following the cessation of its transport to China; and the excessive packaging used by many manufacturers allied to the needless use in supermarkets and greengroceries of plastic bags to carry loose vegetables etc.
There were also reports on proposed conservation-based activities at Corrymeela, on actual work at Drumalis, environmental outreach art in Whiteabbey and the lectrure programme of Christians in Science. The group hope to hold their autumn meeting in Ballynure, Co Antrim.