More than two-thirds of taxpayers are willing to pay an average €47 extra per year to protect national heritage sites and amenities, while 92 per cent of people believe it is important to protect our heritage, according to research published yesterday.
However, the number who said heritage protection should not interfere with the provision of necessary public infrastructure rose from 52 per cent in 2005 to 58 per cent in this year's survey.
Overall, the Heritage Council study reveals that safeguarding and improving access to the nation's heritage ranks fifth in the public's list of priorities for additional Government funding.
This places it ahead of considerations such as improvements to the road network and increased support for the visual and performance arts, but far behind spending on improving services in hospital A&E departments.
Some 82 per cent of respondents identified the latter as their main priority for any additional Government spending, followed by spending on refurbishing primary schools (4per cent). Some 2.5 per cent said safeguarding and improving the national heritage should be a priority.
Heritage Council
Showing posts with label heritage council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heritage council. Show all posts
Tuesday, 24 July 2007
Monday, 11 June 2007
Mapping the Wild Spaces of County Cork
Cork County Council - with the support of the Heritage Council - has recently embarked upon a project to carry out a survey of the wild habitats of the county.
County Cork hosts a broad diversity of natural and semi-natural habitats, reflecting its geographical position on the southern coast of the country - its geology dominated by sandstone ridges and limestone valley floors and the influence of the people who have settled here. These habitats include coastal habitats, lakes, rivers and other wetlands, grasslands hedgerows and woodlands.
However, the information relating to such habitats is scant and some habitats and wild plant, bird and other animal species are coming under increasing pressure arising from development and other human activity. The need to identify and collect information on local areas of wildlife value has been identified to be a priority area of work in the County Heritage Plan. It is envisaged that the information which will be generated by the mapping project will be used to identify previously unknown areas of wildlife value in the County and to give us an understanding of how these areas are faring in the 21st Century.
This is the first year of the project and habitat survey work is currently underway in the Carrigaline Electoral Area. It is planned to expand the project over the coming years to create a habitat map for the entire County.
"Surveyors will be out and about over the summer months - collecting information along the western shore of Cork Harbour in an area extending from Carrigaline to Ballincollig. They may be seeking permission to access private land for survey purposes and public support and assistance in this regard would be much appreciated" - said Sharon Casey, County Heritage Officer.
"As the pace of change is accelerating, there is greater pressure on our natural heritage -now, more than ever before. There exists a real challenge to find ways to balance the need for change with the desire for protection. By increasing our understanding of the status of our wild plants, animals and spaces, we will better be able to provide for their protection and to plan for change in a sensitive manner which respects the surrounding natural environment" - she added.
For further information on this project, contact - Sharon Casey, Cork County Council - Tel: 021 4818000.
County Cork hosts a broad diversity of natural and semi-natural habitats, reflecting its geographical position on the southern coast of the country - its geology dominated by sandstone ridges and limestone valley floors and the influence of the people who have settled here. These habitats include coastal habitats, lakes, rivers and other wetlands, grasslands hedgerows and woodlands.
However, the information relating to such habitats is scant and some habitats and wild plant, bird and other animal species are coming under increasing pressure arising from development and other human activity. The need to identify and collect information on local areas of wildlife value has been identified to be a priority area of work in the County Heritage Plan. It is envisaged that the information which will be generated by the mapping project will be used to identify previously unknown areas of wildlife value in the County and to give us an understanding of how these areas are faring in the 21st Century.
This is the first year of the project and habitat survey work is currently underway in the Carrigaline Electoral Area. It is planned to expand the project over the coming years to create a habitat map for the entire County.
"Surveyors will be out and about over the summer months - collecting information along the western shore of Cork Harbour in an area extending from Carrigaline to Ballincollig. They may be seeking permission to access private land for survey purposes and public support and assistance in this regard would be much appreciated" - said Sharon Casey, County Heritage Officer.
"As the pace of change is accelerating, there is greater pressure on our natural heritage -now, more than ever before. There exists a real challenge to find ways to balance the need for change with the desire for protection. By increasing our understanding of the status of our wild plants, animals and spaces, we will better be able to provide for their protection and to plan for change in a sensitive manner which respects the surrounding natural environment" - she added.
For further information on this project, contact - Sharon Casey, Cork County Council - Tel: 021 4818000.
Tuesday, 6 March 2007
Archaeology of Burren in danger from scrub growth - report
Changing farm practices in the Burren, Co Clare, are endangering the archaeology there as hazel and blackthorn scrub are increasing at an estimated annual rate of 4.4 per cent.
This has been one of the findings of the major new Heritage Council-funded study into the impact of scrub on the archaeology of the Burren which has just been published. The detailed study noted that during fieldwork, 77 per cent of recorded sites in the study area were being threatened by hazel and blackthorn scrub encroachment.
Scrub was found to be damaging sites at a structural and sub-surface level and occluding sites, thereby putting them at increased risk of future loss or damage through inadvertent scrub clearance.
The summary of the report found that the landscape and archaeology of the Burren had been shaped and managed by the long tradition of farming which included grazing livestock on the limestone pavements during the winter.
It said recent changes in farming practices had led to changes to the Burren which has the highest concentration and perhaps the highest diversity of archaeological remains in Ireland. The changes, the report added, had implications for the future landscape resources throughout the country, including archaeology.
In its conclusions, the study called for a proper landscape-level management plan for the archaeology of the Burren as a matter of urgency.
It also recommended that a full archaeological survey at an estimated cost of €1.25 million should be carried out, however this could take up to five years to accomplish.
The Heritage Council-funded study also called for annual monitoring and mapping of hazel growth using satellite or other suitable imagery. "As part of this a system of monitoring and maintenance of archaeological monuments affected by scrub should be devised," it said.
"A programme of remedial work should be devised for a number of monuments which are already under threat from scrub."
The report said that landowners should be notified of the protected monuments and areas on their lands. This would allow for the implementation of legislation.
The report also said there should be more effective and improved consultation with Burren landowners.
Seán Mac Connell
© 2007 The Irish Times
This has been one of the findings of the major new Heritage Council-funded study into the impact of scrub on the archaeology of the Burren which has just been published. The detailed study noted that during fieldwork, 77 per cent of recorded sites in the study area were being threatened by hazel and blackthorn scrub encroachment.
Scrub was found to be damaging sites at a structural and sub-surface level and occluding sites, thereby putting them at increased risk of future loss or damage through inadvertent scrub clearance.
The summary of the report found that the landscape and archaeology of the Burren had been shaped and managed by the long tradition of farming which included grazing livestock on the limestone pavements during the winter.
It said recent changes in farming practices had led to changes to the Burren which has the highest concentration and perhaps the highest diversity of archaeological remains in Ireland. The changes, the report added, had implications for the future landscape resources throughout the country, including archaeology.
In its conclusions, the study called for a proper landscape-level management plan for the archaeology of the Burren as a matter of urgency.
It also recommended that a full archaeological survey at an estimated cost of €1.25 million should be carried out, however this could take up to five years to accomplish.
The Heritage Council-funded study also called for annual monitoring and mapping of hazel growth using satellite or other suitable imagery. "As part of this a system of monitoring and maintenance of archaeological monuments affected by scrub should be devised," it said.
"A programme of remedial work should be devised for a number of monuments which are already under threat from scrub."
The report said that landowners should be notified of the protected monuments and areas on their lands. This would allow for the implementation of legislation.
The report also said there should be more effective and improved consultation with Burren landowners.
Seán Mac Connell
© 2007 The Irish Times
Sunday, 4 March 2007
€3.2m in funding for 2007 heritage projects
The Heritage Council has announced funding worth €3.2 million for 377 heritage projects that will be carried out this year by community groups, individuals and educational institutions in Wicklow, Wexford and all over the country.
The projects will be implemented in every county in the country, covering a diverse range of heritage areas including - the restoration of habitats for corncrakes on islands of the west coast; restoring ancient woodlands; re-introducing the traditional Irish farming breeds, including Irish Moilled Cattle and the Burren Feral Goat; the restoration of buildings at risk; work at local museums and archives, archaeology projects, the production of new publications on heritage and 87 local heritage projects which will be carried out by community groups and voluntary groups across the country.
Local Heritage initiatives to be carried out this year include - the restoration of wetlands, creating walking routes, restoring old railways, the preservation of ancient place names and local history, creating heritage trails, restoring stone walls and hedgerows, protecting birds and wildlife, the conservation of old graveyards, running training courses to preserve traditional crafts such as traditional Traveller wagon making and tin-smithing and a broad range of local events to educate and raise awareness of all aspects of our heritage.
The funding for the grants programme comes from the National Lottery.
The projects will be implemented in every county in the country, covering a diverse range of heritage areas including - the restoration of habitats for corncrakes on islands of the west coast; restoring ancient woodlands; re-introducing the traditional Irish farming breeds, including Irish Moilled Cattle and the Burren Feral Goat; the restoration of buildings at risk; work at local museums and archives, archaeology projects, the production of new publications on heritage and 87 local heritage projects which will be carried out by community groups and voluntary groups across the country.
Local Heritage initiatives to be carried out this year include - the restoration of wetlands, creating walking routes, restoring old railways, the preservation of ancient place names and local history, creating heritage trails, restoring stone walls and hedgerows, protecting birds and wildlife, the conservation of old graveyards, running training courses to preserve traditional crafts such as traditional Traveller wagon making and tin-smithing and a broad range of local events to educate and raise awareness of all aspects of our heritage.
The funding for the grants programme comes from the National Lottery.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)