Thurles Information

Pictured hereunder is the first published picture of the newly landscaped Thurles river walk stretching, sandwiched and running parallel between the west bank of the river Suir and the new proposed Lidl Supermarket Site.

Yes, it is nicely landscaped, with grass seed sown on both sides of a narrow, winding, tarmac pathway; reminiscent of the yellow brick road taken by Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion in the musical fantasy film ‘The Wizard of Aus’.

From what we can see, a few, fast growing, short lived Alder trees have also been planted; each dotted here and there along this 150 metre stretch of the river bank.
Wire plastic coated fencing attached to wooden stakes, divides the Supermarket chain’s intended new premises from the public right-of-way river walkway.

“Beware, beware the hawthorn
Lest it strike you down
For if you take an axe to it
You’ll rue that you were born”
(Giles Watson)

All of the above, to my mind, ineffective changes come at the cost of one pair of Song Thrushes being made homeless; their nesting site and eggs destroyed.
Flowering Queen Anne’s Lace, Plaintain (Slánus), Bindweed, Cow Parsley, Hogweed, are just a few of the species all once sheltering beneath a 130 metre stretch of healthy Hawthorn trees (May Tree) were also annihilated to be replaced by sod all.

Alas, these Hawthorn trees were not obviously inhabited or protected by fairy folk, worse luck, as legend suggests, so gone for good are 130 metres of native spiny branches, whose flowers will no longer spread their heavenly sweet scent, on late May and June evenings.
Gone are 130 metres where normally honeybees, bumblebees and a great variety of insect species, flitted urgently, immersed in their intricate work of gathering nectar and pollen, thus making it an important part of our ecosystem, and at a time when land-based insects are rapidly disappearing.

The European Commission has clearly stated that there has been an alarming decline in pollinator species, with 10% of bees and butterflies nearing extinction. The loss of wild pollinators remains a cause for grave concern, because around 80% of crops depend, in part at least, on their ability to pollinate.

Here in Ireland, a third of our wild bee population is facing the threat of extinction; that’s according to the National Biodiversity Data Centre in Waterford.

Gone are 130 metres of Hawthorn hedging, which each year offered a mass of red berries to birds, as their autumn and winter feed.

One law for the general public, another law for developers.

Under the terms of the Irish Wildlife Act, hedge-cutting is only permitted between September 1st and February 28th. This law aims to protect and maintain wildlife diversity by establishing areas where, in particular, birdlife can thrive during the nesting season. The law also prohibits the cutting, burning, grubbing or deliberate destruction of vegetation.

• So who gave the developers of the Lidl site, in Thurles, permission to destroy biodiversity in this area?
• Will they be sought out and prosecuted?
• Will they be forced to replace the Hawthorn trees they ripped up?

Most likely not; but remember “What we do to the environment we ultimately do to ourselves as humans”.

• The EPA’s Green Enterprise: Innovation for a Circular Economy fund worth €625,000 is now open for applications.
• Applications for project funding in the range of €50k to €100k are invited, to support Irish businesses develop circular solutions in product and service design, production, distribution, use of resources – including raw materials and waste reduction.
• The fund is aimed at business-ready innovative projects targeting the areas of food; plastic; construction and demolition waste; and resources & raw materials.
• Circular business models contribute to a climate-neutral, resource-efficient economy, but also offer competitive opportunities, and appeal to customers and consumers looking for sustainable options.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today launches its €625,000 funding opportunity for Irish enterprises to innovate, demonstrate and implement circular economy approaches in their business models.

Speaking about the Green Enterprise: Innovation for a Circular Economy funding call, Ms Laura Burke, (Director General of the EPA) said:

“A ‘circular’ economy reduces waste throughout the economic cycle and ensures that materials are used as efficiently as possible. Circular businesses reduce costs and environmental impact by reusing, repairing and recycling materials already in use. These approaches can advance the green transition, accelerate digital transformation and can deliver new jobs and skills as Ireland implements its National Recovery and Resilience Plan.”

The EPA is inviting business and industry applicants from across Ireland’s economy with business-ready innovative projects targeting the areas of food, plastic, construction and demolition waste and resources and raw materials.”

The EPA’s Green Enterprise: Innovation for a Circular Economy fund supports Irish enterprises develop and demonstrate circular economy approaches, designing out waste and pollution and keeping products and materials in use for longer. The types of projects being targeted include:

• Use of eco-design to develop sustainable products.
• Innovation to reduce the use of raw materials in product manufacturing.
• Development and implementation of circular production processes (designing out waste, life cycle analysis).
• Recycling, reuse and repair activities in the business and industry sector.
• Circular services and business models (to transform consumption patterns, logistics and to foster reuse and repair).

Ms Mary Frances Rochford, (Programme Manager, EPA Office of Environmental Sustainability) said:

“The circular economy is shaping national and international business models as a viable market response to environmental and climate challenges. Moving to a circular economy is critical for Irish business as Ireland positions itself as a market leader in the provision of goods and services, while protecting the environment, protecting the economy, and protecting local jobs.”