Gas Networks Ireland and Leave No Trace partner on second year of Hot Spot Programme
21st September 2022 : Leave No Trace Ireland, in collaboration with Gas Networks Ireland, has selected sites for this year’s Hot Spot Programme. In its second year, the Hot Spot Programme is a conservation project aimed at addressing the impact of heavy use and activities on areas of natural beauty and ecological importance. This year’s selected sites are Turvey Nature Reserve and Rogerstown Estuary, both situated near Donabate Village in Fingal, North County Dublin
Last year, which was the first year of the international Hot Spot Programme in Ireland and indeed in Europe, Leave No Trace Ireland and Gas Networks Ireland worked together to help restore Glengarra Wood in Co. Tipperary.
Under the Hot Spot Programme, the chosen location benefits from unique, site-specific blend of training, expert consulting, education programmes, service projects and more. Helping the areas to bounce back and recover from impact of footfall and recover their natural qualities, resulting in sustainable outdoor areas.
This year, Leave No Trace Ireland and Gas Networks Ireland have designed a bespoke 2022 Hot Spot Programme to work with local community groups and Fingal County Council to undertake restoration work in the chosen sites at Turvey Nature Reserve and Rogerstown Estuary. Using Leave No Trace solutions, these areas can be restored and thrive.
Gas Network Ireland’s Social Sustainability Manager, Gráinne O’Reilly, said:
“At Gas Networks Ireland we have a long history of supporting educational programmes in communities across Ireland. Supporting biodiversity is a key part of our sustainability strategy and Leave No Trace shares this common goal with us.
“Our continued partnership on the Hot Spot Programme demonstrates our commitment to promoting the importance of biodiversity, not only amongst our stakeholders but with our colleagues and the communities where we work.
“We’re working to support a cleaner, more sustainable future for Ireland.”
Commenting on the programme, Leave No Trace Ireland Ecologist and National Education Officer, Padraic Creedon, said,
purpose of the Hot Spot Programme is to teach people how to make responsible decisions when participating in outdoor activities, to promote a sense of stewardship for the natural world and an understanding of how to reduce your carbon footprint.
“The Hot Spot Programme is a great opportunity to enhance the magnificent Turvey Nature Reserve and Rogerstown Estuary by working with the local community to limit the impacts of outdoor recreation and enhance understanding of its environmental value. We are looking forward to working again with Gas Networks Ireland to build on the success of the Hot Spot Programme.”
The Hot Spot Project team are calling for volunteers and local community groups to get involved in this year’s programme to help restore and maintain this amazing nature reserve.
The project will be running several impact days conducting wildlife surveys, clean ups, removal of beacon impacts as well as a host of other activities. Those interested in taking part, should contact Padraic Creedon from Leave No Trace at the below details.
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For Further Information:
Padraic Creedon
Leave No Trace Ireland | F28 KD63
P: + 353 (0)1 9059009
W: www.leavenotraceireland.org
Notes for Editor:
Turvey Nature Reserve: Turvey Nature Reserve is situated just over 15 kilometres from Dublin city centre, near Donabate Village in Fingal, North County Dublin. This enclosed park, which boasts some of the most beautiful natural wildlife that the county has to offer, contains parkland, farmland, woodland and wetland areas, and opens out onto the breath taking Rogerstown Estuary on one side. It features a wide array of different kinds of wildlife and is especially well endowed with huge amounts of birdlife, particularly near the estuary itself.
Leave No Trace Ireland is Ireland’s only outdoor ethics programme, which promotes the responsible use of the outdoors. Through education, research and partnerships, Leave No Trace Ireland enables and supports individuals, communities, organisations and companies in reducing the environmental impact of outdoor activities.
Gas Networks Ireland operates and maintains Ireland’s €2.7bn, 14,664km national gas network, which is considered one of the safest and most modern renewables-ready gas networks in the world.
Over 710,000 Irish homes and businesses trust Ireland’s gas network to provide efficient and reliable energy to meet their heating, cooking, manufacturing, and transport needs.
The gas network is the cornerstone of Ireland’s energy system, securely supplying more than 30% of Ireland’s total energy, including 40% of all heating and almost 50% of the country’s electricity generation.
By working to replace natural gas with renewable gases, such as biomethane and hydrogen, and complementing intermittent renewable electricity, Gas Networks Ireland is supporting Ireland’s journey to a cleaner energy future.
Fingal County Council is the authority responsible for local government in the county of Fingal, Ireland. Fingal County Council has responsibility for the management of the Turvey Parklands.
The Hot Spot Programme is an initiative that implements successful programmes at geographically and environmentally diverse areas across the country experiencing severe impacts caused by recreational use (such as scarring from fires), as well as surveying the local areas through BioBlitz’s, and through education days with volunteers and locals.
