Poster Celebrates Sligo’s Natural Heritage
‘Natural Heritage of Sligo’ – is a stunning new poster launched by the Leas Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr. Jerry Lundy in partnership with the members of the County Sligo Heritage Forum on Wednesday the 13th June 2007. The poster features 20 eye-catching images, which represent a tiny selection of Sligo’s exceptional richness of plants, animals and habitats. The images on the poster were selected because of their familiarity, their rarity or because they are special to Sligo.
Speaking at the launch, Cllr. Jerry Lundy, Leas Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council said that ‘our natural heritage or biodiversity is vital to life on earth, and provides us with food, clothes, medicines, and places to live, as well as contributing to our quality of life through recreation and tourism. The biodiversity of Sligo is crucial to all our lives and is a richness to be passed on to, and experienced by our children. That experience could be as simple as hearing the first call of the cuckoo, the drumming of a snipe on a summers evening, a child’s delight in chasing a butterfly or a picnic in the dappled shade of an oak tree.’ Cllr Lundy went on to say that ‘we cannot be complacent about our natural heritage, as it is increasingly coming under pressure through habitat destruction, the spread of invasive species, pollution and over harvesting of natural resources. But perhaps the greatest threat to our natural heritage is ignorance of what we have, why it is special and what needs to be done to protect it.’
Dr. Don Cotton, who played a huge part in the success of the project, gave an illustrated talk on the species and habitats that are special to Sligo and outlined that it was hoped that the poster would celebrate the diversity of Sligo’s natural heritage and would educate and inform everyone about the special habitats and species that are present in the county. Dr. Cotton then led a well attended nature walk along the Garavogue River and effortlessly imparted his vast knowledge of Sligo’s natural heritage to those present.
The poster is an initiative of Sligo County Council in partnership with IT Sligo, the Sligo Heritage Forum and the Heritage Council. It highlights the plants, animals and species that are special to our county and is a wonderfully colourful and high quality publication. It is hoped that it will serve its purpose well in promoting the natural heritage of Sligo.
The stunning images featured are courtesy of Don Cotton, Mike Bunn, Robert Thompson, RSPB Images, Mike Brown, Lisa McDaniel and the Department of The Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Funding for the publication was provided by The Heritage Council and Sligo County Council.
The reverse of the poster features a text panel, developed by Dr. Don Cotton, which provides a commentary on each of the images featured and an Irish version will also be available. This will be particularly useful for our primary and secondary schools and it is hoped that it will encourage an interest in our natural environment.
The Leas Cathaoirleach paid tribute to Dr. Don Cotton who has a deep knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the natural heritage of our county. He went on to say that ‘Don is perhaps the greatest natural heritage asset that we have in this county and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Don for his commitment and enthusiasm for Sligo’s natural heritage. Your work is of immense value and is valued. Without the work that you and many others have undertaken in Sligo, our knowledge of our county would be so much poorer.’
Speaking at the launch, Cllr. Jerry Lundy, Leas Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council said that ‘our natural heritage or biodiversity is vital to life on earth, and provides us with food, clothes, medicines, and places to live, as well as contributing to our quality of life through recreation and tourism. The biodiversity of Sligo is crucial to all our lives and is a richness to be passed on to, and experienced by our children. That experience could be as simple as hearing the first call of the cuckoo, the drumming of a snipe on a summers evening, a child’s delight in chasing a butterfly or a picnic in the dappled shade of an oak tree.’ Cllr Lundy went on to say that ‘we cannot be complacent about our natural heritage, as it is increasingly coming under pressure through habitat destruction, the spread of invasive species, pollution and over harvesting of natural resources. But perhaps the greatest threat to our natural heritage is ignorance of what we have, why it is special and what needs to be done to protect it.’
Dr. Don Cotton, who played a huge part in the success of the project, gave an illustrated talk on the species and habitats that are special to Sligo and outlined that it was hoped that the poster would celebrate the diversity of Sligo’s natural heritage and would educate and inform everyone about the special habitats and species that are present in the county. Dr. Cotton then led a well attended nature walk along the Garavogue River and effortlessly imparted his vast knowledge of Sligo’s natural heritage to those present.
The poster is an initiative of Sligo County Council in partnership with IT Sligo, the Sligo Heritage Forum and the Heritage Council. It highlights the plants, animals and species that are special to our county and is a wonderfully colourful and high quality publication. It is hoped that it will serve its purpose well in promoting the natural heritage of Sligo.
The stunning images featured are courtesy of Don Cotton, Mike Bunn, Robert Thompson, RSPB Images, Mike Brown, Lisa McDaniel and the Department of The Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Funding for the publication was provided by The Heritage Council and Sligo County Council.
The reverse of the poster features a text panel, developed by Dr. Don Cotton, which provides a commentary on each of the images featured and an Irish version will also be available. This will be particularly useful for our primary and secondary schools and it is hoped that it will encourage an interest in our natural environment.
The Leas Cathaoirleach paid tribute to Dr. Don Cotton who has a deep knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the natural heritage of our county. He went on to say that ‘Don is perhaps the greatest natural heritage asset that we have in this county and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Don for his commitment and enthusiasm for Sligo’s natural heritage. Your work is of immense value and is valued. Without the work that you and many others have undertaken in Sligo, our knowledge of our county would be so much poorer.’
Action for Biodiversity in Sligo
The launch of the poster is not a stand alone initiative for biodiversity, as Sligo County Council through the Heritage Office and in partnership with the Heritage Forum and IT Sligo has already carried out a number of projects for biodiversity which have included:
- An audit of habitats and species in Sligo by Don Cotton
- Compilation of the Natural Heritage Publications for Sligo by Don Cotton in 2004
- Preparation of draft biodiversity advice notes for Local Authorities in partnership with Kildare County Council and The Heritage Council, which are now being used countrywide by other local authorities
- Biodiversity Training for Local Authority staff
- And Habitat Mapping of Grasslands of Conservation Value
During 2007, the following actions will be undertaken for biodiversity in Sligo:
- Habitat Mapping of the Sligo and Environs area
- An audit of natural heritage sites in public ownership.
- And during 2007 we will see the preparation of the first Biodiversity Plan for our county, which is being undertaken with the support of the Heritage Council.
This work is not being carried out in isolation, and is a response to government policy and the requirement under the National Biodiversity Plan for biodiversity issues to be addressed at local level.
The poster will be sent to all national and secondary schools across Sligo. It can be seen in Sligo libraries and is available to groups that want to celebrate and learn more about the wealth of heritage in Sligo.
View the Sligo Natural Heritage poster - 2,220 kbs
Copies of the poster are available from the Heritage Office, Sligo County Council by telephoning 071-9111226 or by emailing heritage@sligococo.ie.
For further information contact:
Siobhán Ryan,
Heritage Officer,
Sligo County Council
Riverside,
Sligo
Tel: 071-9111 226
Fax: 071-9141119
- Dr. Don Cotton, IT Sligo, addressing the gathering at the launch of the Natural Heritage of Sligo poster in County Hall.
- L to R: Dr. Don Cotton, Cllr. Gerard Mullaney, Cllr. John Sherlock, Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr. Jerry Lundy, Siobhán Ryan Heritage Officer and Cllr. Patsy Barry Chairman Sligo Heritage Forum cast an eye over the Natural Heritage of Sligo poster.
- The diverse gathering who attended the recent launch of the Natural Heritage of Sligo poster in County Hall.
The poster will be sent to all national and secondary schools across Sligo. It can be seen in Sligo libraries and is available to groups that want to celebrate and learn more about the wealth of heritage in Sligo.
View the Sligo Natural Heritage poster - 2,220 kbs
Copies of the poster are available from the Heritage Office, Sligo County Council by telephoning 071-9111226 or by emailing heritage@sligococo.ie.
For further information contact:
Siobhán Ryan,
Heritage Officer,
Sligo County Council
Riverside,
Sligo
Tel: 071-9111 226
Fax: 071-9141119
- Dr. Don Cotton, IT Sligo, addressing the gathering at the launch of the Natural Heritage of Sligo poster in County Hall.
- L to R: Dr. Don Cotton, Cllr. Gerard Mullaney, Cllr. John Sherlock, Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr. Jerry Lundy, Siobhán Ryan Heritage Officer and Cllr. Patsy Barry Chairman Sligo Heritage Forum cast an eye over the Natural Heritage of Sligo poster.
- The diverse gathering who attended the recent launch of the Natural Heritage of Sligo poster in County Hall.
County Hall, Riverside,
Sligo,
Co. Sligo.
GPS : Irish Grid 169896, 335864
Tel:071 9111111
Fax:071 9141119 Email:info@sligococo.ie
