Meath's Tidy Towns lead the way in climate action and biodiversity

Irish Independent

3 days ago

While many still picture Tidy Towns volunteers as simply planting flowers and tidying streets, today's groups have evolved into community engagement and support.
From running circular economy initiatives to supporting homeless people and promoting local environmental resilience, the volunteers aim to make a difference in their communities.
In Trim, the five-time winners of the overall competition, Trim Tidy Towns is pioneering innovative projects like the recently launched returnable coffee cup scheme, cloth nappy libraries, and reusable party kits – initiatives aimed at reducing waste, cutting carbon emissions, and saving families money.
They also partnered with Birdwatch Ireland Meath to build a Sand Martin Wall along the Boyne River in August 2024, providing 72 nesting sites to protect this important bird species.
Councillor Ronan Moore, Vice Chairperson of Trim Tidy Towns, highlighted the evolving role of the group: 'More and more people understand that the Tidy Towns Competition has long since moved past the simple aesthetics and litter-picking that it was once associated with.'
The community group has been active since the mid-1960s and is currently chaired by Brian Hefferman.
Mr Moore added: 'Through our involvement in multi-stakeholder initiatives such as the Trim Sustainable Energy Community and the Urbact SDG Global Goals project, as well as partnerships with schools, Men's Sheds, youth projects, and residential estates, more residents now recognise that Tidy Towns encompass everything positive about a community - from sustainability and biodiversity to improved streetscapes and public spaces.'
'We continue to give people hope that they can make a difference. Our message of 'come out and help make a difference' is getting through. We are the extra bit of voluntary workforce that community groups call on when they need a hand.'
In Navan, the Johnstown Tidy Towns group has been working closely with Meath County Council to manually weed cycle paths and footpaths, a natural alternative to pesticides that benefits everyone, from local wildlife to children playing outdoors.
Councillor Alan Lawes, Chairperson of Johnstown Tidy Town, said: 'We wanted to look after our community a little bit better; the manual weeding is something we are proud of. We've prevented thousands of litres of pesticides from being sprayed. That's a benefit for everyone, for the animals, and for the children playing in the area.'
'Everyone is looking for the government to do something for the environment but actually we can do a lot ourselves.'
Meath County Council backs these local efforts through funding schemes, with the latest being €3m Local Biodiversity Action Fund announced this week. Johnstown Tidy Towns also use their funding to support outreach for homeless people in Meath.
'We go out every night to homeless people to bring them something to eat or sleeping bags. I'm hoping that by doing what we are doing, it's shining light on the area that is not being looked after by the government,' said Mr Lawes.
Founded in 1958, the Tidy Towns competition celebrates the tidiest and most attractive communities across Ireland. Judged by independent adjudicators from May to August, towns receive reports praising positive developments and suggesting improvements. Awards cover various environmental categories, culminating in the announcement of Ireland's Tidiest Town each September.
In Athboy, the Tidy Towns group hosts biodiversity talks to teach locals to appreciate and protect nature.
Mary Flood, Chairperson, said: 'Our motto is to improve, protect and enhance our town, so a lot of the work we do is about education — showing people what we are doing and hoping they follow our example.'
'We tend to forget that we are part of nature… we are nature. If we destroy nature, we are destroying ourselves and leaving it in a bad state for future generations. So we have to teach people to love nature.'
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme