Wicklow Mountain Views – Summer 2019

Wicklow Mountain Views – The Newsletter of the Wicklow Uplands Council.
Issue No. 30

A Letter From The Chair

Tom Byrne, chair of Wicklow Uplands Council, shares some of the developments and news from the Council and across the uplands of Wicklow and Dublin.

National Walks Scheme Open For Applications

The National Walks Scheme has opened to applicants for the first time in nearly a decade and offers an opportunity for further development to the network of walking trails found across the uplands.

Celebrating 10yrs Of The Pure Mile Competition 

Beginning in 2009 with just 6 community groups, the Pure Mile Competition is celebrating its 10th year with a record breaking 80 groups and over 2,500 volunteers.

SUAS Project Building Relationships Across The EU

The SUAS Pilot Project has been busy developing relationships across the EU with a visiting delegation and its project manager, Declan Byrne speaking at the recent Agri-Innovation Summit in France.

SUAS Demonstration Event in West Wicklow

The SUAS Pilot Project is hosting its inaugural Demonstration Event & Open Day on the 20th of August. This free event will provide insight to the project through a series of short talks and a site visit to the Granamore Commonage.

Guided Walk Of Glenasmole Valley (Heritage Week)

To celebrate National Heritage Week, the Council has organised a guided walk in the Dublin Uplands with well known traditional farmer, Donie Anderson.

Blessington E-Greenway Gets The Go Ahead

After many years of planning, west Wicklow is about to see the county’s first greenway constructed along the shoreline of the Blessington Lakes.

Ecotrail Wicklow

In September, County Wicklow will become the 10th European destination to host an Ecotrail event. With all of the routes ascending into the uplands to visit a number of the area’s well-known natural landmarks, the trail running event will welcome many European and international participants.

Want To Do More Hiking This Summer?

Hiking is a fantastic sport, however, it has its dangers too. Mountaineering Ireland has compiled some basic guidelines to follow which will reduce the risk factors and ensure that you enjoy hiking to its fullest.

The Changing Landscape Of The Uplands

The uplands have over the last few centuries, seen dramatic changes to its landscape through the construction of reservoirs and infrastructure to generate electricity and to provide fresh drinking water. Now thriving with wildlife, these locations are being enjoyed as a picturesque setting for recreational activities and continue to provide sustainable resources.

Responding To Climate Change 

As Ireland declares a “Climate and Biodiversity Emergency”, Wicklow Uplands Council begins to explore how best to respond to climate change and how it will affect upland communities.

Litter Pick Of The Sally Gap

Attracting lots of volunteers, this year’s annual litter pick event took place along a 7km stretch of the Sally Gap and managed to collect over 6o bags of waste.

Wind Energy In The Uplands

As renewable energy becomes a key focus to tackling climate change, the negative impact of installing windfarm operations in the uplands is discussed.

New 183 Bus Service Introduced

A new scheduled bus service connecting upland communities and visitor attractions was launched in April and is proving to be very popular.

Directors Of Wicklow Uplands Council 2019/20

Following the Wicklow Uplands Council’s AGM in July, a new board was elected by the four member panels.

The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Wicklow Uplands Council.

Photos and images reproduced in this newsletter courtesy of Brendan Cullen, The Pure Project, Declan Byrne, Wicklow County Tourism, Mountaineering Ireland, Mick Kelly, Ger Roe, Rob Clifford, Hilda Smith and Aidan O’Toole.