Overall Developmental Approach

Lislevane Community Association is welcome to the 2010 Competition. You have a very large committee for a village of this size, which must help your workload. You should not be disheartened as your efforts are very much appreciated. You are, as you say, a working village who presents itself to the highest standards and works within the parameters and problems that it has. You should not feel you are restricted in the wildlife category, due to your location. As was seen by a busy working town like Emly winning last years, this is not a problem in achieving the ultimate goal. These are areas that can be tackled in any geographical location. You would appear to have a good working relationship with Cork County Council, FAS, West Cork Leader, ICA, Foroige, Barryroe Coop, as well as the local community and organisations. It was good to hear of your close relationship with the local school in relation to their litter rota etc. Many thanks for your concise application, including clear map, which was most useful on the day. We hope that the issues with sponsorship and grants will be resolved in the not too distant future.

The Built Environment

The buildings of the village were presented to the highest standards on the day. The stone church and marvellous grounds looked very well and the Barryroe Coop was neatly presented. The graveyard and attractive stone wall were well maintained. The post office was very fresh, as was sextons. Wheltons might be repainted before next years competition. The school and grounds were beautifully maintained. The planned footpath and lighting from the Co-op to the village will make a huge difference in terms of safety for local residents. Some marvellous agricultural buildings were admired on the Butlerstown Road.

Landscaping

The grotto opposite the church was well presented with fresh statuary, stone walling, adjacent montbretia and hedging. We were interested to hear of planned tree planting in this location. The marvellous millennium monument was looking well. The cart and associated floral displays at the village green looked as well as ever, and it was good to hear that this is an area that the local children can also enjoy, and therefore isn’t just cosmetic. Your efforts to overcome economic problems by growing from seed, using slips and using vegetables are all ingenious ideas and well worthwhile. Have you considered permanent planting to give year-round effect and colour? Planting of native fuchsia is a good idea, and also possibly montbretia? The stone seat, children sculpture and trees to the main street looked marvellous.

Wildlife and Natural Amenities

This is an aspect of the competition that all towns and villages can develop and encourage. With your wealth of mature ditches, trees and hedgerows a wealth of wildlife is on your doorstep. Many towns and villages have created wildlife areas, as you have looked into with your proposed duck pond. Other ideas have been the sowing of wildflower meadows, surveying local habitats, working with Birdwatch Ireland by means of Dawn Chorus Walks, or perhaps conducting bat walks. All are feasible ideas and well worth pursuing. The continuing erection of bird-boxes is a good initiative, as are small wildlife sanctuaries, as planned.

Litter Control

The standard in this category of the competition was good on the day. We were pleased to hear of your local walkers carrying bags to pick up litter found on their walks. A few papers were noted on the road to the Co-Op. The rota formed by the local ICA is another good idea. Plans to enter more competitions are applauded and we wish you luck with same.

Waste Minimisation

The recycling area was neatly maintained on the day. We were pleased to hear of the school’s participation in the Green Flag initiative, and their success in same. Have you looked at any other ideas for furthering this aspect of the competition, such as the idea of composting workshops? You mention green recycling in your submission, does this mean you compost you cuttings? Contact the Council’s Environmental section regarding other possibilities for this segregation of litter is laudable

Tidiness

The town generally had a reasonably neat appearance on the day, which is particularly impressive given its nature as a working town and ongoing through-traffic.

Residential Areas

The standard in this category was good with the individual houses and gardens of the village and along approach roads generally being well cared for. A particularly attractive house and garden were noted beside the village green.

Roads, Streets and Back Areas

The standard in this category was also good on the day. The ditches and verges were well maintained and it was good to hear that you carefully consider the level of cutting to do, in order to maintain a natural appearance, which is very important. The Timoleague Road looked well with its begonias and attractive welcome signage, with Celtic knot decoration in stone. Relatively new trees were coming along well in this location. We were pleased to hear of your plans to carve stones with the Irish names of the surrounding townlands, this has been quite successfully done in areas of County Mayo.

General Impression

Lislevane is a very attractive working village set in some spectacular scenery. We wish you luck in all your future endeavours-you are very much on the right track!