Community groups invited to enter TidyTowns waters award

APPLICATIONS are invited from community groups in County Galway and nationwide to participate in the SuperValu TidyTowns Waters and Communities Special Award.

Co-sponsored by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), Waterways Ireland and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), this award has been a regular feature in the main SuperValu TidyTowns competition since 2017.

The Waters and Communities Special Award welcomes applications that showcase how Tidy Towns groups have promoted and championed water stewardship in their local waterbody - be it a local stream, river, estuary, canal, lake, beach or coastal area. It particularly encourages initiatives where the natural aspects of the waterbody is protected or enhanced through the work of a Tidy Towns group.

The groups can demonstrate a range of community initiatives along their local waterbodies such as reducing or eliminating grassland herbicide usage, protecting wetlands, organising litter picks, conservation activities related to biodiversity and heritage, promotion of angling and water-based activities, and other actions which focus on water stewardship.

“Tidy Towns groups across the country are undertaking tremendous work to improve all aspects of their local communities and the Waters and Communities Special Award is a great way to recognise and showcase the groups committed to protecting and restoring their local waterbodies,” said Anthony Coleman, Director of Services for LAWPRO.

The Waters and Communities Special Award is open to all community groups. The award provides an annual prize fund of €7,000, which is divided across the four regions (South West, Midlands and East, South East, Northwest and West) of the TidyTowns competition. The overall award winner receives €2,000 to support their local project or initiative.

The closing date for applications for the award is Monday June 8, at 5pm. More information can be found at www.tidytowns.ie.