TREATMENT of public water supplies costs around €1bn per year, a huge sum when treatment is not necessary for many of the uses of water.

THOUGH cycling is becoming ever more popular in Ireland, we’re still a mighty long way from having the facilities that other EU countries are providing for people that prefer the bike as a mode of transport.

THE younger generation might be forgiven for believing that recycling is a new concept here. In fact, it’s quite old.

THE large amount of smoke rising from chimneys since the onset of winter tells us that traditional fuels such as coal, wood and, to a lesser extent, turf, still keep the home fires burning.

IT says something about a growing interest in nature and environmental matters when close to 200 people of all ages turn out on a winter’s night for a talk about the humble hedgehog.

EVEN a casual visit to a bottle bank quickly reveals a lot about a changed Ireland, and no scientific research is needed. The first observation is we’ve become very partial to wine, the other is we’ve taken to glass recycling with gusto.

WATER will be on people’s minds until early 2014, at least, when they become liable for water charges. But, is it not time to examine news ways of enabling nature to provide safe, drinkable water?

PATRICK KAVANAGH, a poet with a remarkable feel for rural life, once said that a man that cannot find happiness and contentment in a turf bog is a ‘’bad case’’. As someone that walks in bogs year-round, I fully concur.

Is there anyone that doesn’t like trees? We might even dare to suggest that everyone loves an individual tree, or trees.

SURVEYS regularly show that natural scenery is the big attraction in Ireland but, often, we blissfully ignore gems that are under our noses.