How You Can Help

We are always seeking people for a range of talents and skills among the community – be it those interested based on their commercial and professional activities, their training or interest, and their passion for the idea and concept of Tidy Towns. We are looking for members from all and different parts of the community and from different backgrounds and age groups.

We are also looking for teenagers and school-going kids that could form part of our Junior Tidy Towns Committee.

The creation of a broad-based group with representation from the community involving Residents, Business Sector and Public Bodies male and female, young and not so young is essential.

Remember that the environmental improvements are a vital part of economic regeneration. The area that looks good has a better chance to thrive – as well as being a nice place to live, work and visit. The very act of environmental improvement creates jobs, raises property values, and stimulates the local economy.

Business Sector / Shop / Premises

Ensure a good clean clutter free “Shop Front” with a well-designed name-plate / Sign and its lettering. Can the name be “As Gaeilge”? Refrain from plastic signage. Consult Local Authority that may have rules and guidelines in this area.
Always keep the immediate area outside your shop or premises litter free including cigarette butts. Are you aware of your legal obligations in this regard as to keeping the area free of litter in front of premises? Penalties €150 for littering; up to €3,000 if convicted in District Court.
Advertising or Notice posters on door entrances should be kept to an absolute minimum. Maintain clean windows as far as possible.
Maintain the condition of upper storeys of premises – remove peeling facades; repair damaged windows and clear out overflowing foliage or growth from gutters.
Remove weeds and growth from section between wall and footpath.
Remove unwanted or unnecessary wire clutter.
Remove signage above Ground Floor Level.
Remove unwanted brackets or protruding signs.
Remove “A” signs from footpaths. Don’t have stock on footpaths.
Ensure that there is easy access for all to your premises (including wheel chair users).
Maintain the facade of your property in good order – paint and refresh often in colours that blend in with streetscape.
Provide and maintain Hanging Baskets / Window Boxes during Summer months on front of premises.
Remove “Gum” residue from footpaths leading to your premises.
Provide exterior ash trays if you are a public house / restaurant.
Be aware of Waste Removal times with Waste Company and plan accordingly. Do not leave bins out on street overnight.
Make sure that all packaging is recycled properly in correct container and / or receptacle. Have an Environmental Management Programme / System or a Waste Prevention Measure in place.
Become a member of Repak.
Divert surplus food to charity.
Make use of old pallets.
Older buildings should retain character. Seek advice on what is acceptable from Conservation groups and Council.
Advise Co Council on Derelict or unused Buildings in your area / street.
Report on any Graffiti / fly-posting problems on street or alleyways.
Encourage waste minimization among your staff in the areas of Energy, Waste Management, Transport and Water. Encourage Recycling at every opportunity and make sure staff are trained appropriately in best practice – Reduce; Reuse; Recycle.
Promote the concept of the “Keep Cup” & “Last Straw” Campaigns and the reusable coffee and water bottles. Create an awareness amongst staff and customers that your business is doing its part for the environment.
Enter into the local Tidy Towns Shop Fronts and Floral Display competitions for businesses.
Show and awareness and appreciation of a good civic spirit by good example in your own business.

Individuals

Get involved in your local Resident’s Association or Resident’s Tidy Towns Group.
Become a member or volunteer with the Tidy Towns Committee or group and help on projects and events.
Be aware of your own surroundings and lead by example in terms of litter conscious, green spaces, landscaping in your estate.
Identify any local species and habitats in your area and make sure all are protected.
Maintain a good presentation of own home, walls, fencing, gardens etc.
Become a volunteer member of your “Adopt an Area” group at the entrance to your estate.
Encourage the practice of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle among your family, work colleagues and friends.
Show good example and leadership by outlining the benefits of, and putting into practice good habits on Waste minimization, Energy usage / control, Water loss prevention, reduction in Transport, Food Waste to family, friends, work colleagues and neighbours.
Seek good environmental practices in your place of work and amongst your work colleagues. Show leadership by good example and good practice.
Enter a home project in “Best Garden” competitions.
Have a civic spirit and pride of place culture in your home, workplace and amongst the greater community. Remember we all have a role to play in protecting the environment.
Help out by becoming a volunteer with the Castlebar Tidy Towns Clean-up group on Monday nights or Saturday mornings.
Join our Committee or become an Associate member with an interest and input into an area of your choice.

Residents

Form a Residents Group within your Estate, Street, Area. Encourage everyone to get involved.
Provide a contact person to link in with Castlebar Tidy Towns Committee.
Arrange monthly Clean-ups – Remove litter; provide communal bin (discreet); Weed-killer; Remove leaves (Autumn); Remove moss from footpaths.
Encourage children / youth group in area to participate in a twice-yearly clean-up.
Tidy up verges and kerbing – remove weeds, fly-posting, litter.
Estate Signage – Clear, clean and well-maintained sign with possible suitable planting in front. Can the sign be bi-lingual?
Plant Trees, Wildflowers and suitable Flowerbeds as recommended by Town Gardener. Plant trees and shrubs in corners – allow space for kids to play. Suggested species to consider Cotoneaster, Japponica, Berberis, Holly, Rowan, Hawthorn, Pyracantha, Stranvaesia, and Viburnum.
Maintain green areas – cut grass regularly; trim overgrown trees; trim hedging.
Paint bland walls or provide creepers to mask featureless walls – Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Ivy or Clematis. Maintain boundary walls and repair / replace damaged fencing. Murals?
Encourage households to provide floral displays, hanging baskets, window boxes.
Encourage residents to paint and re-freshen drab and dilapidated buildings and maintain gardens.
Maintain any walkways or pathways – keep clear and make sure all are accessible to all persons.
Restore and conserve any old buildings or stone walls in your area.
“Adopt an Area” for a length of 100 Meters on each side of the entrance to your estate and do a monthly clean up. Involve the young children.
Raise awareness of Gum Litter among the children and youth of the area. Appropriate signage at locations where young people might congregate.
Provide suitable maintenance free seating in Green Space Areas.
Does the space have potential for a community garden or play area?
Can there be a plan for dog litter? Are there any dumping problems?
Identify any derelict buildings and report to Tidy Towns Committee or Mayo Co. Co.
Do Bollards need to be provided to prevent parking on footpaths or other damage?
Do you have funds to employ and maintenance contractor or Landscape Contractor?
Encourage and promote the use of sustainable practices – Energy; Waste minimisation; Water; Food Waste; Transport reduction. Foster a practice of “Do more with Less”.
Encourage and promote Biodiversity in your estate – identifying, managing and protecting habitats - seek full information from Mayo Co. Co.
Advise all residents of the Recycling points nearest to you.
Develop a Civic sense – “Pride of Place” – Improve the quality of life in your area and surroundings for residents and visitors alike.
Be aware of all statutory and public bodies that can be of assistance to you in terms of guidance, best practice, funding and information.
Check to see if there is funding for the likes of paint from “Leader” or Mayo Co. Co. under the “High impact, Low Cost” Scheme.
Enter estate into Mayo Co. Co. Greener Community Awards Competition, and into local Tidy Towns Housing Estate Competitions.
Start your yearly campaign when you see the “Spring Clean Campaign” starting locally and nationally – normally around April. Remember National Tidy Towns Adjudicators visit the town and Housing Estates anytime from early June until early August. Local Tidy Towns adjudicate throughout the Summer months.
Attend the Tidy Towns Awards Ceremony as a group normally around October / November.

Schools

Put in procedures and systems / controls that will create a Litter-free zone in all areas of the school and immediate surroundings. Anti-litter Awareness Programmes.
Create Junior Litter Patrols from students – Secondary Schools (T.Y. Students); Primary National Schools (6th Class). Record events.
Develop / Create One Project per year.
Engage in competitions held by the local Tidy Towns Committee to create further awareness and appreciation of our environment.
Be part of the Green Schools project – Environmental educational programme; Environmental management system; Awards Scheme.
Aim for Green Flag approval. Ensure student participation.
Aim for Biodiversity Flag Approval.
Invite a member of Tidy Towns Committee to be one the Green Schools Committee.
Civics Classes – encourage debate on Climate Action. Create further awareness regarding Waste Minimization, Energy, Food Waste, Transport. Could more students walk or cycle to school?
Encourage the change of behaviour among students to tackle gum litter – Education; Awareness; Greater awareness of Penalties (€150). Engage with the Gum Litter Task-force. Determine if appropriate signage / posters at suitable locations in school might help as a reminder and help to develop an awareness of the need to eliminate Gum Litter.
Enter the National Tidy Towns Competition for Schools Award which encourages Schools to get involved with the local T.T. Committee and play their part towards creating a better community. This must be a significant contribution to their local T.T. activities to encourage greater youth involvement in T.T. initiatives and projects.
Landscaping, Floral Displays and maintenance of green and open spaces within school confines.
Projects – Painting / Colouring competition / Essays / Letters to T.T. Committee among National School Students to help develop an awareness of the importance of eliminating litter and having a litter-free and gum-free zone in entire school and the greater community.
Arrange a “Green Week” in the school / college to help develop a greater understanding and appreciation of the environment.
Help to develop and change behaviour and attitudes and encourage greater appreciation and understanding of our total environment.

Tidy Towns Projects for Schools

Adopt-an-Area
Classes or student groups take responsibility for keeping a small area near the school litter-free and tidy.
Pollinator-Friendly Garden
Create or maintain a pollinator patch using native plants, herbs, and wildflowers on school grounds.
Litter Awareness Poster Campaign
Pupils design posters promoting anti-litter messages to display in school or the wider community.
Recycled Art / Upcycling Projects
Turn waste materials into creative projects or useful items – tie in with Green Schools themes.
Spring & Autumn Clean-Ups
Organise a mini clean-up in the school vicinity or join a community clean-up day.
Plastic-Free / Waste-Free Challenge
Encourage pupils to go plastic-free for a week or reduce lunchbox waste – document progress with photos.
Biodiversity Spotters Trail
Create a local nature trail or map native trees, birds, insects or plants in the area.
Compost & Grow
Set up a compost bin and grow flowers or vegetables using your own compost.

Volunteers Wanted

You can help by volunteering your services for one hour each week or whatever suits to go on a weekly Clean-up. The times are as follows.
Summertime (April to September) - Meeting Point is Newport Road Van Site F23VK64.
Wednesday night’s 7.00 – 8.00pm
Wintertime (October to March) – Meeting Point is Newport Road Van site F23VK64
Saturday Mornings 9.30 am

Volunteers for Projects and / or Committee
We are also looking for committed and dedicated people that can help and advise us in the areas mentioned below. If you have a passion for, or particular interest or knowledge of any of the categories mentioned below, we would love to hear from you.
Contact any Committee Member.
If you would like to become an Associate member of the committee that has a keen interest, passion or knowledge in the sections below, we would like to hear from you also. You can always donate here.
Areas & Categories of Involvement for National Tidy Towns Competition.
Community – Planning & Involvement. This is about developing partnerships and working with the entire community, youth, schools, businesses, statutory and public bodies and residents’ groups.
Streetscape & Public Places. This relates to conservation and presentation of heritage buildings and quality of Shop Fronts and general streetscape. Consideration is also given to quality and maintenance of public parks
Green Spaces & Landscaping. The planning, management and design of green spaces together with the selection and appropriate siting of trees, shrubbery and ongoing maintenance of same.
Nature & Biodiversity in the locality. This is about creating an understanding and appreciation of nature and Biodiversity in the locality and the importance for conservation – waterways, field boundaries. Managing local species and habitats.
Sustainability – Doing More with Less. This is about reducing the environmental impact in areas of water, energy, waste, transport and climate. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Tidiness & Litter Control. This is about the absence of litter and dumping and the segregation of litter at clean-ups. The Tidiness aspect relates to the lack of clutter, blocked footpaths, redundant poles, flyposting, unsightly overhead wires, absence of graffiti, weed control and inappropriate advertising.
Residential Streets & Housing Areas. Consideration is given to proper presentation and maintenance of all properties including frontages, boundary and gable walls and gardens. Communal green areas to be cut regularly with spaces for children to play. Good Nameplates – bilingual etc.
Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes. Appropriate presentation of approach roads including roadside verges, grass margins cut etc. Proper signage, and no commercial advertising. Provision for inclusive access and pedestrian connections in streets together with laneways, and cycle lanes.