Frenchpark Community, Roscommon

The Frenchpark Community participate annually in National Tidy Towns Competition increased marks in the Litter category. They have received numerous awards within the TidyTowns Award and received the ‘Special Endeavour’ Award in the National Tidy Towns Competition in 2009.

Each year enters Roscommon County Council annual environmental competitions. Tidy Estates; Tidy Cemeteries; Golden Mile Hedgerow Competition; and Floral Pride Competition. In 2009, Frenchpark were overall winner in Golden Mile Hedgerow competition. This was huge project for committee and the walkway went through a bog where there was large scale dumping. This was all removed from bog and drains. 

Plants and wildlife were identified and information boards erected. Illegal dumping has not taken place since and this is now a regular walkway. School children now take part in nature walks along this route. Also received received 3rd Prize in Floral Pride competition in 2009, and ‘Best Community Effort’ in Golden Mile in 2010.

Litter Free Zone set up in Frenchpark in 2009, signs erected at entrances to town. Local businesses, schools, residents associations made aware. Regular litter picking organised by Frenchpark Tidy Towns. Through the TidyTowns the local National School became involved in the Green Schools initiative and are now on their Travel Flag. 

In 2009, the Tidy Towns Committee and Environment Awareness Officer organised the establishment a Community Composting initiative. This is based near the local Creche and involved getting all the local residents on board. Roscommon County Council donated the site. A training course was organised in the Creche for Master Composters and 29 people took part in the course.

Frenchpark has participated in An Taisce’s Green Homes initiative in 2009, as part of this promoted rainwater harvesting to residents in area. The battery recycling initiative was also part of this initiative. The Schools and residents participate annually in National Spring Clean and the event was launched in Frenchpark last year, with Sarah McGovern, Spring Clean ambassador present.

The Creche have now received their first Green Flag, which is a first for the County. There is also a Junior Tidy Towns (After School of Creche). The Tidy Towns Committee have also erected Wildlife boards throughout village, and also have a “Wildlife Insect Hotel” and have engaged Reclaiming of Frenchpark Bog with Coillte.

As part of the pilot project, the above activities at Frenchpark will be evaluated and the trends and practices that are in place in the community will be documented to represent how it is done!