Community groups can play a vital role in the protection and improvement of our natural water environment.

Together, we can protect our waters for future generations to enjoy.

This year, we are encouraging applicants to demonstrate how they have promoted their local ‘Wild Waters’ – a local stream, river, estuary, canal, lake, beach or coastal area. Wild Waters are those where the naturalness of the water body is protected or enhanced through the work of a Tidy Towns group. Tidy Towns groups can demonstrate a range of community initiatives along their local waterbodies such as protecting natural river riparian corridors, reducing or eliminating grassland herbicide usage, protecting wetlands, organising litter picks, conservation activities related to biodiversity and heritage, awareness raising activities such as aquatic citizen science events, promotion of angling and water-based activities, and other activities which generate water stewardship. Applications which demonstrate innovations in Nature Based Solutions to address local problems or promote protection of High Status (Blue Dot) waters, are particularly encouraged.

Waters and Communities Special Award Prize Fund 2024

Four Regional Award Winners    €1,000 each                                                                                

Four Regional Runner Up Award Winners €500 each
        

There will also be an additional prize of €1,000 for the overall winner of the four regions

The Waters and Communities Award is run in conjunction with the SuperValu TidyTowns competition. See www.tidytowns.ie for Terms & Conditions and more details about the main awards or other special awards

Closing Date: Wednesday, 5th June 5pm 2024

Note: If you are a winner your group must provide details of a Bank/Credit Union account and a tax ID number to the Tidy Towns Unit. Payments are made by Electronic Transfer only.

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Applications online only please.

Background to the Waters and Communities Award

The Waters and Communities Special Award was first introduced in 2017 and has gone from strength to strength. We received 39 high quality applications in 2023. The award is to recognise communities who are taking positive steps towards raising awareness and showing appreciation of their local rivers, lakes, streams, canals and coast. The Award is sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland  www.fisheriesireland.ie  (responsible for the protection, conservation and promotion of Fisheries); Waterways Ireland www.waterwaysireland.org   (responsible for the management of inland navigable waterways) and the Local Authority Waters Programme  (working with communities to get involved in the management of natural waters) www.watersandcommunities.ie