2010 Results
Berrings 1832
Cork(North)
Max Mark Mark Awarded
Overall Development Approach: 50 30
The Built Environment: 50 30
Landscaping: 50 30
Wildlife and Natural Amenities: 50 12
Litter Control: 50 30
Waste Minimisation: 20 8
Tidiness: 30 15
Residential Areas: 40 27
Roads, Streets and Back Areas: 50 26
General Impression: 10 7
Total 400 215
Overall Development Approach:
Berrings TidyTowns Association is welcome to the 2010 competition, in this your first year of entry. Many thanks for your map, memory stick and clearly completed application form, all of which were very useful on adjudication day. You have a large committee for the size of the village, which must be beneficial for your work. You appear to have a good working relationship with Cork County Council, local businesses, local school and the local community in general. You appear to have a good positive attitude towards participation in the competition and we wish you luck with your future endeavours. You have made great progress in a very short space of time!
The Built Environment:
The buildings of the village, both public and commercial were generally fresh on the day. The church is a charming one and was well presented with adjacent attractive planting. The pots filled with geraniums either side of the car park entrance looked well. The school was well presented and the unusual sculpture in the grounds was admired. Reen’s Bar looked well with its display of old plough, and Beehive Childcare was also quite fresh. Plastic signage on shopfronts should be replaced with ones of a more traditional timber variety, as these are more appropriate.
Landscaping:
This is obviously an aspect of the competition which you enjoy! The promotion of traditional features and historical elements along the roadsides is a strong aspect of your work to date. The discovery of the Mass Steps is a very interesting and worthwhile project, as is work to the Spout. These areas have been neatly signposted in order to make the passerby aware of their existence and significance. We look forward to seeing the results of future projects such as the restoration of the lime kiln and the traditional telephone box-both of which are very worthwhile projects. A possible future project would be to reinstate the village pump in the existing recessed wall area. Freshly whitewashed walls in the vicinity looked extremely well, particularly given the fact that you have such a large area to maintain. The grotto was beautifully maintained, with planting and fine stone walling. The metal signage was admired and is an attractive and consistent feature throughout the village. which are very worthwhile projects. A possible future project would be to reinstate the village pump in the existing recessed wall area. Freshly whitewashed walls in the vicinity looked extremely well, particularly given the fact that you have such a large area to maintain. The grotto was beautifully maintained, with planting and fine stone walling. The metal signage was admired and is an attractive and consistent feature throughout the village.
Wildlife and Natural Amenities
Work at the Glasha is commendable-it is an important natural feature of the village, and future work in this location is looked forward to. The proposed signage for the 4 mile walk around the village is also a worthwhile project, as is the Sheep River project.
Litter Control
The standard in this category of the competition was good on the day, with little litter evident. We were pleased to hear of your monthly litter collections, which are obviously paying off. However, we noted that you have found litter control to be a problem and would suggest that perhaps a weekly clean up might be better.
Waste Minimisation
Ongoing maintenance of the Bring Centre is commendable. It was neatly maintained on the day with its bottle banks and clothes bin. Do consult your local Environmental Officer in Cork County Council for ideas for further promotion of this aspect of the competition, such as composting workshops etc.
Tidiness
The town had generally a neat appearance on the day. However, do ensure that messy yard areas are screened away from view. Proposed work on signage is a good idea.
Residential Areas
The standard in this category was good, with houses and gardens on approach roads and those in the village centre looking well presented on the day. There is a fine stock of housing in the village. Have you considered a garden competition? Some centres find this to be a good way of encouraging local residents.
Roads, Streets and Back Areas:
The community notice board is a good idea, and will help to reduce un-necessary untidiness resulting from posters and flyposting. The retention of the traditional square nameplate sign on the Coachford road is commendable and some attractive displays of daisies were noted at its base. The children crossing sign was very fresh, which makes a big difference to the impression made. The roadside itself was somewhat overgrown-it’s important to ensure that approach roads look neat and natural-neither wild and unkempt nor over-manicured. The far side of the village which forms the Blarney approach is an attractive one with marvellous overhanging trees forming a tunnel, and lovely stone walling. Foxgloves and daisies were noted to ditches along the roadsides.
General Impression:
Berrings is an unusual and attractive village. The committee has made a good start in terms of participating in the competition, and it looked very well on the day.