Ferns Tidy Towns

If you would like to contact us - visit our Facebook page or email info@fernsvillage.ie, we'd love to hear from you. Why not come along and join us in some of our projects.

Click to download the latest Ferns Tidy Town Newsletter

Great new facility - Bin a Bag in Centra car park.

If you need to dispose of bags of rubbish - bring them to this new 'bin a bag' facility. Simply insert a token or enter a key code - insert rubbish into drum and press the green button to dispose of waste.... Simple!!. Well done Centra.

Free Electrical Recycling Day

Bring your items to the Enniscorthy Civic Amenity Site on Saturday, March 31st from 8.15 - 12 and 1 - 3p.m. Any household item with a plug or a battery will be accepted.

Great News for Ferns!!

Ferns Tidy Towns was granted funding from Wexford Local Development for the Irish Wildlife Trust ‘Make it Wild’ programme. We are the first group in Wexford and 3rd nationally to access this programme and we’re really looking forward to it.
The programme includes:

• A workshop on biodiversity and wildlife planning
• Survey habitats in Ferns – IWT will map the habitats and gather baseline ecological information that will form the basis for biodiversity plan for Ferns
• IWT will compile a village Biodiversity Action Plan to be used by Ferns Tidy Towns to improve biodiversity in the area.

FTT Road Show

We had two very successful Road Shows in November and December. We were delighted with the response to our stand at both the launch of the Ferns Parish Journal in the Community Centre in November and the Camogie Club Christmas Fair in December in The Courtyard.
There was a packed attendance at both events and our display stand at the Parish Journal Launch was visited by a range of people including none other than RTE newsreader Anne Doyle.

We first entered the Tidy Towns competition in 2006 and we are very proud of the huge improvements to our village. We are a Sub Committee of Ferns Development Association and work towards making Ferns a pleasant place to live, work and visit. We believe Ferns has a lot to offer and that we can go far by working together, raising awareness of our rich heritage and valuing what makes our community unique – its people.

Although the 2011 marks were disappointing, there is an air of optimism in the Tidy Towns group for our future - the important thing to remember is that there have been major improvements in the village over the past few year's and we intend to keep progressing. We have had many encouraging comments on the appearance of the village by members of our community and also tourism numbers are increasing. So onwards and upwards.........
You can view last year's Report by following this link 2011 Adjudicator's Report.

Ferns Tidy Towns Projects

We have had a very busy so far. We had a visit from Chris Wilson of the Co. Wexford Naturalist Field Club, to speak to us about biodiversity and there is no doubt his enthusiasm is infectious. He plans to return to do programme for South East Radio on 'Mary's bats'. We are also working with the Irish Wildlife Trust in conducting a biodiversity survey of Ferns over the coming months.
Each year we encourage community participation in various activities, the following are examples of work undertaken in 2012:

Derelict Sites

Improving derelict buildings and sites was one of our main focuses this year. We are working on a variety of sites including a unused business premises on Lr. Main St. There was a great voluntary turnout to work on the derelict site on Upper Main St. The area was cleared of weeds, wildflower seeds scattered, the gates painted and we are really looking forward to seeing the work carried out by local student Hannah Pomeroy. Hannah is working on painting the 'windows' of the derelict building. Well done Hannah.

Derelict cottage on Main St

This derelict cottage had been in a severe state of disrepair and was an eyesore. This is a work in progress, it has been painted and will soon feature a new 'hat'. Keep an eye on it.

We encourage residents and businesses to put their best foot forward and to present their premises and indeed footpaths and kerbsides at their best. We would like to thank those who have worked with us during the year on making improvements. Well done to the ESB and the HSE on works they are carrying out.

Electrical Goods Collection:

Each year we have a small electrical goods collection. The public are encouraged to bring wste electrical items on a particular day and we arrange to have them brought to Holmestown Waste Management Facility.

Tremendous Progress

We have made tremendous progress since our first year and are encouraged by our improved standing in the national competition and in particular with the obvious improvements to our village.

2007 Winner - Landscaping Award
2008 Keep Wexford Beautiful ‘Best New Entry Award’
2009 Tidy Towns’ Endeavour Award

Recycling

For information on recycling facilties in Ferns and tips on what can be recycled, visit our recycling page.

Presentation Evening

Each year we hold a Best Shopfront Awards competition and a Residential Areas Awards. The results for 2011 are:
Shopfront Awards:
Category A: Shop: Daybreak
Category B: Pub: Dunbars
Category C:Commercial: Kavanagh’s Funeral Home

The winner of the Best Residential Areas 2011 competition was Castle Manor Residents Association.
Two further awards were presented this year:
Endeavour Award:Ferns Community Centre Committee in recognition of the work carried out on the Community Centre. An Award was also presented to the Ferns Tidy Towns Junior Committee to mark the setting up of this inaugural Committee.