CELT celebrates 10 years

The Centre for Environmental Living and Training (CELT) is celebrating 10 years this weekend at its annual Weekend in the Woods event.

Bob Wilson, who works as voluntary coordinator with CELT, says there is a quiet revolution happening around the world as people begin to understand that sustainable living is about more than just economic growth.
“It is about living in harmony with nature. Human wellbeing needs a healthy natural environment, especially regarding basics such as clean air and good water. It is through finding ways to make use of nature’s bounty without trashing it that we can have better lives. Our ancestors knew this and that is why traditional and ecological skills using natural and recycled materials are so important and relevant today and they can be used in conjunction with modern technology. This is what CELT is all about,” Mr Wilson explained.
The Weekend in the Woods event originated due to public demand generated by an exhibition of skills at a summer fair held in Bealkelly Wood in 2002. These events soon became regular events being held in spring, summer and autumn, attracting around 100 participants each time. 
Following the first successful events, CELT tutors were in high demand to provide training and demonstrations at other events throughout the country at locations as distant as Bellmullet, Wexford and Caherciveen.
In 2007, operations broadened to include a tree nursery, which specialises in certified native species, and CELT was involved with the Tuamgraney Community Wildlife Park project, a four-acre woodland being managed for biodiversity with community access for educational use.
In 2008 CELT gained membership of the Irish Environmental Network and became eligible for Government core-funding, which allowed for the employment of a part-time administrator three days a week.
Continuing to broaden its scope, CELT has provided skills exhibitions at festivals such as the Electric Picnic, Body and Soul and last year was awarded EU LEADER rural development programme funding through Clare Local Development Company to develop new and advanced-level training courses.
This funding has enabled CELT to develop courses in artist blacksmithing and craft-and-design metalwork with Mark Wilson at the resurrected forge in Mountshannon as well as a course called Plant Magic Gardening with Kes Clarke at her Eve’s Orchard small-holding near Feakle.
Also last year, CELT was awarded additional Government core-funding to establish a small local agroforestry project. “This involves four separate sites where trees are combined with agricultural systems using permaculture design so that the trees, crops and/or animals benefit each other.  This gives added value to the overall production from the land and provides additional benefits of improved biodiversity, carbon storage, improved soil fertility and stability, flood attenuation and enhanced landscape,” Mr Wilson outlined.
The Weekend in the Woods event will be held this Saturday and Sunday at Bealkelly Oak Woods on the shores of Lough Derg, where CELT will offer 14 different introductory traditional skills training courses suitable for all ages.
To mark CELT’s 10th year, the Saturday night will include a gig by local band The Fake McCoys.
There will also be organic food available early Saturday evening and their clay oven will be producing tasty pizzas.  Full course details are available on CELT’s website, www.celtnet.org, and places can be booked or other queries can be made by email to info@celtnet.org or by telephone to 061 640765.