It was lovely yesterday evening to celebrate all things earthy and green for Green Sod Ireland’s Earth day walk. It was a soft grey evening and Mary White of Blackstairs Eco trails led the walk down the lanes right next to Hollywood. Mary gave us information on the history of the lane and many of the plants along the way. Something I didn’t know was as the upper reaches of the lanes have never been sealed, the plants there are chemical free and great for food foraging! It is my favourite time of year too, all that spring bright green growth and flowers everywhere, although I find all the seasons have their own beauty and interest too.
Here are some pictures below on what was a very enjoyable evening – at the end of the walk I gave a short talk about how Martin and I are transforming Hollywood and I was able to share some of the history of this process with photos I have collected from the project over the years and how my work connects ecology, art and green politics. It was a thrill to share the story
Here’s Martin, myself and Mary White of Blackstairs Eco Trails talking about how Hollywood is being transformed from a conifer plantation to a permanent continuous cover, mixed species forest. Many of you will know that I worked with Mary from 2004-7 for her successful political campaign to become Ireland’s first rural Green TD (MP) but Mary also has a connection to Hollywood too, helping see the land planted back in the mid-1980s with Martin’s late father: Photo Aine McAteer
right in Hollywood – I’ve been to many open forest days but this was the first time I have led a forest talk myself. Thanks to all who came and the great comments and chat too!
Click on an Hollywood sign image below to start the slideshow.
Many thanks to all at Green Sod Ireland and Mary White of BlackstairsEcoTrails.ie. Donations to help save our ‘wild-acres’ can still be made to Green Sod through their website too. As always, comments welcome and enjoy the South Carlow Hollywood Earth day walk below!
Cleaning the Hollywood sign with Holly before the walk 🙂
Starting up Raheen Lane towards Mt Leinster, South Co. Carlow
Stopping to look at young Irish blueberries forming – called ‘fraochán’
It was a walk for all the senses, lots of sniffing, tasting and later listening to evensong at Hollywood
The pale, soft yellow of willow spring bursts
Lots of peering into the undergrowth
In the upper part of the lane, in every small spot there are many plants
The tiny but beautiful dog violet; the bright green, edible clover-like sorrel; the rounder navel wort; the darker veined ivy; with the feather leaves of the medicinal herb Robert too
More violets with the ‘stickyback’ cleaver – apparently ok in salads and and for juicing
Late primroses with the detox dandelion leaves
Mary and Martin sniffing… wild herbs
Wonderful beech trees line the upper part of the lane and the fun of dog and human group photos.
Aine taking some great wild food foraging photos for her food blog. Aine is from the area but lives in the US and I’ve had the great delight to sample some of her food too. Aine is the author of the renowned ‘Recipes to Nurture’, which focuses on macrobiotic principles of balance to turn organic produce into delicious dishes, which, in the words of actor Pierce Brosnan, “excite the palate in the most nourishing way.” See more about her work on the Oprah website
http://www.oprah.com/food/Biography-of-Aine-McAteer 
On the loop walk of lane below Mt Leinster you get a great view of Hollywood in the middle distance; you can just see the conifers shooting up, sheltered by our native hedgerow trees
My talk in Hollywood led to some great discussions, here Elinor Mountain was talking about other eco initiatives she has heard about from her work at Findhorn, coincidentally we have just found out we will be both involved at Findhorn’s international New Story Summit at the end of Sept (I will be sharing the story of Hollywood there and Elinor will be sharing it in Ireland. I will post more details of this soon but here’s the link
http://www.findhorn.org/programmes/newstory/#.UpJ1N43ByWE)
Hollywood Earth Day 2014! Thanks to Green Sod Ireland and Mary White and all who shared the walk too
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The Hollywood Forest Story : An EcoSocial Art Practice | Co. Carlow Ireland 
Well done Cathy. Thats brilliant news. You are blazing a light in Hollywood. I am sitting here trying to seamlessly link my great grandfathers time on the New York Docks with the beginning of my audio visual project! Aw the joys of the Methodology Chapter! Moira
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Thanks Moira,
actually the methodology chapter has helped my work so much, or the articulation of it… still miles to do but yours sound like a great connection.
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Hi Cathy Lovely reading this thank you. So delighted that you were part of Green Sod’s first WildAwake event, I would love to have been on the walk, we will have to come back and visit Hollywood another time, thank you again for your generous time and talent, Warm hellos Victoria
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Thanks for the opportunity Victoria and drop in anytime!
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Great to have the photos and your post to remember this inspiring event. Your talk illustrated with the wonderful Ipad images..and the surrounds of Holly Wood was excellent ! Thanks to you and Mary.
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Thanks for coming Elinor, was a delight to share the story of Hollywood with you all and glad you liked the ipad images too
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Hi Cathy Hope you are very well. I am just gathering together all the photos and feedback from the walks and I wonder if you could send me on the jpgs of the images in this blog? I will of course reference you – We will put some on the website etc.. There was lovely feedback from the event and I’m delighted you enjoyed it also it definitely was great to have your good self +martin+holly on board! So thank you again Victoria
On Wed, Apr 23, 2014 at 10:15 AM, resiliencies: stories of transformati
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Hi Victoria
I completely forgot to tell you I posted the above images and some more on my Flickr here https://www.flickr.com/photos/cathyfitzgerald/sets/72157644282808473/, you should be able to download any you need and thanks for crediting them too. So great to have the opportunity to do a Hollywood talk too, thank you.
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