In early October, our project team headed to the third steering committee meeting and visited our final pilot site, Lake Keel, located on the west coast of Ireland.
Our two-day visit was warmly hosted by Isolde, a representative of our local project partner Leave No Trace. She welcomed the team at Westport railway station and kindly provided transport to our accommodation at Clew Bay Hotel, which offered excellent service right in the heart of the town.
On the first day of our visit, we traveled to Achill Island to explore our pilot site at Lake Keel, situated about an hour’s drive northeast of Westport. Achill Island is known for its dramatic coastlines and significant elevation changes, shaped by the relentless winds and waves of the Atlantic Ocean throughout the year. A severe storm had swept through the area the week before, causing power outages for many island residents. Fortunately, the weather on the day of our visit was favorable: the wind remained moderate, and the sun occasionally peeked through the clouds.
In Keel we explored several scenic natural locations before arriving at the Achill Outdoor Education & Training Centre. The centre provides nature-based education and outdoor activities, particularly around Lake Keel, for school groups, nature guides, and other interested parties. Mick Kane, leader of the centre, gave us a fascinating and inspiring presentation about the centre’s operations and guiding principles. Afterwards, we had the opportunity to experience the centre’s services firsthand through a canoeing activity on Lake Keel.
The second day of the project meeting was dedicated to situation analysis, development work, and workshop sessions. The project has progressed well, and its results have been published on the project website. Since the previous steering committee meeting, we have released eg. vulnerability assessments for the pilot sites and the Regenera Environmental Educational Program (REEP). We have also been regularly producing content for the project’s Instagram account.
The final year of the project is about to begin, and we had extensive discussions about upcoming deliverables and events, especially the final conference. A web documentary showcasing the project’s results will be produced and published early next year. Overall, the October steering committee meeting was once again a rewarding and excellent experience, thanks largely to Leave No Trace and especially Isolde for organizing the visit. A warm thank you for the hospitality!
