The 2024 Pure Mile Awards Night will return to the The Brooklodge Hotel in Macreddin, Aughrim, on Thursday 17th of October.
The PureMile is an environmental, community, heritage initiative, established by Pure, which encourages communities and groups living in rural areas to adopt a mile, or miles, of road, and keep this area litter/rubbish free, research information about their local wildflowers, plants, trees, animals, and the built, cultural, and social heritage of an area.
A number of walking groups, hiking groups, and businesses were involved in ‘Cleaning-Up The South Dublin Uplands’ with South Dublin Upland Roads, Car Parks, Amenity Areas, Mountain Trails, Woodlands and Forest Entrances, being adopted this year. Litter picks / clean-ups were organised throughout the year and areas covered included, Glenasmole Road, Cunard Road, Piperstown Road, Glassamucky Road, Castle Kelly Road, Ballymorefinn, Bohernabreena, Kilakee Car Park, Cruagh Road, The White Road, Seehan Road, Stone Cross, and all sections of the R115 Military Road.
Ian Davis, Pure Project Manager commented ‘This will be the 15th year of the Pure Mile, with the largest number of groups and volunteers involved in the project since it was established in 2009. The first year we had 5 miles of road, and this year, 15 years later, we have a record number of areas involved in the initiative and we know have roads, mountains, woodlands, valleys, forestries, and upland amenities, with over 3,500 volunteers. The Pure Mile demonstrates that people want to make a difference to the environment, and Pure gives them the assistance, so they can make that difference. The Pure Mile Awards Night is Pure’s way of thanking all of the people involved in the Pure Mile, and it enables Pure Mile Groups to meet up all together for one night and one night only’.
Certificates of Recognition will also be presented by Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD., and the Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr. Paul O’Brien with €6,000 of prize money being handed out to the winning Pure Mile Groups and their volunteers.
The Pure Mile is the perfect opportunity for communities and groups who want to make a positive contribution to the South Dublin Uplands environment, and assists people in improving and enhancing the place they recreate in. Special interest groups such as, walking groups, cycling groups, running groups, hiking groups, businesses, and organisations, adopt a mile, or miles of road, in the South Dublin Uplands and help Pure to ‘Clean Up The South Dublin Uplands.
Pure provide all groups with Pure Mile signage, Pure Mile high-vis vests, Pure Mile bags, gloves, and litter pickers, and Pure also removes all of the rubbish collected by the groups.
If any groups, communities, individuals, schools, walking groups, cycling groups, scouts, businesses, anyone, want to get involved in next years Pure Mile, they can contact Pure at info@pureproject.ie or download an application from www.pureproject.ie/what-we-do/the-pure-mile/. You can also write to; Pure Project, Unit 6 B, Riverside Business Centre, Tinahely, Co Wicklow, Y14 R978, and they will post out all the information, or request an application form and information pack by phoning Pure on 0402 28662.
Further information on Pure can be found on www.pureproject.ie
