Life Scheme in Down District. Participating in the five-day programme were 14 young people from across the district. One of the scheme’s main aims is to build a better understanding between young people in our community and personnel within the NIFRS. The scheme is physically demanding and includes activity similar to that expected of trainee fire fighters. It focuses on building essential life skills such as team work and the need for personal responsibility, and also helps to develop leadership skills and confidence.

[/caption] Councillor Clarke continued, “We are barely into spring and already mindless arsonists have made their presence felt. A tract of land was recently burnt in the Murlough Nature Reserve which is extremely damaging to what is a fragile eco system and home to many animals. “The emergency services, particularly local fire crews, should be commended in the professionalism they display when dealing with these incidents. However, malicious fires place a massive strain on very limited resources and as we approach the summer I would urge people to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the PSNI. “The damage caused by gorse fires has a lasting impact and areas of outstanding natural beauty can take years to recover.”]]>

Reviews of ‘Alex Mathias plays John Coltrane’ and ‘The Shore’, BY GEORGE FLEETON On Alex Mathias’ last visit to Down Arts Centre a year ago he played alto saxophone at Linley Hamilton’s tribute to Miles Davis’ ground-breaking jazz album Kind of Blue (1959), describedxa0 here at the time as a ‘rounded, innovative, majestic and riveting performance’.

Guide to Land Eligibility’ and aerial photographs of land claimed in 2010. A Departmental spokesman said, “We want farmers to have the best possible information available when completing their 2011 application for Single Farm Payment. It is important that they only claim for eligible land, and the photographs and booklet will assist in identifying land that may not be eligible. ”Later this year, farmers will receive a new map. In the meantime, farmers should make appropriate deductions for ineligible land from their 2011 claim, by walking their fields and consulting the photographs, and they should inform the Department of mapping changes using the forms provided.” “The Department will take account of these notifications when preparing the new maps. As it is not realistic to complete this work in time for the 2011 application process, the Department will not issue new maps at this stage but will take the notified changes into account during 2011 inspections. “We have issued around 85,000 aerial photographs, and our quality control system has shown that in a small percentage of cases printing errors meant that only the red outline of fields were shown and not the underlying photograph. Any farmer who receives one of these blank photographs or one that appears to be incorrectly printed should phone the Grants and Funding helpline on 0845 30 44 508 and quote their Farm Business Identification number. DARD staff will be able to print a new copy of the aerial photograph and send it to the farmer.” ]]>

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