ALDERNEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS / February 3, 2016 / From pints to parades, floats to flowers, landmark buildings, and even rivers - everything turns green for St Patrick's Day.
Now it's time to think green too!
That's the message behind Emerald Heritage's 'GO EMERALD GREEN for St Patrick's Day' - a campaign designed to celebrate Irish pride and help combat a threat precious few people even know exists.
"We all refer to the 'Emerald' Isle, but did you know that the Irish landscape is now actually the most de-forested in Europe?" said Emerald Heritage Director and founder, Lyn Nelson.
"In fact, we are at crisis point with just 1% of native woodland still remaining."
"As we look ahead to this year's St Patrick's Day our aim is, with the help of Irish men and woman around the world, to address this sobering statistic and to protect and preserve our landscape and heritage before it's too late."
With this goal in mind Emerald Heritage has devised an ingenious way to enable people to rally to the cause, and at the same time have fun celebrating their Irish ancestry.
Lyn explains: "We pulled our resources to purchase land in the glorious Glens of Antrim [officially designated An Area Of Outstanding Beauty] and utilising a quirk in the Land Registry law here that allows the sale of souvenir plots of land."
"The Diaspora may have cast Irish men and women to the four corners, but they can now reclaim a piece of their heritage and become a bona fide landowner.”
Each plot purchased saves it from the developer's digger and allows Emerald Heritage [in conjunction with their partners like The Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust] to plant trees, rejuvenate and regenerate the landscape, and protect this ancestral homeland of leafy glades and tumbling waterfalls, rugged cliffs, and welcome as warm as a roaring turf fire."
As a fully authenticated landowner you can visit at any time, pass it on to future generations, and even enjoy the craic with family and friends by calling yourself a Squireen [an old Irish term for small landowner that can be used on utility bills etc].
The environment is, of course, a global problem. But what better way to play your part in the battle against climate change than to start close to home, in the Old Country we all hold so dear?
"So if you're proud of your Irish ancestry, or know someone who is, please join us in the fight to safeguard Ireland's landscape and heritage"
"Let's make this St Patrick's Day extra special. Let's make it about celebration AND conservation."
To purchase your own piece of Ireland, or to find out more, visit us at
www.emerald-heritage.com [don't forget the 'dash'].
EDITOR/PRODUCER NOTES:
* 'The Squire', AKA Emerald's Heritage's Roger Anderson, is available for 'live' or pre-recorded television/radio/or press interview (see attached photograph and caricature). If you would like him to appear on your show he can be contacted on +44 2890 992447 or at
lyn@emerald-heritage.com.
* Stunning B-roll of the Glens of Antrim is available on request
* The area around Emerald Heritage's land in the Glens of Antrim was used extensively for filming by HBO's critically acclaimedGame Of Thrones
Caricature of 'Squire Roger Anderson'
