Pool sales deflated for hosepipe ban Hooting stars
Two orphaned owls fostered by zookeeper are online sensations
ALDI have cancelled the sale of paddling pools in their Irish stores due to a hosepipe ban.
The Specialbuy products will be withdrawn from sale because of the sixweek action, which came into effect yesterday.
Aldi Ireland’s John Curtin said: “We understand some customers may be disappointed but conserving water usage at this time is a priority.
“We need to support this national water restriction so that everyone can play a part in helping to conserve water.”
The chain’s advertised products – the inflatable ring paddling pool and inflatable jumbo paddling pool – will not be available to buy for the duration of the ban.
TWO orphaned baby owls are being fostered by a zookeeper and his family who are chronicling their progress on social media.
The birds, found in different parts of the country, have become star attractions on The Nature Detectives. It was begun by Peter Phillips and his wife Olivia during lockdown with the support of their three daughters.
Before the pandemic began, the Dublin zookeeper had hoped to do an after-school club where he would bring students to his home near Ardee, Co Louth, and explain the world of biodiversity around them.
Peter, who has been involved in a number of conservation projects, said: “I was going around the schools giving free talks about the environment and biodiversity loss. The plan was to bring a group of 10 children in and show them the garden, the pond, the wildlife but when lockdown happened, that was cancelled.
“So I was going around the garden with our three daughters and they were asking questions about biodiversity and I was explaining their relationship with each other.” His wife Olivia, who is a zoologist and primary school teacher, started taking short videos and putting them on Instagram and then on Facebook.
Peter has worked in Dublin Zoo for 30 years and is one of the founding members of the Louth Nature Trust. He was also one of the keepers who featured in The Zoo television programme.
The Nature Detectives and lockdown coincided with the two owls being orphaned in separate locations within days of each other last month. Peter agreed to foster them and prepare them to be released back to the wild.
Both owls are a few weeks old and are currently in an aviary at the family home where they are well monitored by Rose, 11, Emily, nine, and five-yearold Annabelle.
The excitement created by Vincent and Oscar, who are both long-eared owls, as well as their lively contributions can be followed on The Nature Detectives accounts on Facebook and Instagram.
I was going around to schools giving free talks
PETER PHILLIPS CO LOUTH YESTERDAY