Ours to Protect

Ours to Protect in association with the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland

Ours To Protect is broadcast every Monday at 1.40pm on Ireland's Classic Hits Radio.

It is a unique and exciting audio project - a collaboration of local and regional broadcasters from across the country who have come together to tackle climate change, champion climate action, and inform and educate audiences all over Ireland about how they can make a difference.

Led by the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, ‘Ours to Protect’ will see 23 local and regional radio stations broadcast over 1,200 new and unique programmes over a year - all devoted to climate change and climate action. Programmes will air from the 5th of June 2023 and run until the end of May 2024.

Take The Survey

We want to get your input on our programme and the content that you’d like to hear on Ours To Protect over the next 12 months. Click here to take the survey

For more see: www.ourstoprotect.ie

Measure What You Treasure

Humans use as much ecological resources as if we lived on 1.75 Earths. The Ecological Footprint is the only metric that compares the resource demand of individuals, governments, and businesses against Earth's capacity for biological regeneration.

Calculate your Ecological Footprint and personal Overshoot Day, click below:

Ours to Protect Tech Special with Ruth Scott at 8.30pm on Thursday 8th June

A 30-minute special Hosted by Ruth Scott and presented by Head of News, Daniel Pitcher with special guests, Traic Ó Braonáin (Ours to Protect Correspondent – Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio), Pádraig Power, Senior Marketing Manager: Global Operations and Ireland for Refurbed and Leo Donovan. CEO at WEEE Ireland.

A panel discussion around the state of technology recycling in Ireland and the reluctance of many to dispose of their old laptops, computers, smartphones and tablets due to security concerns.

Plus special recorded interviews with Irish people in the community who are doing their bit to make changes in their family lives to help fight climate change.

Listen back to the show here...

Ours to Protect is funded by Coimisiún na Meán with the Television Licence Fee.

This project is a partnership between Ireland's Classic Hits Radio and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland.

Check out Ours To Protect for more information.

Episode 1: The Importence Of Bio Of Bees For Bio-Diversity

This week's episode looks at the importence of Bees for Bio-Diversity.

Tune into Ireland's Classic Hits to find out about bees, their importence to the world, along with how you can do your bit to prevent the decline of the bee population.

Check out the episode here...

Find out more about bees here.

Episode 2: The Importence Of Locally Grown Flowers Vs Imported Bouquets

On this week's episode, we explore the importence of locally grown flowers versus imported bouquets.

Click on the episode below to learn about the carbon frontprint of a bouquet of imported flowers, compared to locally purchased flowers.

You can also find out how you can even do your bit to cut down your own carbon frontprint when purchasing flowers.

Check out this week's episode below.

You can also find out more information here.

Episode 3: Adding Biodiversity To Your Garden

On this week's episode of Ours To Protect right here on Classic Hits, we look at how you can get so much more from an eco-friendly garden.

Find out how you can add biodiversity into your garden, make it more creature friendly, including birds, butterflies, bees and more.

You can even discover how to make habitats from dry stone walls, which can even form their own micro-habitats for nature.

Check out the episode in full below.

Find out more here.

Episode 4: The Emergence Of Refill Shops Around The Country

On today's episode of 'Ours To Protect on Ireland's Classic Hits, we spoke to Eibhlin Fitzpatrick, who speaks aboout the importence of refill shops, and why you should avail of using such shops.

Check out the episode in full below.

You can also find out more information on Refill Shops in general here.

Episode 5: How To Improve Energy Efficiency In The Home

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, we spoke to Tony Palmer on how to improve insulation in your home.

We also gained an insight into the thought process for turning a 1970s style bungalow, into an A1 rated or BER (Energy Building Rating) home, which also improves the house's value, as well as energy efficiency.

Check out this week's episode below.

Find out more information here.

Episode 6: How We Can Cut Down On Household Waste

On this week's episode of Ours To Protect', we caught up with Pádraig Ó Máirtín who spoke about how a quick change of attitude to waste, has meant that his family of six are not liable for paying for the household bin collection.

Through some very simple steps, you can manage your household waste too.

Find out more below.

Check out more useful tips here.

Episode 7: The Green Flag For Schools Award

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect', Traic speaks to school teacher James Lowry about the Green Flag For Schools Award, and how it has been a great green success story.

Find out more below.

Episode 8: How To Cut Down On Our Use Of Plastics In The Home

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect', Traic once again spoke to Eibhlin Fitzpatrick on ways in which we can cut down on the use of plastics in our home.

Check out the chat below.

Episode 9: How To Cut Down On Use Of Harmful Pesticides & Herbicides In The Garden

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect', Traic had a chat with Ollie Greene from Betterplants.ie, to find out how to cut down on the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides in the garden.

He spoke about the benefits of using fully organic products on your garden's soil.

Find out more below.

Find out even more info here.

Episode 10: Investing In Electric Cars

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect', electric car owner Tony Palmer had a chat with Traic to discuss the idea of investing in electric cars.

Are they worth the investment? Find out below.

Find out more information here.

Episode 11: Home Composting

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, Traic spoke to Pádraig Ó'Máirtín about all things home composting.

Find out how he started his own home composting from scratch and more below.

Find out even more information here.

Episode 12: Organic Farming

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, Traic had a chat with Diana Pickersgill, who runs a certified organic farm in the midlands.

The term 'organic' is a term which is appearing more and more regularly in our shopping experience over the last number of years, especially in supermarkets or local farmers markets.

Traic spoke to Diana Pickersgill who runs the farm with her daughters, about what organic farming involves.

Check it out and more below.

You can check out more information here.

Episode 13: Karst Landscape Of South Roscommon

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, Traic spoke to Liam Kildea of the Karst Farming Group, to chat about the unique karst landscape of South Roscommon.

Kildea spoke to Traic about the background of the area, along with what exactly a karst region is.

Find out more below.

Find out more on this here.

Episode 14: We Chat To The Green Kids

This week on 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, Traic had a chat with the Green Kids Neansaí and Brian, who are taking part in the Green Flag project, promoted in schools across Ireland.

The children are part of a new generation, who are learning about the impact of climate change, and providing a healthier planet for us and for future generations.

On this episode, Traic had a chat with Neansaí and Brian on their views on pollution and preserving nature.

Check it out below.

Find out more information on the subject here.

Episode 15: The Benefits Of Using Cloth Nappies

In the first of a two part episode, on 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, Traic spoke to Kate Doyle who is the Chair of Cloth Nappy Library Ireland, to find out about why so many parents with babies are reverting back to cloth when it comes to using nappies.

Find out more below.

You can also find out more information here.