Success Stories And Projects
Omagh Schools are ‘Hedgerow Heroes’!
Local school children became hedgerow heroes for a day on Wednesday 23rd March at a Schools Biodiversity Blitz at the MACCA resource centre.
Organised by Omagh District Council and part of the ‘Omagh Hedgerow Heritage Initiative’, this interactive day give children the chance to learn about and plant a hedgerow, explore the magic of woodlands and pot up some wildflowers to take home. Over 100 children took up the challenge and became Hedgerow Heroes at Mullaghmore and at their school as they returned fully trained to plant a new native hedgerow within their school grounds.
A lunchtime launch of a new guide to hedgerows called ‘Become a Hedgerow Hero’ was also held to bring together all the community groups that were involved in the project. This guide gives brief instruction on how to plant and manage hedgerows and with a colourful centrepiece mural, depicts all the biodiversity a good hedgerow supports. Click here to download or contact our office for a hard copy.
The Omagh Hedgerow Heritage Initiative engaged with community groups throughout the district in a programme of training, learning and activity to educate and raise awareness on the importance of wildlife rich hedgerows for biodiversity, culture and heritage. The groups were trained in hedgerow planting, laying and management in order for them to plant out their new native hedgerows in their communities. This was one of the main outcomes of the project and over 1500 metres of new native hedgerows have been planted in the Omagh district by communities and schools.
This project was supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund and Omagh District Council.
Loughmacrory Alive
The Loughmacrory Alive project is a new one that is kicking into action this Summer. Funded by the Big Lottery Fund through the Community Wildlife Fund, Loughmacrory Community Development Association is running a programme of action to help enhance and manage the lough more effectively for wildlife. From identifying what biodiversity there is onsite, to removing invasive species such as Cherry Laurel and replanting with native trees, there are many positive things happening in 2011. With Loughmacrory recently being designated an Area of Special Scientific Interest, the group want to help more people understand how special it is.
BBC Springwatch Wild Day Out
In June 2010, Omagh District Council in partnership with the BBC, held the BBC Springwatch Wild Day Out in the Grange Park. With around 4000 people attending and wonderful weather, the Wild Day Out was a great day out! It was the first of its kind for Omagh, a biodiversity fair with organisations such as the RSPB, The Woodland Trust, Conservation Volunteers NI, Butterfly Conservation NI, Forest Service NI and Transition Omagh, all coming together to teach local people about how they can help their biodiversity. The BBC Dig In campaign was a great success to help people become more sustainable and grow their own vegetables.
Dromore Riverside Walk
The Dromore Riverside Walk is a meandering path though a delightful environment, open and accessible for all to use and enjoy. It was created to provide a safe walking route within Dromore village that would encourage more people to walk, enhancing their health and well-being. Plans were then developed to create new woodlands and meadows within the park which will provide valuable habitat for local wildlife and enhance the visitors’ experience. As you walk though this park, you will see new and old woodland changing and growing over the seasons and wildflower meadows blooming in spring and summer.
This project was the result of a village renewal initiative called “Vibrant Villages” and was the creative thinking of local community group, Dromore 2000. The project was funded by Building Sustainable Prosperity, International Fund for Ireland, BBC Breathing Places and Omagh District Council and Rural Development Council.
