Creggan Country Park to ‘Restore the Ressi’ with new project

The project ‘Restoring the Ressi’ will help recruit and train new volunteers in environmental management and deliver a water quality awareness programme ‘Our Water World’ to schools, youth groups and community groups across the Derry City & Strabane District Council area.

The education programme will incorporate a virtual workshop, animation and accompanying activity booklet linked to the National Curriculum and Eco Schools programme. Funding will also provide an in stream wetland and sediment pond to help combat flooding on paths and slow runoff from nearby farms and roads.

Volunteers will receive free training in invasive species identification, bat detecting, aquatic invertebrate identification and habitat management. All training, food and travel reimbursement is provided for volunteers. Specialist ecologists will carry out a pond weed assessment and use drone technology to map habitats on the 100-acre site.

Karen Healy, Environmental Officer, Creggan Country Park said: “We are delighted to receive this funding boost from DAERA for our ever growing environmental programme. Funding will help us raise awareness on the impact of litter on our water ways through an exciting new education workshop, train new volunteers to help us control Himalayan balsam and record wildlife on our 100-acre site. The maps created using drone technology will be invaluable to us when creating our annual habitat management plan and planning future developments. The new wetland and pond created will support a wide range of species including bats, butterflies, dragonflies, birds and aquatic invertebrates. We want to thank DAERA for supporting our project and helping us bring people closer to nature.”

Mert Thompson, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, added: “We are really looking forward to working with the team from the Creggan Country Park on this fantastic project. The team are well placed to deliver on a number of NIEAs key priorities - the improvement of water quality, and promoting an awareness of the benefits of good water quality. The mapping and control of invasive species will undoubtedly increase the biodiversity of the site and the volunteers’ lives will be enriched by the training they will receive.” To register as a volunteer email [email protected]