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STRATHFOYLE HOUSING ESTATE, DERRY - VIDEO
Watch the transformation of the areas of Strathfoyle Housing
Estate in this short video, here
STRATHFOYLE HOUSING ESTATE, DERRY
Overlooking the River Foyle , Strathfoyle housing estate
was built in 1958 so this is the estate's 50th anniversary.
Surrounded by green spaces, some of the areas within the
estate could do with some help to bring them back to life.
On Friday 6th June 2008, people in Strathfoyle and in Caw
took part in two BBC Springwatch transformations - changing
small areas of grass in their areas into what's called Breathing
Places. They did it with the help of Conservation Volunteers
Northern Ireland.
Ivan Black from Conservation
Volunteers NI ran a bootcamp for the local community volunteers
on the 1st June, to train and prepare them for the day
of toil and sweat that lay ahead when the transformations
would take place. The bootcamp took place at their base
in Gransha Wood, showing residents some of the basic skills
they'll be using the following week.
Jim Arbuckle went along
to hear from Ivan about what was happening. Listen the
report.
STRATHFOYLE
- SWAT PROJECT
Friday 6th June 2008.
On Friday 6th June, the SWAT
Team put their skills into action and transformed a small
triangular patch of grass into a wildlife-friendly Breathing
Place of colour and greenery in the shape of a butterfly.
While the volunteers were transforming the site in Strathfoyle
Housing Estate, the local Strathfoyle library hosted a
range of activities including art workshops, UWT biodiversity
workshops, and the Loughs Agency mini-beasts.
The SWAT Team
started by constructing a wooden fence around the garden,
and the ground was then prepared for planting. A wooden
archway was erected at the entrance to the garden, while
Derry City Council cleared the surrounding area of litter,
and bird boxes were erected in nearby trees to attract
nesting birds. Local school children arrived with plants
and seedlings, and with the help of the SWAT Team and Groundwork
NI, the garden began to take shape. Woodchips were laid
between the plants, and a pathway was made under the archway
into the garden. An area in the shape of a butterfly was
made with soil, bordered by pretty plants. Visitors cheered
on the volunteers on site and joined in the library activities.
Paul McFadden's live outside broadcast began on Radio Foyle
just after 9am, keeping listeners up-to-date with the progress
of the new garden.
Ivan had set himself the task of two transformations
in one day, so by lunch time Strathfoyle was finished without
a minute to spare as he moved to Kilfennan Valley Park
for the next challenge.
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 LISTEN
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Jim Arbuckle
talks to Ivan Black. |
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