Lord Mayor mucks in with Alliance Youth Works Eden Group at Loughgall Country Park
20/02/2014
On Tuesday 11 February, the Lord Mayor, Councillor Robert Turner, mucked in as he joined the Alliance a Youth Works Eden group, to put in place 1 of the 50 wood-concrete bird nest boxes due to be fitted throughout Loughgall Country Park.
The nest boxes and other biodiversity activities are being undertaken as part of the Action for Biodiversity project which is funded by the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Cross Border Programme and managed by the East Border Region group of Local Authorities.
Every Tuesday, for the past 3 years, the Alliance Youth Works Eden group, a group of 10 adults with learning difficulties take part in a variety of outdoor educational activities at the Park.
To date biodiversity activities completed by the group, include, survey of wooden bird boxes, building of a new pond dipping platform, hedge laying, tree planting, monitoring wildlife surveillance cameras and developing bird conservation areas.
Lord Mayor of Armagh City and District, Councillor Robert Turner said, “It’s fantastic to see the group’s interest in the wildlife, their sense of ownership over completed tasks and the improvements they’ve made at Loughgall Country Park.”
Armagh City and District Council worked in partnership with The Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Alliance Youth Works and Action for Biodiversity to accommodate the group working at the Park.
Ron Murray, Project Officer, Action for Biodiversity, said “Together with the Alliance a Youth Works Eden group and Armagh City and District Council many improvements to biodiversity have been implemented in the last few years with more to come”.
Loughgall Country Park is set in a 188 hectare estate of open farmland and orchard, which includes, an 18 hole golf course, a 37 acre coarse fishing lake with 100 disabled access stands, walking and cycling routes, trim trails, soccer pitch, tennis courts and a children’s play area.
Armagh City and District Council is committed to maintaining the natural environment and encouraging biodiversity activities with groups such as the Alliance a Youth Works Eden at the Park.
Photograph
Councillor Robert Turner, Lord Mayor of Armagh City and District Council, with the Eden Group
