World Wetlands Day in Northern Ireland

Creggan Country Park, Derry

World Wetlands Day

Friday 2nd February 2007

By Karen Healy (Environmental Officer, Creggan Country Park)

About Creggan Country Park

Creggan Country Park is a non profit taking social economy enterprise designed to provide recreational, training and employment opportunities for the local community. We offer a full range of watersports, outdoor pursuits, walking and angling facilities all on site. Activities are delivered by professional instructors in a controlled fresh water environment.

We also aim to educate the public on a range of environmental issues and are currently developing an eco centre so that people can learn and see the renewable energy technologies we have at the park which are a wind turbine, hydro electric turbine, turf roof and a wood burning boiler.

We are situated in an urbanised area in the City of Derry, Northern Ireland.

Our World Wetlands Day Diary

We are a unique wetland in that we are located in the centre of the Creggan Estate - a densely populated urban area in Derry. Our wetlands consist of species rich wet grassland and three reservoirs, all of which are host to diverse flora and fauna. We are proud of our wetlands and aim to promote their importance and uses within the local community and around the City of Derry. For this reason we decided it was time to host our first ever World Wetlands Day event!

So Friday 2nd February 2007 saw the first ever World Wetlands Day event at Creggan Country Park, Derry, Northern Ireland.

The event was free admission to everyone!

Two of the local schools, Holy Child Primary School and Rosemount Primary School took part in the day’s activities highlighted in the table on the next page.

Everyone enjoyed the day’s events so much that we will be hosting another event next year! We will also extend our celebrations at the weekend by hosting water sports and fishing competitions.

We would like to thank the following organisations for their help and support with our event:

Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland and Derry City Council for taking time out of their busy schedules to deliver a talk and help with the nature walk at the event. The Lough’s Agency for donating prizes to the school children.

Our World Wetlands Day Diary

Programme of Activities at Creggan Country Park

The event was advertised through local radio and newspapers and within the Creggan Country Park Information Centre using Ramsar posters and stickers.

Local newspaper article: A group of children from Rosemount primary school enjoy the nature walk at Creggan Country Park! Pictured to the right at the back is Karen Healy (Environmental Officer at Creggan Country Park) Susan Gass (Biodiversity Officer, Derry City Council) and Ivan Black (Conservation Volunteers NI).

Local newspaper article: A group of children from Holy Child Primary School enjoyed the World Wetlands Day event at Creggan Country Park!

Why not visit us at www.creggancountrypark.com !