Press Release

Kilfennan Valley Park Makeover

Tuesday 3rd June

Derry City Council and a BBC Spring Watch Action Team are planning to transform the Kilfennan Valley Park this Friday as part of a nationwide campaign by BBC Breathing Places to transform unloved pieces of land into nature and people-friendly Breathing Places.

Assisted by the local community, Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland and the Churches Society, the team hope to enhance the entrance to the park and make it a more attractive place for wildlife such as birds and butterflies.

A welcome is extended to any members of the public who would like to get involved. Simply come along to Kilfennan Valley Park between 01.00pm and 05.00pm on Friday 6th June, join in the challenge, have some fun and ‘Do One Thing’ for nature. Not only will the transformation be taking place but there will also be other activities there to get involved with.

Speaking ahead of the makeover, Biodiversity Officer at Derry City Council Annie Mullan said that she was looking forward to getting involved on Friday. She explained

“Quite often we are passing advice and guidance on to the public but this enables us to actually get physically involved in making something constructive happen. It’s a wonderful opportunity to involve the whole community and prove how easy it is to make a difference in a matter of hours with a group of enthusiasts and I’m really looking forward to seeing the end product.”

The team of enthusiastic volunteers and experts will have just four hours to transform the patch of land and will certainly need all their ingenuity and determination to make it happen...it’s a sort of Challenge Anneka meets Gardener’s World!

The SWAT weekend takes place alongside BBC One’s Springwatch - when Bill Oddie, Kate Humble and Simon King take a close look at how spring is progressing up and down the country.

Sophie Duncan, BBC Breathing Places Project Executive, says: “With fifty Springwatch Action Teams out and about across the UK this weekend, and with hands-on help from the public, we can really make a long-lasting difference for local people, local places and for wildlife too. Over the coming years, all of them can benefit from these special Breathing Places.”

BBC Breathing Places is a major campaign to inspire and motivate people to create and care for nature-friendly green places wherever they live. Find out more about Breathing Places and all the SWAT events taking places at 50 sites across the UK at www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces .

For further information on Kilfennan Valley Park Makeover contact Annie Mullan, Derry City Council. Tel: 02871365151 Email: annie.mullan@derrrycity.gov.uk

Ends

Media Opportunities: Photo opportunities and interviews can be arranged to take place at Kilfennan Valley Park on Friday 6th June between 01.00 - 05.00pm. Contact Marketing and Communications, Derry City Council 028 7137 6504.

Notes to Editors

1. Image attached of a Spring watch Action Team (SWAT) - credit: BBC Breathing Places



2. BBC Breathing Places is a five-year BBC Learning campaign to inspire people to connect with nature. Developed in partnership with a huge range of wildlife and conservation organisations, the campaign encourages new audiences to get involved in doing one thing for nature, while providing opportunities for Breathing Places to be created across the UK.

Breathing Place is a green space that’s great for wildlife and people. It could be a local woodland, roadside, park, local nature reserve or wildlife area, pond, green corridor or wildlife meadow. It has an active community of people creating, enjoying and maintaining it.

As well as environmental organisations, Breathing Places also works in partnership with other volunteer associations, city councils and education groups.

www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces

For additional information contact:

Press Office

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