BBC - Northern Ireland - Radio Foyle

Strathfoyle Housing Estate in Derry ...

Strathfoyle SWAT team in action on the day.





Photographs from the day.

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.