TWO Waterside communities have been helping turn their areas into nature friendly spaces.
Last weekend more than 50 specialist BBC Springwatch Action Teams (SWAT) across the UK rolled up their sleeves, picked up their tools and helped turn unloved pieces of land into nature and people friendly breathing Places.
In Strathfoyle the SWAT te
am created a landscaped butterfly, cleared litter and erected bird nesting boxes.
Meanwhile in at the entrance to Kilfennan Valley Park, a patch of grass beside a playground was transformed with the SWAT project designing a new planting scheme to bring wildlife biodiversity back to that corner of the park.
With only one day to complete the projects, the teams needed to use all their ingenuity and determination to make it happen.
Biodiversity Officer at Derry City Council Annie Mullan said it was important communities got involved.
"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."
Sophie Duncan, BBC Breathing Places Project Executive said the last weekend's work will have lasting benefits.
"With fifty Springwatch Action Teams and thousands of people out and about across the UK this weekend 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."
The full article contains 288 words and appears in Londonderry Sentinel newspaper.
