BTCV : CVNI : Tree Campaign

Conservation Volunteers has started an exciting project to improve the paths within Cavehill Country Park. The project, in Partnership with Belfast City Council, will involve improving existing paths and steps, as well as clearing vegetation and treeplanting. Read more about it and how to get involved.

...and, if you'd like to find out more about how you can volunteer with us in general, take a look at our upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Spring into Action is only just around the corner, with events across Northern Ireland (and the rest of the UK) to interest you, your friends, your family. In fact, bring the whole street to help animals, plants and habitats!

Conservation Volunteers has offices across Northern Ireland. Our L/Derry office is based in Hawkin Street, close to the River Foyle and city centre. The team there have been particularly busy recently, so we thought we'd share a few of their stories in this month's newsletter.
Contact the L/Derry office

Glen Going Green
During the past year, six clean ups took place in the Greater Glen area of L/Derry, undertaken by Conservation Volunteers and the Holywell Trust. As a follow up from this co-operation, Conservation Volunteers' L/Derry team have, for some Saturdays, been out working with the Greater Glen Women's Group, who, thanks to a community grant obtained from O2, were set to brighten up the area and create a more friendly environment for the residents in the Glen area.
Read this story

Claudy goes Wild
In October 2007 work on Claudy "Wildlife Garden" started, organised by the "Inside out Team" based at the Diamond Centre. The work was funded by Claudy Rural Development Limited on the grounds of Claudy Community Centre with Conservation Volunteers leading the work. The area is open to all members of the community, a notion that was reflected during the construction with all ages and all sections of the community involved in the project.
Find out more about the garden

Swatting a grot spot!
Our L/Derry office has recently developed a very good and successful relationship with BBC Radio Foyle and Derry City Council's Biodiversity officer. This co-operation has been especially helped by the appointment of L/Derry as one of UK's 15 Breathing Cities, the only Breathing City in Northern Ireland. The launch was marked on 6 June 2007 with a big event where Conservation Volunteers constructed a nature garden at the Guildhall Square. The work that started at 4 in the morning was filmed throughout the day and broadcasted nationally on BBC's "Springwatch".
Find out more

Field Scabious - Knautia arvensis
Also known as Gypsy Rose, Blue Button and Lady's Pincushion, the Field Scabious is a perennial herb of grassland on well-drained, especially basic soils. It is also a locally common weed of cultivation, especially in field borders on chalk. Established plants are drought-resistant and are found naturally in open, sunny situations. It grows on dryish soil and is found naturally on roadside verges. It's named after Dr. Knaut!
Go to the Wildflower Nursery website - Read this article

E-Day
Energy Saving Day (E-Day) will be happening between 6pm on Wednesday 27 February 2008 and 6pm on Thursday 28 February. Over 24 hours, E-Day will be trying to show how even small energy saving measures can be made to add up, and potentially play a part in tackling climate change.

So, leave off household electrical items that do not need to be on, and leave them off for as long as possible. These might include lights in rooms that are not being used, televisions left on standby, mobile phone chargers left plugged in, unused printers, and so on. The cumulative effects of millions of energy saving measures will be updated on the E-Day website on a minute-by-minute basis.
Visit the E-Day website

Planet Earth Under Threat
The sixth of eight programmes in the BBC's Planet Earth Under Threat series is called "The Planets and the Irascible Ape". This programme looks at the natural climatic cycles of the Earth and where the human footprint fits into that ecology. You'll need RealPlayer to listen to this.
Listen to this programme

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