BTCV : CVNI : Tree Campaign

July is often a quiet month with the holiday season in full swing, but this year we've been celebrating the achievements of our many thousands of volunteers. Our Green Heroes awards look to recognise the vital contribution that people of all ages, across the UK, make to their local environment.

Local volunteers attended an event at Clandeboye to recognise Northern Ireland's Green Heroes, with the national winners heading to St. James's Palace to meet BTCV's Patron, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KT.

Maria Smylie - Better Life Award
Maria came to Conservation Volunteers as a shy teenager with little confidence. She picked up leadership qualities and now leads a Green Gym project. Her attitude has developed into a confident and positive one and she passes the enthusiasm she has for volunteering and her environment onto all around her.

Fermanagh Conservation Action Team - BTCV Project of the Year
This group of long term unemployed people has been involved in a wide range of projects helping local wildlife and tackling the impacts of climate change. The people involved have become more environmentally aware, growing their own plants, recycling, composting and buying local produce. Members have learned new skills along the way, contributed to environmental tourism and earned huge respect from the local community.

Stephen Melville - Dave Donohue Award (joint winner)
Stephen is an Environmental Champion for our Belfast office undertaking audits and guiding staff and volunteers on how to make sensible choices from an environmental perspective. He has welcomed BTCV's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and the local team describe him as 'Mr Practical Action'. Stephen's helpful and supportive approach has won him friends across the organisation.
Visit the BTCV Green Heroes page

Green Heroes at St. James's Palace
At a ceremony at St. James's Palace in July, BTCV's Green Heroes received their awards from the Duke of Edinburgh. In three of the seven categories, volunteers from Northern Ireland topped the bill! The annual Green Hero Awards recognise the incredible achievements of conservation volunteers from across the UK.

Read about all the UK winners, watch a couple of videos about them and find out how you can volunteer - all on the BTCV website.
St. James's Palace event

Take a woodland walk at the Loughs Agency
Our local L'Derry Conservation Action Team (CAT) was recently engaged to create a 90 metre long footpath at the Loughs Agency's premises to give visitors and staff the ability to access and experience the adjacent woodland.
Read the story

Ballymurphy Breathing Places
The Ballymurphy Breathing Places project continued with an educational visit to Castle Espie and it was the boys' turn to help with shrub planting at the Upper Springfield Community Development Forum. Pupils from St Aidan's and St Bernadette's Primary Schools have been helping to create this breathing place.
Ballymurphy Breathing Places - Shrub planting at Ballymurphy

Drumahoe Chill Zone
Using funding from BBC Breathing Places, Drumahoe Primary School has transformed a plain grass area at the back of the school into a breathing, vibrant and environmentally-friendly place.
Find out what happened

Bulbs available to order
Our Wildflower Nursery is now taking orders for bulbs. The following bulbs are available: bluebell, wood anemone, ransoms (wild garlic) and lesser celandine (all native), along with wild daffodil and snowdrop. All bulbs must be ordered by the end of August.
Visit the Wildflower Nursery - Download a price list (PDF - 183KB)

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