Shared waters, shared landscapes project: new vision for local waterways 2017

The communities of Forkhill, Mullaghbawn and Cullyhanna came together over 10 weeks at the start of 2017 through the Shared Waters, Shared Landscapes Project to create a vision for their local lakes and rivers. The aim of the project was to re-engage the community young and old with the lakes, rivers and streams in the area.

A number of events were held as part of the project. Free soil testing was offered to landowners and farmers bordering the rivers and lakes in the area with the purpose of helping them save money on fertiliser costs and improve soil quality.

Overall the project was a great success, with the Ring of Gullion Partnership and Dundalk Institute of Technology Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies, wishing to convey their thanks and appreciation to all whom have participated in making the project run so well. We would also like to thank the Northern Ireland Environment Agency’s Challenge Fund for funding the project.

Project Updates

Mullaghbawn Community Meetings and School's Art Project

Update published on: February 4, 2017

The first of many meetings and events took place on a cold winter’s evening back in February in the Mullaghbawn Community Centre. Many memories were shared on the night centring on the local rivers and lakes. One particular memory described how salmon use to be caught in the Cully Waters, near Tullydonnel, “With the supply being so plentiful that we would have them for breakfast, lunch and dinner”.

Children in the local primary schools worked with local artist Tracey McVerry, to create their own visions for the lakes and rivers using arts and crafts. The children really enjoyed the experience and came up with many great ideas, their work was displayed at the final workshop held on the 11^th of March in the Mullaghbawn Community Centre.

River Restoration Course

Update published on: February 4, 2017

A River Restoration Course, delivered by Cranfield University, England, was held on the 4^th of February in the Forkhill Women’s Resource Centre, which looked at different approaches for reducing flooding in the region.

The course was provided free of charge, thanks to funding from The Esmée Fairbairn foundation.

This practical one-day overview course, featured field-based demonstration on the Forkhill River, introduced participants to hydromorphology. The course covered aspects of geomorphology and hydrology, and will enable improved outcomes in the related fields of river restoration, green infrastructure for bank protection, ecology and natural flood management (NFM).

The course was open to all practitioners with an interest in hydromorphology and river restoration, and did not require significant prior knowledge of these topics.

Key learning outcomes

 Understand the drivers behind geomorphological and hydrological processes and features, and the way these vary along the length of a river.
 Recognise common channel modifications and artificial features, and learn how these impact river form and habitat quality
 Identify potential actions to restore natural functioning of modified rivers and improve habitat diversity.
 Apply hydromorphological principles to NFM, green infrastructure and habitat management, allowing stronger decision making in these areas.

To find out more information on the River Restoration Centre (RRC), click here.

Cullyhanna mini-environmental fair

Update published on: March 4, 2017

A mini-environmental fair, delivered by StreamScapes and the 4^th year (Hons) Environmental Biology students of Dundalk Institute of Technology, was held at the Cullyhanna Community Centre on 4^th March and was a great success.

This event allowed people to get an insight to what is living beneath their waters, accompanied by stories and songs from local man Peter Carragher and a mini drama by the Scor na og 20017 All Ireland finalist St Patrick’s G.F.C Cullyhanna.

Woodland Management Talk

Update published on: March 11, 2017

The final workshop was held on 11^th March at Mullaghbane Community Centre. This workshop relayed the visions developed for the local waterways by the communities over the previous weeks, with discussions about how these could be developed into the future.

Feedback on the results of the free soil testing were also presented with additional talks on woodland management and the new Environment Farming Scheme (EFS) also being discussed.

To learn more about the work of the Woodland Trust in Northern Ireland, click here.