Claudy goes Wild
21 February 2008
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.
The project consisted of the creation of a small community woodland designed to attract various forms of wildlife, nest boxes for birds, an area for native shrubs and also incorporated a butterfly garden.
Young people from various community groups and older residents from the “The Diamond Diners” were broken into small teams where they constructed bird boxes, spread mulchl, laid ground cover, constructed beds and planted them up.
The project drew a lot of local publicity because of its cross-community and inter-generational dimension particularly at a time when relationships between young and elderly are often perceived in the media to be an all time low.
The official opening by the Mayor took place on 18 December 2007 with over 50 people attending a very successful evening. Claudy Wildlife Garden was also created as part of BBC Breathing Places.