Drumnaph Community Reserve NewsletterCarntogher Community Association

Works to the reserveOver the past few months you may have been aware that certain areas around the reserve have been undergoing improvement works due to be completed by April.

When finished there will be 7km of easily accessible walks through the reserve opening up this incredible landscape

for use by all members of the community. Throughout the pathways there will be signs and a ‘smartphone app’ designed specifically to help users appreciate the rich variety of habitats, archaeology, folklore, place-names and other heritage that is contained within the reserve.

A visitors carpark is under construction and improvement works will be undertaken to the laneway up to the farm.

The story so far The first 80-acre section of the Drumnaph woodland opened in 2000 and has been well used by the local and wider community ever since. Then, in early 2012 an opportunity arose to secure the purchase of an additional 130 acres directly alongside the reserve formerly belonging to the O’Loughlin family. With the generous support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and NIEA the Association was very fortunate to be able to purchase this land and carry out works to create an important addition to the reserve.

This new section to the reserve contains everything from salmon spawning beds to bogland, water meadows, raised bog, species rich ancient grazing and ancient woodland. These habitats are an important part of our natural heritage that were once common throughout Ireland but have been lost due to increasingly intensive farming practices over the past 50 years. As well as being vital to the natural balance of our environment, these areas are an important part of our culture, heritage and folklore that has been preserved for future generations.

Within the reserve there are also archaeological remains in the form of three ancient forts that are probably in excess of 1,500 years old. This presents a unique opportunity to gain the knowledge that will help us understand how these forts, and society in general would have functioned many centuries ago.

Over the past year we have been undertaking assessments of the new section of the reserve and it has demonstrated that it contains an even more varied and important ecological habitats than we had first anticipated. We have now prepared a management plan for the reserve which will preserve and enhance these important habitats for this and future generations. We have an active group of volunteers who are involved in the delivery of this management plan and we would invite anyone interested in getting involved in the direct conservation and management of the reserve to make contact with us.

This newsletter has been produced to provide an update to the wider community in relation to the Drumnaph Community Nature Reserve and to get the views of the community on the proposals for the development of the reserve over the coming years.

Future PlansWe would like the broader community to learn more about the rich heritage within the reserve and to involve the broader community in caring for the reserve and using it as an important part of the community infrastructure of Mid-ulster.

Over the last year, the Association has carried out a number of public consultations, information sessions and discussions about the reserve and sought suggestions for increasing the community use and sense of ownership of the reserve. One of the main objectives has been to see the reserve being developed as a shared space where everyone from all traditions can come and learn about the rich heritage of the area within a non-threatening environment and share the wide range of benefits that the reserve can offer.(continues overleaf)

Reconstruction of ancient rath settlementWhilst there are literally hundreds of ancient rath structures around our landscape ranging back to over 1,500 years ago, there is little awareness of what these settlements looked like or how they functioned and what farming practices were used by the people living within the broader landscape and environment.

Although we are learning more about these ancient features, there are no reconstructions of such a settlement anywhere in Ulster and little opportunity for the general public to gain a real appreciation of how our ancestors lived. It has been proposed that we reconstruct a rath based on one of the local raths and initially build one circular building based on the picture here. We also aim to create other structures associated with the settlement including a 1200 year old grain mill, a grain drying kiln and sweat house. We would undertake this reconstruction in association with the University of Ulster and

the NIEA and engage volunteers in “experimental archaeology” to find out as much as we can about how these buildings and structures would have been constructed and used. On completion, the settlement will offer a wealth of learning opportunities particularly for our local schools but also as a shared community resource.

Future Plans Within this newsletter we have set out a range of proposals and suggestions that have arisen out of these consultations that we now propose taking forward. Careful consideration has been given to all proposals that were suggested at these meetings and the following have been chosen on the basis that they fundamentally respect the important natural and archaeological heritage within the reserve. We would welcome your views on these proposals or indeed if there are any other suggestions that we should be considering.

Exercise TrailThis would be based alongside the carpark close to the farm and would consist of a range of static exercise equipment that will cater for a wide range of abilities. A path will also link to a circuit around the perimeter of the field providing a great workout space open to the public and local sports teams.

Adventure PlaygroundAn adventure playground will be located in the centre of the exercise circuit mentioned above. This will include a sheltered seating area for children and parents. Placing the adventure playground at the centre of the exercise trail will allow children to play on the adventure playground whilst parents are using the exercise trail.

Preserving and enhancing habitats

Residence for visiting artists and crafts people We propose to restore one of the existing stone barns within the reserve to provide living and working accommodation for visiting artists and crafts people. The unit will be on one level and designed to disabled standards. We hope to deliver a continuing programme of arts and crafts activities at the farm offering individuals or groups the chance to learn a new skill or revive an old one. The residence would also be used by people visiting the reserve to deliver a variety of other courses and classes.

Artist impression of ancient rath settlement by Bann Illustrations

Extension to allotments, orchard and fruit gardenThe first allotments were constructed in early 2013 and are now all in use. To encourage the recent interest in ‘growing your own’ we intend to create additional raised beds and an additional polytunnel. It is also proposed to develop a traditional orchard, damson hedge and fruit garden growing heritage varieties - these were once common around rural farms and have gradually disappeared over the last century or more. This will provide an excellent opportunity for all generations to experience the fun of growing food and enjoy the great benefits this can have on our health and wellbeing.

Sculpture TrailThe Association has already installed a number of sculptures around the reserve including wood and stone carvings. It is intended to develop a sculpture trail through the reserve that would include a wide range of sculptures that relate to nature, local folklore and other cultural themes. Initially, we propose inviting proposals from artists to produce a sculpture based on a proposed theme and they would work on these sculptures during a month-long sculpture symposium. This would take place during the summer and the artwork created from this event would be placed around the woodland at various appropriate locations.

Multi-purpose buildingWe propose to erect a multi-purpose building that will act as a classroom, an interpretation centre, a venue and a social facility for the local community. This will consist of one large multi-purpose room of 90 sq m, a kitchen, toilets, an office and a meeting room. The space will be available for use by all educational and community groups with an interest in learning about the various aspects of the reserve.

Throughout all of these plans, care for the environment is of utmost importance. Sustainable building methods will be used for the construction of the classroom – which will be built using straw bales and heated using renewable sources. A recycled water system will be used and any waste water will be treated naturally using a willow bed system.

Conservation farm with traditional rare breed animals

To preserve the wide range of habitats that have evolved over several thousand years, we need to follow a grazing programme on the reserve. For many centuries the lands would have

been grazed by traditional breeds of cattle, sheep and goat. We aim to have our own herd that will be used primarily for maximising the conservation value within the reserve. It is also intended to have a small number of traditional rare breed pigs and poultry for conservation and learning. Some of the livestock will be kept in an open farm setting allowing visitors to see the breeds that were used before modern commercial breeds came to dominate the farming sector.

Creating a shared space for everyone

Community Ownership

Additional pedestrian links into the reserveDuring the consultation additional pedestrian links were requested to allow better access for local people directly into the wood. Two entrances were proposed – one at the north linking Gortinure via a pedestrian bridge and one from an existing laneway at the southern end of the reserve. We would like to see the wood being used more as a safe route for linking people and encouraging regular use of the pathways.

Community

feedbackWe would welcome the views of anyone within the broader community of potential users of the reserve about any of the proposals contained within this Newsletter. We would also invite you to come forward with any other proposals, suggestions or comments that you have in relation to the reserve.

How to get in touch:By phone: 028 7954 9978By email: info@ancarn.orgIn person: Call into An Carn and speak to a member of staff

Shetland cattle

Example building shown

Reserve Wardens - Kelley Hann & Glenn WhiteTowards the end of 2012 the Association placed a public invitation asking for expressions of interest from any parties who may have skills or experience that would help them act as guardians of the reserve.

Kelley and Glenn responded to this invitation and after being selected by the Association they moved into the house at the end of March 2013. They moved to Drumnaph from Dartmoor in Devon in the South of England. Kelley has local links – her mother Patricia actually used to walk through Drumnaph wood every day on her way to school! Over the years both Kelley and her mother have kept strong

links with the area. Glenn and Kelley are both very capable guardians of the reserve and between them have a vast range of experience in ecology and environmental education. They both have a strong interest in Irish folklore, music, culture and the Language. A sign of their commitment to the area is that they are both learning to speak Irish and their two children now attend Bunscoil Naomh Bríd.

Would you like to be part of ‘Friends of Drumnaph’? Friends of Drumnaph are involved in the direct conservation within the reserve and will help manage and deliver the range of proposed projects outlined in this document over the coming years. We would encourage anyone who is interested in helping deliver any of the initiatives outlined or just interested in finding out more information about the reserve to contact Kelley/Glenn on 028 7964 5607

Glenn & Kelley pictured with their children

Rowan and Oisin.