Roisin McCusker Manager Devenish Partnership Forum, Josie Maguire Chairperson DPF, Margaret Shannon DPF and Sean Lynch MLA, Helen Hicks NIHE, Clr Debbie Coyle Member of the Enniskillen NR Partnership.
Back from left: Seamus Byrne DSD, Paul Carr DSD, Jack McKinney DPF
THE official opening of the Devenish Nature Reserve, located in the Kilmacormick area of Enniskillen, took place last week.
It was performed by Josie Maguire, the chairman of the Devenish Partnership Forum and marked the completion of an environmental improvements scheme that was funded through the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme within the Department for Social Development.
The department was represented by Seamus Byrne and Paul Carr.
Also present were Roisin McCusker, the manager of the Devenish Partnership Forum, Sean Lynch MLA, Helen Hicks from the NI Housing Executive and Enniskillen councillor, Debbie Coyle who is a member of the Enniskillen Neighbourhood Partnership.
The Devenish Nature Reserve is a ‘hidden gem’ in among the Devenish estates on the periphery of Enniskillen.
It embraces 12 acres of land, 10 of which are a Nature Reserve and two acres community allotments.
It is now open to residents and the public generally.
The site is just off the main Cornagrade Road, and, according to a spokesman for the Devenish Partnership Forum, ‘when you are walking in the Reserve, you would think you were in the middle of the country side’. The site has beautiful walks and a range of flora and fauna in an area which runs along side the back lough in Kilmacormick Number I site and Cornagrade.
The environmental improvements project included installing new bridges and boardwalk, upgrading the paths throughout along with new information signs.
In addition, a bio diversity study was completed on the site that provides up to date information on the species of plant and wildlife living and growing in the area. Along side this work, the Devenish Partnership Forum has been further developing their community allotments.
Raised beds have been introduced in a scheme funded through the Big Lottery Fund Reaching Communities programme and the plot holders have had a great year and they are now reaping the rewards with their harvest.
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