**Creggan Country Park** Westway Derry BT48 9NU **T** : 028 71 363 133 **F** : 028 71 363 135 info@creggancountrypark.com Creggan Country Park Enterprises Ltd Annual report for the period March 1 2017 to February 28 2018 This report has been produced by the trustees reflecting the trustees’ regard to the Charity Commission’s Public benefit requirement statutory guidance, and paying due recognisance to the fact that as Charity trustees they are legally obliged to have regard to this guidance. It contains a summary of the charity’s main activities to further its purposes for the public benefit and its main achievements in the year, plus a review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the year. **Governance:** The Company was registered in February 1997 as a company limited by guarantee and is governed by a Memorandum dated 03 November 2011. ## **Purposes:** The Charity’s objects are:- (1) To promote community participation in healthy recreation by the provision of facilities, equipment, supervision and training in a wide range of water and land based sports and activities. ## (2) To conserve, protect and improve the physical and natural environment. (3) To advance the education of the public regarding: (i) the natural environment and heritage of the Creggan Country Park and surrounding area; (ii) sustainability, biodiversity, energy conservation and recycling ## Future Development Creggan Country Park, a 100-acre former reservoir complex, is held on a 99-year lease from Derry and Strabane District Council (DCSDC). This site has been developed and managed by Creggan Country Park Enterprises. We are negotiating with Council for them to take on the management and maintenance of the reservoirs and dams and have submitted a joint application to the levelling up funds for £6.5 million to deliver a major upgrade of the park representing something of a legacy project. This to include • tree nursery - forest School - new outdoor adventurous activities including a waterpark and zip lines - Upgrade of all paths, steps, boundary fences - Upgrade of building, car park and lighting - New boathouse and facilities at fishery - replacing canoes, wetsuits, buoyancy aids etc - In the interim we have begun work on the tree nursery project and have a part time worker setting up a raised bed, polytunnel etc. ## ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME ## Physical renewal/volunteering Our environmental officer Karen Healy continues to engage with schools, local corporate groups etc in organising volunteering here at the park. We have 218 registered volunteers to help with tasks such as: - Bioblitz – wildlife recording - Balsam bash – removal of Himalayan balsam - Planting - Painting - Community clean-ups - Autumn harvesting We had volunteers from - St Joseph’s school - North West Regional College - Northern Ireland Water - First Source - Business in the Community on Earth Day (April 22nd) - DfC - participants for Our Place in space event- bioblitz and guided walk - volunteers from Allstate for Canada Day ((July 1st) doing site clean-up, painting and planting - • Monthly visits from Allstate staff - We continue to offer work placements to schools, colleges and university students ## Environmental education: Nature’s Classroom - Free to primary and secondary schools and linked to National Curriculum - ‘Nature’s Classroom’ formal programme is currently under evaluation to bring it in line with - new OCN natural history qualification ‘Reducing Carbon Footprints Through Environmental Action. - Science, Geography, The World Around Us & Environment and Society are covered through renewable energy, climate change, weather, trees, invertebrates, mammals and mapping. - 1000+ students benefit from the programme each year The Nature Hub - Good working example of urban regeneration – former basketball court and antisocial - behaviour hot spot - Host to hedgerow maze, outdoor classroom, picnic benches, raised pond, games, upcycled - pedal boats, lorax trail (currently not available due to recent vandalism) & willow sculptures - 109 children and young people participating in educational events and activities - Used mostly by SureStart, nursery schools, home school groups and older groups - Family events take place here including Wild Day Out in July and Festive Tree Planting party in - December. ## Renewable Energy We are currently evaluating the potential for solar panels: one avenue is to create a floating installation on the reservoir to maximise benefit. ## Habitat Management - Annual habitat survey and management plan attached - Invasive species mapping carried out on extent of Himalayan balsam on the 100 acre site. We - have made progress on control in past 2 years through manual removal with contractors and volunteers. Drone mapping completed showing extent of control so far. - Tree risk assessment and associated works completed along Glenowen boundary though more - to be done with further funding - Pond weed survey carried out in middle and lower reservoirs (report attached) - Habitat creation over the past year included reed bed, wetland, pond and fencing installed at - middle reservoir bridge. ## Community Fridge Our Community fridge continues to grow in need & popularity. New partnerships have been forged with local supermarkets & farmers, key partnerships formed with TESCO and Foyle Food bank. Our community fridge aims to: - Reduce food waste and tackle climate change locally through distribution of surplus food from - supermarkets and other organisations - Increase recycling rates through composting and recycling soft plastics - Provide food for local families in these difficult times - Provide a warm hub/space for people to meet and enjoy tea/coffee, free eco events, read a - book, solve puzzles, do some yoga or just sit and relax - Our community fridge journey: ## Tree Nursery - Environmental Officer started acorn collections with schools in October 2021 – these are now - saplings - In October 2022, Environmental officer along with Holy Child PS & St John’s PS helped collect - 5000+ acorns. These are currently being processed in the tree nursery. - Partnership in place with Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Tree Life Project where - every birth, death and marriage in the district is marked with an oak sapling. - Phase 1 of the tree nursery is progressing with shed, raised beds, tools, materials, water butts - and polytunnel in place. Thanks to funding from TNL Community Fund and Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland. ## Green Flag Award Creggan Country Park received its first Green Flag in 2022 under the ‘Community’ category. The Green Flag is an internationally recognised award. We will seek to renew this in 2023 and apply for additional Green Flag categories to further boost the park’s profile. WATER PARK ## **Financial Review:** Turnover for the year was £244168 (£250731 in the previous year) Administrative costs were £260622 (£230898 in the previous year) www. .com creggancountrypark Company no: NI031979 Charity no: 100494