RiverRidge, as the most innovative waste and resource management operation in Northern Ireland has developed a new trust in partnership with the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland to support community led projects working to enhance our local environment.
The aim of the trust, which has provided £14,000 in its first round, is to support projects that positively influence environmental areas including habitat improvement, surface or ground water, waste management, air quality and soil management alongside projects such as litter picking, tree planting, creation or enhancing green spaces or wild gardens.
Speaking at the announcement of funding being received by 10 groups, Graham Curtis, Associate at RiverRidge said:
“The creation of the RiverRidge Environmental Trust, is the next step in environmental commitment for the RiverRidge group. Through the trust we aim to help local groups with projects that aim to improve, enhance and protect our local environment.”
“RiverRidge have developed new strategies across the company to minimise not just our own impact on the environment, but the impact of our customers and the communities we serve.”
“This fund will boost the ability of local groups to make a real and meaningful impact in areas such as habitat improvement, water quality, building local nature amenities and much more.”
Speaking for the Community Foundation, Orla Black, Director of Grants and
Fundraising said:
“The climate crisis and our strengthening our local environment are key issues that the Community foundation for Northern Ireland will be focussing on in the time ahead.
“The RiverRidge Environment Trust is a superb example how partnerships with the Community Foundation can help make a difference on the ground, in the heart of communities.
“Many grass root groups have exciting and ground-breaking ideas, bringing extensive local knowledge to some of the challenges we face. This ranges from protecting species such as the curlew and bee populations, helping build community nature gardens and working to improve our local waterways around Lough Neagh.”
Funded projects are listed below:
- Belfast Hills Partnership towards equipment to be used by volunteers carrying out conservation tasks across the Belfast Hills
- North West Red Squirrel Group towards habitat improvement to preserve and conserve the populations of the endangered native red squirrel
- Forest Connections Community Benefit Society sustainable towards growing and planting opportunities in Garvagh
- Derry and District Beekeepers Association towards a solar bees wax melting unit enabling the rendering, cleaning and recycling all of the wax products from within the beehive.
Antrim and District Angling Association towards an owl box and water quality monitoring equipment to be used on the Six Mile Water - Culmore Community Partnership towards the enhancement and protection of the Culmore Fort site
- Churchtown Community Association towards the Growing Together programme to provide opportunities for adults with learning disabilities and their families to explore growing their own food
- Lough Neagh Heritage Boating Association towards building a secure pen to hatch and rear curlew chicks using banty hens.
- Portadown 2000 towards delivering a programme of conservation work at Hoys Meadow Portadown.
- Maghery Matters Regeneration Group towards to lead a partnership between ABC Council and St Mary’s PS Maghery to celebrate the fantastic nature habitats around Maghery.
- Coiste Ghaeloideachais Chromghlinne towards the installation of a wildflower garden in the grounds with additional planting of fruiting trees such as apple and pear and a nature trail to promote biodiversity
- Crumlin & District Angling Association towards the purchase of water quality monitoring equipment
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