Biodiversity-Strategy-January-2023

58 10.0 Appendices Promoting The Understanding of Biodiversity Biodiversity Education in Schools Biodiversity Outreach and Community Support Biodiversity Communication Biodiversity Team School Visits 40 school visits delivering biodiversity sessions to 1000 pupils, including Autumn- watch, Birdwatch and Trees for Bees. Trees for Bees art competition successful with 580 entries from 23 schools across the District. Forest Schools The Biodiversity Team coordinated the Forest Schools programme in partnership with LELP and Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark throughout 2020. The programme has been delivered through the NI Forest School Association to 10 schools in Spring 2021, with another 10 schools being delivered in Autumn 2021, reaching over 400 pupils. Each school receives: • 6-week NIFSA led course through the programme and 4 practical sessions with the children. • Teacher gains accredited Forest School Leader award to keep the project sustainable. • Free Forest School Kit Bag. • Forest School Award Plaque and certificate. Events Normally, the Biodiversity Team coordinate or attend at least 6 Biodiversity themed events annually. In 2019-2020 • Bat Ambulance training. • Bumblebee survey sessions. • Wildflower planting at the Grange and Racecourse Lough. • Bug house building at Omagh Library. • Forage walk at Devenish Partnership Nature Reserve. • Pollinator stand at Omagh and Fermanagh Shows. • Hats off to Forthill, July (IAS and pollinators theme). • Foraging at Gortin Glens. • Community Group walk at Castle Archdale Country Park. • Litter Pick at Hillview Woodland. • Red Squirrel Event at Gortin Glens. Communities • Assist annually with development of ‘Ulster in Bloom’ and implement of Green Flag awards. • Continue to support community groups with biodiversity projects through onsite advice. Interpretation Panels Collated content and organised the production of interpretation panels at key sites: • Omagh Riverside Walk • Sloughan Glen • Forthill Park • Grange Park Assisted in providing text and images for Council and Community panels: • Enniskillen Wide Awake Way • Carrickmore RDP • Ederney RDP • Gortin Glen Forest Park Social media and press releases Pre-COVID-19, seasonal citizen science and national days were celebrated through social media and press releases. As outreach work moved online, the content levels became higher. From ‘Backyard Biodiversity’ content to ‘Bitesize’ posts, as well as videos of local wildlife and ‘Did You Know’ quizzes; from 1st April 2020 to current, there have been over 80 biodiversity- related posts reaching over 430,000 people. The Council’s Info Magazine Biodiversity Team contribute annually to the info magazine and to other Council newsletters. Forthill Park Tree Trail A new tree trail is available at Forthill Park, accompanied by a workbook freely available to schools and visitors.