in-FO Issue 14 Winter 2025

£271,000 Boost for Cross-Border Peatlands Project Council, working with Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark and Cavan County Council, has secured almost £271,000 through the Shared Island Peatlands Challenge Fund to restore and protect valuable peatlands across Fermanagh, Tyrone and Cavan. Bogs are made of peat – a soil rich in dead plant matter that has built up over thousands of years. In fact, it takes 1,000 years for just one metre of peat to form. These habitats are vital carbon stores, protect water quality, help reduce flooding, preserve archaeology, and provide a haven for wildlife from mosses and amphibians to butterflies. The project will focus on Gortin Lakes in the Sperrins, and Cuilcagh Mountain and Cuilcagh Anierin, areas of blanket bog – one of two types of bog found in Northern Ireland. Blanket bogs can cloak entire landscapes, even on steep slopes, while lowland raised bogs form in valleys and river plains, with peat depths that can exceed 12 metres. Sadly, many peatlands have been damaged through drainage, burning, fuel extraction and the use of peat in compost. Restoration is now seen as a key nature-based solution to the climate and biodiversity crises. Housing Conference Sparks Action on Local Needs We hosted a major housing conference in Omagh recently, bringing together experts, policymakers and community voices to tackle urgent housing challenges. Titled ‘Future Housing Provision: Housing Conference 2025’, the event focused on examining the challenges of ensuring a ready supply of private, social and affordable homes across the District. The conference featured a distinguished keynote line-up, including Paddy Gray (Professor Emeritus, Ulster University), the Department for Communities, the Housing Executive, the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Planning Department, housing associations such as Co-Ownership Housing, as well as estate agents, young people, and tenant voices. Paul Clark (Broadcaster) acted as MC on the day. Delegates explored how to align housing policy with local needs, address supply constraints, and strengthen collaboration across sectors. Voices from tenants, young people, rural providers, and advice agencies added depth to the conversation. Council Chair, Cllr Barry McElduff, emphasised the importance of local solutions: “We want to create the conditions to deliver more social and affordable homes, in the right places, for those who need them most.” 9 Local Environment