Pupils celebrate ‘Spirit of the Forest’ with Mayor

Children from St Mary’s, Altinure, were joined by Mayor Brenda Stevenson, to celebrate the ‘Spirit of the Forest’ at a new sculpture trail in Learmount Forest Park recently.
By Staff Reporter
Published 9th Oct 2014, 12:33 BST
Members of the local community and children from St. Mary's Primary School Altinure, pictured with the figure of a lady which is one of the new sculptures created by Kieran O'Doherty, in Learmount Forest as part of a new Sculpture Trial. Included are Annie Mullen, Derry City Council, the Mayor, Councillor Brenda Stevenson, Jim McColgan, Chair of ARK North West and Caroline Lynch Learmount Community Centre Manager. The sculptures are a project developed by Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership and Learmount Community Development Group with funing from RAPID, the Big Lottery Fund, the Arts Council and Derry City Council. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 30.09.14Members of the local community and children from St. Mary's Primary School Altinure, pictured with the figure of a lady which is one of the new sculptures created by Kieran O'Doherty, in Learmount Forest as part of a new Sculpture Trial. Included are Annie Mullen, Derry City Council, the Mayor, Councillor Brenda Stevenson, Jim McColgan, Chair of ARK North West and Caroline Lynch Learmount Community Centre Manager. The sculptures are a project developed by Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership and Learmount Community Development Group with funing from RAPID, the Big Lottery Fund, the Arts Council and Derry City Council. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 30.09.14
Members of the local community and children from St. Mary's Primary School Altinure, pictured with the figure of a lady which is one of the new sculptures created by Kieran O'Doherty, in Learmount Forest as part of a new Sculpture Trial. Included are Annie Mullen, Derry City Council, the Mayor, Councillor Brenda Stevenson, Jim McColgan, Chair of ARK North West and Caroline Lynch Learmount Community Centre Manager. The sculptures are a project developed by Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership and Learmount Community Development Group with funing from RAPID, the Big Lottery Fund, the Arts Council and Derry City Council. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 30.09.14

The trail which boasts four timber sculptures by Kieran O’Doherty was put in place by Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership.

“Much of the wildlife in the pieces come from what the children identify with and the entrance piece is open to interpretation but we like to think of it as the Spirit of the Forest,” said Caroline Lynch from Learmount Community Development Group facilitated workshops for children to put their ideas for the pieces to the sculptor.

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Jim McColgan, Chairperson of RAPID Ltd encourages people from outside the area to visit.

He said: “Access into Learmount Forest was recently improved by Derry City Council with entrance, path improvements and interpretation panels as well as a newly expanded playground.

“Now with the added attraction of the sculpture trail this should be top of the list for places to visit for families from both the rural and city areas.”

Learmount Forest can be accessed from Park village at Learmount Community Centre.

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It is a Forest Service property with a path network managed by Derry City Council.

The Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme involves a working partnership between RAPID Ltd, Derry City Council and the Woodland Trust supported by Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), ‘Landscape Partnerships.’

The project vision is to “create a vibrant, natural and cultural diverse landscape within the Faughan Valley that the whole community appreciates, and is engaged with, making it a sustainable landscape for living.”

For further information on the Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership please contact Annie Mullan, Community Engagement Officer. Tel: 028 7133 7498, email: [email protected] or visit www.faughanvalley.com