Congratulations to Gort River Walk Development Group, County Galway who were announced overall winner of the Waters and Communities Special Award 2022 at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony held in the RDS, Dublin on 28 October.
This group’s positivity and enthusiasm for their local environment was evident in their application which made them stand out winners for 2022. Their application told the story of how they developed a river walkway and nature trail close to the town centre which had been blighted by illegal dumping and overgrazing. The group engaged with landowners, members of the local community, and the County Council in the development of the walkway and nature trail. They hosted public meetings and events such as biodiversity walks during Heritage Week, photography, and art competitions. They worked hard to enhance local wildlife and nature by removing rubbish and invasive species and by planting native trees and wildflowers. This group of local volunteers are an inspiration for what can be achieved by a local community.
In addition, the group members participated in Water and Biodiversity Training events and commissioned a Biodiversity Study and a Habitat Survey on the area around the Gort River. This led to the development of Gort Area Biodiversity Plan 2021-2024 which is now in implementation phase. They are worthy winners of the Waters and Communities Special Awards 2022.
For more information about Gort River Walk Development Group see Gort River Walk | Facebook