Picture This! Binevenagh AONB

Monday, Apr 27 2009

Last week saw the launch of the Picture This! Schools Photography Project in the Binevenagh Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Six primary schools from Coleraine and Limavady Borough Councils will participate in the project which aims to raise awareness of the natural, cultural and built heritage of this outstanding area.

The project is being hosted by the Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust following the similar, very successful project in the Antrim Coast & Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 2008.  The Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust is responsible for three of the nine AONBs in Northern Ireland - Causeway Coast AONB, Antrim Coast & Glens AONB and Binevenagh AONB.  The Binevenagh AONB designated in 2006 and covering an area of 16,594 ha includes the Roe Estuary and Magilligan, the cliffs of Binevenagh, the Bann Estuary and Portstewart sand dunes.  The six primary schools taking part in the project are Bellarena Primary School, Hezlett Primary School, St Aidan's Primary School, Macosquin Primary School, Ballyhackett Primary School and St Anthony's Primary School.

Mayor of Limavady, Cllr Brenda Chivers visited Bellarena Primary School on Monday just before the pupils set off with their teacher, David Hannaway, photographer Arthur Ward and CCGHT staff, Helen Noble, Maxime Sizaret, Tierna McAlister and Carole O'Kane.  CCGHT provided digital cameras and transport to take the children to various sites within the AONB including Binevenagh Lake and cliffs and the mud flats along the Roe Estuary.    

Mayor of Coleraine, Cllr David Barbour visited Ballyhackett Primary School on Tuesday just before the pupils set off with their school representative, Frank Mellon, Mark Strong Countryside Development Officer Coleraine BC, photographer Arthur Ward and CCGHT staff, Helen Noble, Tierna McAlister and Carole O'Kane.  CCGHT provided digital cameras and transport to take the children to various sites within the AONB including the Black Glen, Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne and Downhill Forest and Lake. 

The pupils were given the opportunity to learn about the landscape, the flora, fauna and basic techniques in digital photography.

Helen Noble, Trust Director with the Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust said 'The Binevenagh Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a unique, unspoilt, diverse and beautiful area.  I am personally delighted to share the experience of discovering this area with local children.  Through the photographs taken by the pupils in this project the Trust aims to promote and raise awareness of the area in a variety of publications including postcards, posters and a picture book similar to the one produced for the Antrim Coast & Glens AONB, The Glens through a Lens.  The theme of the project is 'Valuing the Environment' and I hope that as a result of this project the children involved will become guardians of the Binevenagh AONB  and will encourage their family members and friends to value and protect this special area.'

CCGHT intends to exhibit the children's photographs in schools, libraries and tourist information points from July 2009. For more information on the project visit www.ccght.org or keep updated with our bi-annual newsletter About Binevenagh.  The Trust has also recently produced a series of AONB guidelines including the marine guide - 'Life in the sea off the Antrim Coast',   the flora guide - 'Colours of the Causeway Coast' and the latest guide 'Birds of Binevenagh' which will be available summer 2009.  For copies of any of our publications or for more information on any of the three AONBs please contact the CCGHT office on 20752100 or info@ccght.org