Project 3a: Share Discovery Village Bird Hide and Trail

During five days in late September and early October 2021 the Lough Erne Landscape Partnership hosted the second ever Lough Erne Schools Convention at the Share Discovery Village, Lisnaskea.

Previously held in 2019, the Lough Erne Schools Convention was a one-day event, however this year, due to Covid19 restrictions, groups of enthusiastic Key Stage 2 pupils from local primary schools have been welcomed over a series of five days. Each day, pupils from P5 to P7 got to experience Upper Lough Erne from their canoes with the Share Discovery Village.

In addition, pupils got the opportunity to participate in a number of natural heritage workshops which where delivered by external organisations. This included bulb planting at Smith’s Strand with Fermanagh Omagh District Council Biodiversity Team. Over three days pupils planted native crocus bulbs along the edge of the pathway leading to the beach and the surrounding recreation area.

The Lough Erne Schools Convention was delivered with part funding from the DAERA Challenge Fund.

As part of this project a number of accessibility improvements where made to Smith’s Strand:

• Accessible Picnic Tables
• Car Park Markings refreshed
• Disabled toilet renovated
• Fresh sand added to the beach area
• New bin facilities

Over the last few months work has been progressing on the development of Phase 1 of a new accessible pathway at Share Discovery Village. Working in partnership with Share Discovery Village and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council The Smith’s Strand Nature Trail is now open. The newly constructed pathway and nature trail connects the beach area of Smith’s Strand to the surrounding woodlands along the Lough shore .

The trail leads through mature woodland and provides a safe and fun way to experience the landscape surrounding the shores of Lough Erne. Whilst on your walk take time to explore your surroundings, look at the changing seasons and look out for signs of wildlife and maybe even spot a red squirrel in the tree tops.

Over the coming months we will be hosting seasonal events and recruiting volunteers to help out with several activities such as planting bulbs, wildflower meadow creation and outdoor learning to name just a few. If you or your organisation would like to get involved in any of the activities please contact Heather email:heather.gott@rspb.org.

Works have begun on the construction of the new Smith Strand Nature Trail, which will create a 1.2km accessible footpath connecting the beach of Smith Strand to the surrounding woodlands.

The pathway is being developed in partnership with Share Discovery Village, Fermanagh and Omagh district Council and with funding support from DAERA.

We look forward to the opening of the path way and exploring all that this unique landscape on the shores of Lough Erne has to offer.

As part of the Lough Erne Schools Convention, a one day event for primary school children, which celebrates the Lough Erne Landscape and nature based activity – 356 local children from 15 schools, had the opportunity to spend half of the day out canoeing on the lough with Share Discovery Village and Erne Paddlers and the other half of the day was spent attending nature based educational workshops with specialist organisations.

One of these workshops included planting native bulbs to support pollinators with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Biodiversity team, along the new path being developed at Smith’s Strand.