Latest news with #StormÉowyn.But
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Silent Valley park partially reopens months after Storm Éowyn
The Silent Valley Reservoir near Kilkeel, County Down has finally reopened its gates to the public after being closed for more than nine weeks because of damage caused by Storm É it is only a restricted opening because some of the walking trails and nature trails are still considered to be unsafe for people to use. Gary Presho from NI Water says the roots of trees that fell in the storm tore footpaths up, and it is unclear when work can take place to make the paths accessible again."It's going to take a long time and at this stage I wouldn't like to put a time scale on it," he told BBC News NI. Mr Presho says he has been "counting the days" to get the park taken this long, he says, because of "the amount of destruction across the woodland and the number of trees we have had to clear from main access areas."He's aware that local people have been "very keen" to visit again, especially now good weather is returning. For Ruth McClenaghan, who runs Silent Valley Café, it has been "a long wait, a very long wait."She was forced to close for more than two months until the park reopened this week and admits it was a "struggle"."This is my main job, my business. We have a farm as well but this is the main income," she McClenaghan says she's really glad to be back and hopes she never sees another storm like Storm Éowyn. Many of the people who visit Silent Valley live locally and not having access for the last two months has been a big Laffin lives within walking distance from the park and was among the first back through the gates when it reopened."I really missed it," she told BBC News NI."I have a childminding business and we come here three times a week. A visit to the ducks and a go on the swings." Martha Spears couldn't wait to bring her great-grandson Caleb back to the park."I'm here at least once, maybe twice, three times a week."I just love it. It's my favourite spot." Cathy Gardner said she understood they had to close the park "for health and safety reasons "but said it was "sorely missed" and she was so glad to see it open daughter Rachel Gardner, who also lives locally, said before the closure they would have been there "all the time". What's happening across Northern Ireland? The destruction caused by Storm Éowyn continues to affect outdoor sites across Northern Ireland. National Trust Some locations, including Mount Stewart and Castle Ward, still have significant trails that remain inaccessible due to storm damage. Restoration efforts are underway, but it will take a few months to ensure these areas are safe for visitors. Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Outdoor visitor sites have fully reopened following Storm Éowyn. Ards and North Down Borough Council Cairn Wood has partially reopened. Some trails and areas within the site will remain closed. On-site signage will advise visitors to stay on the paths for their safety. Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council Gosford Forest Park – horse and bike trails remain closedDarkley Forest – closedKeady Glen – closedLoughgall Country Park – some trails remain closedOxford Island – some trails remain closed Belfast City Council All locations are open. Attractions such as Belfast Zoo, Belfast Castle, Malone House and Tropical Ravine are all open as normal too. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Pans Rock foot bridge/walkway Ballycastle remains closed due to structural damage arising from tidal surge during the sections of the Red mountain bike trails at Garvagh Forest remain closed due to the volume of fallen timber. Derry City and Strabane District Council Repair works on trees and fences across some of our green spaces and parks ongoing. Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Gortin Glen Forest Park, the horse Trails and Scenic Drive are currently closed, however, it is anticipated that the Scenic Drive will reopen by Saturday 05 April Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark staff along with partnering agencies, have been working diligently to assess and safely reopen sites impacted by the storm. Recreational trail access is open in all sites in Fermanagh with two exceptions, Belmore Forest and Lough Navar Scenic other Council owned forest parks are open, however, there may be some localised restrictions in place where works are ongoing. Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council All council owned outdoor visitor sites have been reopened following Storm Éowyn in January Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Mid & East Antrim Borough Council does not have any outdoor visitor sites that are closed or partially closed due to Storm Éowyn. Mid Ulster District Council Status of outdoor visitor sites and open spaces available on the Council's website. Glenmore – Open - Partial closure on one trail remains until further noticeDrumcairne Forest – Closed until further noticeMaghera Walled Garden Walk - Largantogher walkway openIniscarn Forest - Walking Trails now open. Play Park remains closed until further noticeDerrynoid Riverside Walk - Closed - Contractor on-site. Expected to reopen soonDavagh Forest Mountain Bike and Walking Trails - Solar Walk open. Contractor on site. All trails except Beleevna, Wolf's Hill, and Big Wig Jig, are expected to reopen soonPomeroy Forest Park - Open – but Grace Drennan trail remains closed. Expected to reopen soon Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Kilbroney Park - Remote walking trails are partially closed, cross country mountain bike trails remain closed, forest drive opens weekends only due to commercial worksSlieve Gullion Forest Park - only the Giant's Liar remains closedCastlewellan Forest Park - 70% remote walking trails remain closed, 75% cross country mountain bike trails remain closed, horse trails remain closed, Annesley Walled Garden & Arboretum remain closedDrumkeragh Forest Park: 20% of remote walking trails remain closedSeaford Walking Trail: 20% of walking trails remain Wood remains closed
BBC News
26-01-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Somerset: The artist combing beaches after storms
It's Friday and most people in the UK and Ireland are battening down the hatches and hoping to stay safe from Storm É one artist from West Coker, Somerset, where the storm is far from its strongest, is waiting by the window for the moment it is safe to go out worker Dan Wakeman makes driftwood sculptures and the storms provide him with his biggest opportunity, to beach comb for fresh materials."I collect whatever nature brings in on the tide - wood, scrap metal, and I'll collect and dispose of rubbish, too," he said. Straight after a storm, he rushes to the Dorset or North Somerset coast to see what he can find."A bigger storm will bring you more material than high winds and bring it from further away," he said."In the bigger storms some of the wood that comes in will have been floating on the surface of the ocean for many years."I look at it when I get home and see how it talks to me - it brings a lot of joy." There is also a therapeutic element to Dan's out into nature, thinking about the raw material of the wood and how it could feature in his artwork helped him recover after losing his father."I'm enjoying the walk and I'm enjoying what I'm finding, and I get an energy buzz from that and feeling connected to the materials," he started cataloguing the wood he finds and sorting it for later use, so there is provenance to each piece, to make the work more meaningful to has named it Project Driftwood."I might find a piece then not use it for up to a year, but when I pick the piece of wood up again I remember that thought and feeling."That's important"
