Portglenone Enterprise Group, based in Market House on the village’s Main Street, has been awarded a grant of 8,500 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Community Wildlife programme which aims to bring communities together to improve or protect the natural environment by raising awareness of threatened wildlife or places. The group will use the funding to run a range of environmental activities to encourage volunteers of all ages and backgrounds to get healthier and more active and improve the look of the village. The group’s ‘Healthy Minds, Healthy Places’ project will create a community garden and run activities including litter picks, tree planting, local walks, and trips to other environment projects in Northern Ireland. Volunteer Project Manager Margaret Redmond explained that the project will provide support for local young people, people with special needs and mental health issues, isolated older people, and people affected by the recession. “The group would like to get the local community involved in improving their lifestyle but also improving the environment that we in live in,” said Margaret. “In a recent survey 86% people said they would use supports to help cope with stress, depression and anxiety. “Healthy Minds, Healthy Place” would enable people in the community to get out and about, get active, increase their confidence, motivation, communication and teamwork, and gain knowledge about the environment in a non invasive way. “There are very few opportunities within the village for young and older people to get together, we are hoping within this project to run art workshops where both young and older people will be able to work together to create a piece of art work out of recycle material from their homes. This will hopefully break down some barriers within the village,” she said. “Portglenone Green Gym is Northern Ireland’s first licensed Green Gym, offering individuals with disabilities and able bodied volunteers an outdoor alternative to conventional gyms - the opportunity to increase their physical activity levels through direct involvement in practical conservation activities,” Margaret pointed out. “The local team of volunteers are fully trained in project delivery and welcome all people and groups from the surrounding area who are interested in becoming involved in helping them protect and enhance their local environment. “Conservation Volunteers believe that local people must be involved in order for environmental improvements to be sustainable. We believe that everyone has the ability to get actively involved in looking after their local environment. “The Green Gym engages communities in identifying the problems and solutions. Providing the appropriate support and training, the Green Gym equips people with knowledge, skills and confidence to achieve their vision of a better environment.” Margaret explained that there are a number of projects planned across the village. “We’re going to begin with getting local people from the village to volunteer and meet up on a monthly basis to do litter picking in an around Portglenone Forest and river areas. “They will also be improving the local village with flower baskets and flower beds joining up with local Green Gym groups, going to local parks with their children and friends, tree planting, and joining up with local walking groups in the local council areas,” she said. “For everyone that gets involved it will not be all work we are going to arrange trips to environment venues and projects going on walking trails across Northern Ireland such as the Ecos Centre in Ballymena, Belfast Zoo, the World of Owls in Randalstown and Glenariff Forest in Cushendall,” Margaret added. “Those involved could be a local mother and toddler group who want to take their children out to look at birds, someone who is not working and wants to get out of the house and learn a new skill, or a young person who wants to make a positive contribution to their community. “The project will improve the natural habitat and environment of the area, improve the look of the village and encourage local people to lead healthier lifestyles, get out and about. “Older and younger people will share ideas learn from each other, and people of all ages will become more active and take pride in their village”. * If you would like to get involved with this project please contact Margaret Redmond Portglenone Enterprise Group 028 25820150 or email margaretpeg@yahoo.co.uk