Overwhelming community support for a new Rivers Trust in Sligo
The first steps towards a new Rivers Trust have been taken!
25/09/22
What better way to celebrate World Rivers Day than by taking the first step towards a new Rivers Trust?
We are delighted to announce that members of the Sligo community have shown overwhelming support for the formation of a new Rivers Trust. Once formed, this new Trust will enable local people to shape the future of their river. Existing Rivers Trusts offer volunteering opportunities, education programs, and carry out extensive schemes of work to benefit both rivers and the communities who love them.
Sligo is famed for its beautiful natural spaces—so much so that it’s gained the nickname ‘Yeats Country’, as so much of the poet’s work was influenced by his upbringing there. Tourism in Sligo is heavily influenced by their blue spaces, and so rivers play a very central role to the community.
“It is a pleasure to welcome the newly established Sligo Rivers Trust to the wider Rivers Trust movement, and we look forward to supporting and working with them to achieve their objectives.”
Dr Constanze O'Toole
Ireland Development Manager for The Rivers Trust
The Rivers Trust’s All Ireland Director, Mark Horton MBE, spoke about the incredible growth of Rivers Trusts in Ireland:
Mark said: “The Rivers Trust is enjoying phenomenal growth in Ireland – both North and South. With the establishment of this new group in Sligo, we now have 21 Rivers Trust across the island working together to empower communities and improve and protect and restore local waterways.
“We are really pleased to welcome Sligo to our expanding network of active and concerned citizens who care about the local environment and recognise the importance of rivers as the foundation for human health and as key sites for biodiversity. We look forward to working with the local community to achieve good ecological status in Sligo waters and across the rest of Ireland.”
Though it’s early days for Sligo, we’re excited to see where their journey takes them next.
