Adopt A Spot is a Northern Ireland-wide community-based volunteers programme which focuses on promoting civic pride and encourages individuals, families, community groups, youth groups, schools, businesses and sporting associations to help foster a healthier, greener and cleaner Northern Ireland through reducing litter, making better use of unused spaces and increasing biodiversity.
The initative currently has 15 ambassadors caring for different spots across the province, including husband and wife duo George Seviour and Vicky Seviour-Crockett who have adopted an area within their local village of Tamlaght O’Crilly in County Derry~Londonderry as part of the Live Here Love Here project.
Like George and Vicky, people can choose to adopt and care for a neglected area of their choice which is in need of some TLC. George and Vicky have been volunteering with Live Here Love Here for over nine years now and joined the Adopt A Spot Ambassadors Programme since it was first established back in 2021.
Adopt A Spot
Since first adopting the Drimbolg crossroads in the Tamlaght O’Crilly Village, George and Vicky have helped to improve other areas in the local area in many ways for the whole community to enjoy. During lockdown, the couple spent weeks cleaning up a local nature trail which was overgrown and impassable for over 15 years. After some elbow grease, care and help of other likeminded locals and even inmates from Magillian Prison, the trail is now passable and a safe space for everyone to enjoy.
George said, “Vicky and I take great pride in caring for the local area. Revitalising the local nature trail has to be a key highlight for me, seeing an area which was once unusable become a vibrant safe space that is at the heart of the community is so rewarding.
“The Ambassador Programme has been a fantastic way to engage with the locals and befriend neighbours whilst out and about caring for the local environment. It’s great, each day is different, and no conversation is the same – it’s a fantastic way to build a close-knit community and we are so lucky that the locals in our area are on board with the work that we are doing and are always willing to join us in any arranged clean-ups.”
Vicky added, “We first started volunteering with Live Here Love Here nine years ago when our son was born. I wanted a way to keep active and this was the perfect option for us as I hate walking pointless there and back again, I prefer loops or a purpose to my walk, so cleaning up along the way was a great distraction and a bonus as you also have a sense of purpose in doing something good for the community.”
Laura Hillis from County Down has also adopted her local beaches in the Kilkeel area as part of the programme. Laura has been volunteering as an ambassador for over a year now and has created a community group called Too Much Trash NI that brings people from the local community together to clean up the local area and raise awareness of how important it is for people to take care their hometowns.
Laura commented, “I chose to adopt Cranfield beach as it is very much a special place to me. We have had a caravan there for over 30 years and spent a lot of quality family time there. I also chose its neighbouring beach known as Greencastle as it is my favourite sunset spot in all of Northern Ireland, so I want to ensure that many others can also continue to make memories in these places like I have.
“I spend much of my time outdoors so using this time to help the local environment and nature gives me a great sense of accomplishment. I enjoy meeting new like-minded people and getting families from the local area to get involved in our arranged clean ups with Too Much Trash NI which is a great opportunity to raise awareness of how important it is to take care of where we all live and love.”
Fern Keeney, Adopt A Spot Officer at Live Here Love Here said, “We take great pride in working closely with our team of ambassadors; their enthusiasm and dedication to the programme is admirable and it is so encouraging to see the fantastic work that each of them are doing within their adopted spots.
“Each of our Adopt A Spot Ambassadors promote positive environmental action by empowering others to get involved, take greater responsibility for the local environment and play an important role in raising awareness about the work of Live Here Love Here and improve local communities for the better and for everyone’s enjoyment.”
The Adopt A Spot project is open to everyone across Northern Ireland, and it is advised to choose a spot that is safe, accessible and within a reasonable distance from your home.
For more information on Adopt A Spot and the Ambassadors Programme, visit www.liveherelovehere.org/adoptaspot
About Live Here Love Here
Live Here Love Here is a national campaign aimed at promoting civic pride and a community can-do attitude by improving environmental quality in Northern Ireland. Our aim is to see cleaner streets, less dog fouling and graffiti, more biodiversity and better use of unused spaces. At Live Here Love Here, we are passionate about creating a healthier and greener Northern Ireland which not only affects our physical health but comes with overwhelming social benefits. Live Here Love Here is an inspiring partnership between the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs; Northern Ireland Housing Executive; Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council; Ards and North Down Borough Council; Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council; Belfast City Council; Derry City and Strabane District Council; Fermanagh and Omagh District Council; Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council; Mid and East Antrim Borough Council; Mid Ulster District Council and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council working alongside Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. To learn more please visit www.liveherelovehere.org.
