CONSERVATION Volunteers Northern Ireland (CVNI) is celebrating its 25th anniversary and its parent organisation, BTCV celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
From the original office on the Ravenhill Road in Belfast, the organisation grew to have offices first in Bangor and then Coleraine. Each of the new offices started to develop projects in the surrounding area, including volunteering for unemployed pe
ople, work with communities to improve their own areas, work with schools & young people and advice and support to landowners.
The office in Coleraine was opened in 1986 and undertook work across the whole north coast from Limavady round to Glenarm and as far south as Ballymena. The original member of staff was Anthony McQuillan, who went on to become Director of CVNI from 2001 to 2007.
Some significant projects in recent years and in the past have included the ongoing management of erosion at the sand dunes at Portrush Golf Club, improvements to urban open spaces in Ballysally, including significant tree planting, work to improve the Moyle Way at Loop Path near Cushendall and the Waterfoot Riverside Path, constructing a community garden at the GADDA Centre for the Garvagh District Development Trust, improvements to the Bann pathway at Portneal and the Somerset Riverside Path.
