Concern over Deer Park Field's future

A group of local environmental activists is challenging what it describes as the “threat” posed to a rewilded area of Derry’s Waterside.

The nine-strong Green Prehen group said it was extremely concerned about Deer Park Field, adjacent to the Georgian Prehen House, Prehen Park estate and City of Derry Golf Club.

Speaking to Derry Now, Gemma Harkin, Green Prehen co-ordinator, said the group’s aim was to protect and preserve valuable rewilded areas, including Deer Park Field, for continued nature restoration in the suburbs of the city.

In August, Green Prehen published its research regarding Deer Park Field in a report titled ‘Deer Park Field and Lands Around Prehen House, Ecological Woody Vegetation Study’. The report was compiled and edited by Dr Damian Gallagher.

According to Gemma Harkin, the field that covers the area known as Deer Park Field is currently owned by City of Derry Golf Club.

She added: “Deer Park Field was purchased from the Peck family with a 25-year covenant that it was to be used for ‘passive recreational use’ only. Unfortunately that covenant has now expired.

“The current owners of Deer Park Field have now requested that the Planning Service rezones the land for development, as part of the ongoing review of Derry City and Strabane District’s Inclusive Strategic Growth Plan 2017 to 2032.

“However, many local residents are objecting to this request. Residents enjoy the amenity of the site for outdoor recreation and consider it an essential part of the woodland setting of the historic A1 listed 17th Century Prehen House, as well as recognising the importance of trees to ameliorate the ravages of climate change.

“Landscape and nature provide innumerable benefits to health and wellbeing, including mental health. The Landscape Institute, the chartered body for the landscape profession, will be making the case for government to emphasise green infrastructure in a mental health and wellbeing plan.To this end, the current landscape is more desirable than private housing.”

The ‘Ecological Woody Vegetation Study’ was initiated by Green Prehen “to quantify the amenity woodland resources in the Deer Park Field and oppose any changes to its existing status and use.

“Woodlands are a scarce resource,” said Gemma Harkin. “The Woodland Trust states that ‘we need well-connected woodlands, rich in native trees that fight climate change and help nature to recover’. It is currently engaged in a major project to increase woodland tree cover.

“Any proposed changes to the Deer Park Field would be counter to this work and the UK government's well documented recent target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“Deer Park Field is a landlocked site, which is problematic in itself. If developed Deer Park Field would create an overwhelming increase of traffic, and associated air pollutants, through an already busy residential area

“It was apparent to the survey team that a process of natural colonisation of the Deer Park Field was taking place. The willow tree seed has drifted in from neighbouring woodlands to the south and west along the river Foyle and is now seeding. 

“One oak tree was identified and most likely the acorn had been dropped by a bird, a second semi-mature oak is prominent in the imagery in the Deer spark Field and can be readily seen.”

The study also found ash, birch, hawthorn and elder were also prevalent and were growing well, as well as various, well-established brambles.

Ms Harkin said: “With time a diverse mixed broadleaf woodland could evolve, demonstrating ecological succession.

“This is a unique occurrence where abandoned arable land has reverted to nature in a relatively short period of time. It is therefore suggested that because there are no existing official studies of the natural regeneration processes in Ireland, the Deer Park Field should remain unspoiled as such and be studied and recorded over time by a suitable, forestry research organisation, in order to establish a model of best practice in regards to nascent woodland generation.”

Ms Harkin also alluded to the emerging idea of ‘The Rights of Nature’.

She said: “Present conservation focuses on a growing environmental initiative where natural areas and vegetation are given legal rights that can be enforced by people, governments and communities.

“As pressures on ecosystems mount and as conventional laws seem increasingly inadequate to address environmental degradation, communities, cities, regions and countries around the world are turning to a new legal strategy known as ‘The Rights of Nature’.

“Nature often has legal rights as codified in environmental laws, but granting nature legal personhood is a different story. The main difference is that a Rights of Nature framework typically grants legal personhood status to nature, meaning that a river, for instance, would have the same rights as a person. These have already been adopted in Ecuador, Bolivia & India. It is important to obtain similar coverage here.

“Currently, within the local Council area, a statement on the ‘Rights of Nature’ is being developed with popular support. Monthly meetings are held online by the local Rights of Nature Group which is normally followed by the All-Ireland Rights of Nature group meeting. 

“At these participants feed in updates on what is happening and what is not as well as corresponding with Council and the relevant bodies,” added Ms Harkin, who said it was “unfortunate” Derry City and Strabane District Council had not replaced its Biodiversity Officer, who left post in September 2022.

Ms Harkin said she was particularly conscious of wanting to protect the Earth for her two grandchildren.

“We need to think about future generations,” she said: “All the environmentalists are advocating rewilding. Scientists are saying that is the way we should go.

“When Deer Park Field has already been like this for 25 years, to me it is ecocide to plan to destroy that, it really is. It must not be rezoned because once it is lost.”