Derry's Prehen Woods a lifeline for the whole community

Well known Derry environmental campaigner, George McLaughlin described an experience he had in Prehen Woods over Christmas as making him feel “all the time, energy and cost expended” in the campaign to save the native woodland from “ever-increasing developmental pressure” was “really worthwhile”.

Speaking to The Derry News, Mr McLaughlin, a member of the Prehen Historical Environmental Society (PHES) said: “Campaigning for what is right and just for our community and our precious environment can be agonising and frustrating when confronted with indifference, unfairness, disappointment, deceit, bad laws, disproportionate discretion in decision making and reluctance to change; sometimes, however, it is really worthwhile.”

People encouraged to visit enchanting forest carpet of bluebells at Prehen Woods

'Green exercise ' in Derry's ancient woodlands the key to good health this Autumn

Experts have encouraged locals to explore their surroundings in places such as Prehen Woods at this time of year

He added: “A couple of weeks ago my wife Aileen and I were out for a walk in our much loved Prehen Woods. Coming towards the end of our walk we met a man who engaged with us in conversation about the weather and his dog.

“At the end of our little chat, we said our goodbyes, and he walked away a little bit, then turned and said, ‘This place saved my life’.

“He explained to us that he had been very ill and just being able to come to Prehen woods, listen to the birds and savour the solace and peace of being embedded in nature, got him through a very difficult time.

“Our Prehen Woods has served many purposes throughout the ages: The provision of timber for the construction of the historic City of Derry, wood for shipbuilding, wood barrels for the Whiskey Distilleries and even cover for the Derry Siege time armies, but this present day story of our woodland being a place of comfort and well-being for those in our community who are dealing with many of the problems of modern day society is very satisfying for those of us who campaign to preserve what is left of our natural wildlife and woodland heritage,” said George McLaughlin. 

Also a member of the The Gathering Planning Issue group and Nature's Keepers International, Mr McLaughlin added: “Some people who do not seem to understand that ‘every tree and every leaf of every tree is important to the well-being of every one in our community’ have said to me, ‘George, why are you bothering yourself, it’s only a wheen of oul trees?’

“Well, listening to this man’s story makes me realise that it was worthwhile bothering myself about the oul trees.

“Very soon the floor of our Prehen Ancient Woodland which is one of the top ten bluebell woods in Britain will be a carpet of blue that will do your heart good to see. 

I would invite everyone to come and enjoy the spectacle.”