Fairy forest grant bonanza

Skipping through Erica’s Fairy Forest in Cootehill will be all the more pleasant thanks to the allocation of €20,000 to go toward the provision of a new walkway.

The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys, today [Tuesday] announced funding of €20,000 for the development of a new walkway around Erica’s Fairy Forest in Cootehill.

The funding is being provided under the Outdoor Recreation Scheme. Announcing the funding Minister Humphreys said: “This will be a new universal looped walkway with a good quality surface and public lighting so that it will be suitable for wheelchair users, families with buggies and older walkers to use.”

Minister Humphreys says that it is an important addition: “It will be particularly beneficial in the darker winter months when people want to take a short, safe walk.”

Erica’s Fairy Forest is a unique place and has become hugely popular particularly with young families: “I want to commend Cootehill Area Development and Cootehill Chamber for their ongoing work at the Halton’s area and I am delighted that Government is able to support these efforts with funding of €20,000,” the Minister stated.

“I have no doubt the development of this new walkway will be a further boost for the local area and I look forward to seeing work commence as soon as possible,” Minister Humphreys concluded.

Local Fine Gael Councillor, Carmel Brady, stressed the importance of the allocation: “The development of this walkway will be a huge boost to the local community and the many local families in Cootehill and the surrounding areas who regularly visit Erica’s fairy forest.”

“It’s great to have an amenity like this available on our doorstep and it’s great to see the work that has been carried out in recent years to develop the area further. I want to commend Cootehill Area Development, the local Chamber and of course Minister Humphreys for her support in securing the funding for this great project,” Cllr Brady said.