Husband and wife team up to adopt part of Maghera area

Local husband and wife duo George Seviour and Vicky Seviour-Crockett have adopted an area in their local village, Tamlaght O’Crilly in the Maghera area as part of Live Here Love Here’s Adopt A Spot project.

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.

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.

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 like minded locals and even inmates from Magilligan 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.

“The nature trail has become a key area for so many people in the area. One of our neighbours and close friend was battling cancer during lockdown and has used the trail as a space to be able to continue to get out and about and enjoy our peaceful country scenery and avoid the masses instead of walking the roads.”

Another project of George and Vicky’s is the refurbished phone box in the centre of the village. 

Once seen as an eyesore to many, it is now a vibrant and key multi-purpose asset to the community that is used as an information point, recycling centre and also library where people can exchange unwanted books for others in the community to enjoy once they are finished with them.

Fern Keeney, Adopt A Spot Officer at Live Here Love Here said: “It is such a delight to have George and Vicky on our team of Ambassadors; their enthusiasm and dedication to the programme is admirable and it is so encouraging to see the fantastic work that they are doing within the Maghera area and beyond.

“They are a great example of how Adopt A Spot Ambassadors promote positive environmental action by empowering others to get involved and take greater responsibility for the local environment. 

"Both Vicky and George 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, please visit www.liveherelovehere.org/ adoptaspot