Culmore Country Park

Culmore Country Park, formerly a landfill site closed in 2007, is made up of woodland, grassland and shoreline habitats. These are important areas for biodiversity with wading birds feeding on the mudflats.

The site, which was originally tidal, was reclaimed for agriculture use in the late 19th century and early part of the 20th century. Prior to 1971 the sea defences installed for the agricultural reclamation of the tidal marshes were breached during a storm and the land had returned to tidal mudflats.

In 1971, the site was developed by the former Londonderry Development Commission as a controlled municipal landfill site. The landfill site operated for 36 years and was closed in March 2007.

Following closure the site has been restored by Derry City and Strabane District Council to reduce its impact on Lough Foyle and the surrounding environment. This has involved the capping of the site to reduce rainwater coming into contact with the waste and becoming polluted and to trap gas being emitted by the infilled waste.

In total over half a million tonnes of soil has been used to create the public park, with the trapped gas being collected and used to generate electricity to operate the park, local waste water treatment works and for export to the National Grid.

Restoring the site has been a unique opportunity to transform the landfill into a valuable green space for all our citizens and visitors covering the area of almost 40 full size football pitches.

The restoration works, costing over £7 million, were completed in 2016 and provides a landscaped green space for the public with spectacular walkways and views over Lough Foyle and has created habitats for internationally important over-wintering birds.
The park has much potential and there are plans to further develop the site to include a community building, play park and sports pitches.