Lisa Williamson – The Valley Hotel
Lisa Williamson and the staff at The Valley Hotel has a particular interest in celebrating the quality of local food. Lisa has organised gourmet nights in the Valley hotel that are renowned across N. Ireland.
As part of the agri-food co-operation project the Valley Hotel will organise a regular farmers market at the hotel to support local food producers and raise the profile of the Sliabh Beagh Food brand.
Tom Woods
Tom Woods has walked every inch of Sliabh Beagh. Tom is a provider of game to the Sliabh Beagh Artisan Food Group.
For the last four years, Tom has been heavily involved in a scheme to provide protection for the hen harrier nests. Hen harriers nest on the ground, in deep heather and are vulnerable to crows and foxes raiding their nests.
Tom plans to control the increasing numbers of deer and supply you with fresh Sliabh Beagh venison. He is also chair of the new Sliabh Beagh Trust and is passionate about conservation work on Sliabh Beagh.
Pat McKenna
Pat McKenna has over 100 dexter cows on his home farm near Lough More. For the last two years, ha has used his cows for conservation grazing to reduce vegetation which acts as fuel load for wildfires. In 2021, Pat has been recognised as a ‘Farming for Nature’ ambassador for his innovative work in using GPS collars to manage cattle grazing on Sliabh Beagh. Pat has built up the natural fertility on his land so that no purchased fertiliser or pesticides are used.
William McKenna
William McKenna has worked in partnership with NIEA and Butterfly Conservation to manage an important site for the rare Marsh Fritillery butterfly.
Willie has also re introduced the native grey partridge to the slopes of Sliabh Beagh and hopes to have excess birds to offer as a gourmet treat through the Sliabh Beagh Larder.
Chris McCarney
Chris has a small beef farm enterprise near Sliabh Beagh. He will manage the business and logistical operations to build the new Sliabh Beagh food brand.
The River Blackwater Catchment Trust
The Trust will support volunteer activity for conservation work on Sliabh Beagh.
Alan McCabe is a member of the Sliabh Beagh Food Group. He recently piloted the use of robo-cut equipment to control vegetation at key sites on Sliabh Beagh. This activity will help control wildfires which is the main threat to wildlife habitats on the mountain.
