Wednesday 30 September 2009

Eden Green Heroes Win Award


The Garden of Eden allotment project has won the title of “BTCV Project of the Year” in the Green Heroes Awards in association with Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland. The Garden of Eden project has been running for almost a year at the Eden allotment site outside Carrickfergus. The group work weekly on the site to produce their own vegetables and have received training in a range of organic horticultural skills. The project consists of a group of volunteers from two local charities; Mindwise and the Drug and Rehabilitation Centre. The group were nominated for the award by the project co-ordinator Helen Tomb, “The team worked really hard on the project from the start, and have produced fantastic results in such a short time.” The Green Heroes Awards are given out in recognition of the outstanding work volunteers of all ages do across Northern Ireland to improve their local environment. The project was up against other projects from across Northern Ireland in the category to win the title of “Project of the year.” The project has improved the physical abilities of those involved by providing a means for gentle exercise and improving their mental health. The group grow local organic produce which they can take home and they now have a good appreciation of the benefits of eating organically where possible. The group has also recently won 1st prize in the Garden Gourmet competition for their Brussel Sprouts. The annual show displays thousands of colourful prize blooms alongside amazing monster-size vegetables and other horticultural cuties from local gardens, allotments and greenhouses. The project would not have been possible without the funding from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust and the huge continuous support from Carrickfergus Borough Council.

Tuesday 22 September 2009

Winners Announced for Community Garden Competition


Alderman May Beattie, Chairperson of the Parks, Countryside and Amenities Sub-Committee has announced the Carrickfergus in Bloom Competition Winners and Runners-up this morning for the Best Kept Garden, Best Kept Container Garden and Best Kept Community Planting Scheme.

Alderman Beattie said “We are delighted to announce the Carrickfergus in Bloom Community Competition Winners and Runners-up. I am thrilled with the response from those taking part and am really excited about the quality and diversity of the entrants. It has been an opportunity for me to see the wealth and variety of horticultural talent in our community.”

“Winners and runners-up will be invited to a prize-giving ceremony at the Town Hall in October to receive their certificates and prizes. At the ceremony we shall announce our plans for Carrickfergus in Bloom in the coming year. I would also like to thank the sponsors for supporting Carrickfergus in Bloom." ended Alderman Beattie

Stephen Daye, Parks & Countryside Development Officer with Carrickfergus Borough Council and one of the judges commented "We where very impressed by the number of high quality entries this year, the time and dedication many entrants spend in their gardens is a credit too them. Deciding on a winner was very difficult for some categories; however all who took part should be proud of their achievements."

Best Kept Garden

Winner: Eddie Polland, Whitehead.
Runner-Up: John O’Neill, Carrickfergus.
Runner-Up: Jimmy Shanks, Carrickfergus.
Runner-Up: Robert Cully, Carrickfergus.

Best Kept Container Garden

Winner: Norma Clark, Carrickfergus.
Runner-Up: Christopher Betts, Carrickfergus.
Runner-Up: Ernie Millar, Greenisland.
Runner-Up: Robert Welch, Eden.

Best Kept Community Planting Scheme

Winner: Brighter Whitehead (Whitehead Town Display).
Runner-Up: Riverbrook Residents Association, Whitehead.
Runner-Up: Greenisland Environmental & Heritage Group (Town Display).
Runner-Up: Kilroot Orange Hall, Eden.

Best Kept Commercial Premises

Winner: Beauty Care 2000 from Whitehead
Runner-Up: Hunter Campbell from Carrickfergus
Runner-Up: The Cutting Station from Whitehead

Best Kept Pub or Hotel

Winner: Joymount Arms from Carrickfergus
Runner-Up: Brewers Fayre from Carrickfergus
Runner-Up: Pa Pa Browns from Carrickfergus

Best Floral Display by Traders in a Street or Centre

Winner: Carrickfergus Town Centre Display (Carrickfergus Chamber of Commerce)
Runner-Up: DeCourcy Centre at Carrickfergus
Runner-Up: The Courtyard at Carrickfergus

Link to view winners

Sunday 20 September 2009

Tallest Sunflower Competition Winners Announced


The winner and runners-up of the Carrickfergus in Bloom Tallest Sunflower Competition have been announced.

The winner: Sophie Montogemery aged 11 from Carrickfergus whose sunflower grew to a massive 3 meters 60cm. The runners-up are Jenny Mitchell aged 8 from Carrickfergus whose sunflower grew to 3 meters 40cm & Emily Turner aged from Carrickfergus whose sunflower grew to 2 meters 93cm.

Stephen Daye, Parks & Countryside Officer explained "Carrickfergus Borough Council distributed in March, two thousand packets of Sunflower seeds to local school children as part of the Carrickfergus in Bloom initiative. After months of tender loving care by the young people it's great to see the end results. The time and dedication many entrants spend on tending their sunflowers is extraordinary and is a credit too them."

"Winners and runners-up will be invited to a prize-giving ceremony at the Town Hall in October to receive their certificates and prizes. At the ceremony we shall announce our plans for Carrickfergus in Bloom in the coming year."