Monday 25 October 2010

Carrickfergus in Bloom winners honoured at prize-giving

Floral creativity has once again been recognised by the Carrickfergus in Bloom initiative organised by Carrickfergus Borough Council. Local competition winners and runners-up will receive their well earned certificates and prizes at a prize-giving lunch in Carrickfergus Town Hall today (Friday 22nd October 2010) with over 110 people attending the event.
Competition categories included Best Kept Garden & Best Kept Container Garden for householders; Best Kept Commercial Premises for commercial organisations; Painting, Poetry and Tallest Sunflower Competitions for young people; and for internet users we have the Virtual Flower Show.

At the Lunch, the Chairperson of Parks, Countryside & Amenities Sub-Committee, Alderman May Beattie thanked all those who took part in the competition and made it such a success. “The Carrickfergus in Bloom Community Competitions have really caught the imagination of Carrickfergus citizens. When they started ten years ago, fewer than 300 took part; this year over 1,600 people battled the weather and created some beautiful floral displays that we can all enjoy." said Alderman Beattie

“Carrickfergus in Bloom is a beacon of community gardening good practice, as it encourages people to get involved, builds community spirit and improves the environment we all live in. With initiatives such as our school growing clubs and one pot pledge create opportunities for health, wellbeing and learning.”

Alderman Beattie also thanked the Competition Sponsors who paid for many of the flowerbeds and hanging baskets throughout the Borough. "The success of Carrickfergus in Bloom could not have happened without the generous support of local businesses throughout the Borough of Carrickfergus."

"We would also thank our statutory partners that have made Carrickfergus in Bloom such a success. Translink, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive & the Department of Regional Development have helped to improve the beauty of Carrickfergus 365 days a year; with the use of flowers, colourful shrubs, trees and attractive street furniture. As have many local groups in the Borough“. Ended Alderman Beattie

View winners at the Carrickfergus in Bloom website

Keep Britain Tidy Christmas Card Competition

Are you dreaming of a green Christmas? Then show what Keep Britain Tidy means to you this festive season by designing the Keep Britain Tidy Christmas card!

Help Keep Britain Tidy to spread their yuletide message far and wide, the winning picture will be transformed into the 2010 Christmas e-card which will then be emailed out to all their thousands of friends and supporters up and down the country!

Open to all ages, they are looking for eye-catching entries which cleverly combine fun and festivity along with an environmental theme. The Keep Britain Tidy logo (click here) should be depicted somewhere in your picture and all entries should be on one side of A4 paper in a landscape format, and submitted by post. To enter, simply send your picture to:

Christmas Card Competition
Marketing Team
Keep Britain Tidy
Elizabeth House
The Pier
Wigan
WN3 4EX

So what are you waiting for, fast forward to Christmas, get creative and help Keep Britain Tidy!

LINK: Keep Britain Tidy website

Monday 11 October 2010

Whitehead Village Masterplan

Your Village, Your Say Village Masterplan Public Consultation

Whitehead Community Centre, Whitehead
Wednesday 20 October 2010, 6.00pm - 9.00pm

A masterplan is currently being prepared for Whitehead. This will identify a range of potential projects for improvement of the village.
Draft plans will be on public display for comment and the consultant team will be faciliating an open evening to discuss the proposals.
What kind of place would you like Whitehead to be in the future? Your views are vital so come along and tell us what you think.
Draft Village plans will be on display for a 4 week period Monday 11 October - Friday 5 November at Whitehead Library and online at www.carrickfergus.org

Friday 8 October 2010

Children’s Community Competition Winners Announced


Today Alderman May Beattie, Chairperson of the Parks, Countryside and Amenities Sub-Committee announced the winners and runners-up (list enclosed) of the Carrickfergus in Bloom Children’s Painting & Poetry Competitions.

Alderman Beattie said “We are delighted to announce the Carrickfergus in Bloom Children’s Painting & Poetry Competition Winners and Runners-up. The response from our young people has been extraordinary with hundreds of entries to judge. I am thrilled about the quality and diversity of the entrants. It has been an opportunity for me to see the wealth and variety of artistic talent in our community. “Winners and runners-up will be invited to a prize-giving ceremony at the end of October in Carrickfergus Town Hall to receive their certificates and prizes.

Children’s Painting Competition 15 and under
Winner: Laura Murdy, Carrickfergus
Runner-Up: Lauren Finlay, Carrickfergus
Runner-Up: Jamie Blakely, Carrickfergus

Children’s Painting Competition 10 and under
Winner: Grainne White, Carrickfergus
Runner-Up: Nicole Alderdice, Carrickfergus
Runner-Up: Shannon Vermanen, Carrickfergus

View the winning paintings

Children’s Poetry Competition
Winner: Nathan Toland, Carrickfergus (read poem)
Runner-Up: Kirsty Wilson, Carrickfergus (read poem)
Runner-Up: Emily Turner, Carrickfergus (read poem)

Tuesday 5 October 2010

2010 Virtual Flower Show Winners


The winners of the 2010 Virtual Flower Show have been announced by Chairperson of the Parks Committee, Alderman May Beattie. Alderman May Beattie said “The Virtual Flower Show organised by Carrickfergus in Bloom is an excellent opportunity for Carrickfergus Borough residents to show off their photographic and gardening skills in this internet based competition. The winning photographs can be viewed at www.virtualflowershow.org. 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. To encourage people to enter the Virtual Flower Show we ran a free prize draw to win a Digital Camera. The winner was Phil Hodges from Carrickfergus.

The Winners & Runners-Up are:

My GardenWinner - Pink Flowers by Shelley Malcolmson
Runner-Up - Peace by Joyce Kernohan

My Favourite Outdoor Plant
Winner - Snowdrops by Phil Hodges
Runner-Up - Clemitas by Gladys Blair

My Favourite Indoor Plant
Winner - Bloomin Clivia by Jean Mccullough
Runner-Up - Hothouse Orchid Brian Anderson

My Favourite Landscape / Garden Setting
Winner - Arcadia by Brian Kelley
Runner-Up - Tulips by Terry Cooper

Flowers in their natural, wild setting
Winner - Rustic Bluebells by David Jackson
Runner-Up - Rockingham Forest by Park Harry Bates

Flowers with pets or other animals
Winner - Peek-a-boo by Joanne Campbell
Runner-Up - My Orange Clivia by Harry Bates

Prize Draw: Phil Hodges from Carrickfergus with Alderman May Beattie (pictured above). Phil won the ‘Win an Camera' Competition, the prize was a Olympus fe-5030.







View all Virtual Flower Show winners.