Wild About Food Winter Festival

The Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s ‘Wild About Food’ project has been running throughout 2016 in collaboration with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, and was funded by Heritage Lottery Fund. The two Council areas celebrated the success of the programme with a final Winter Festival event in Mossley Mill on Saturday 10^th December. Activities included delicious winter fare workshops, wreath making, robin box building, arts and crafts and woodland creatures.

The ‘Wild About Food’ project was Mid and East Antrim's contribution to Northern Ireland's Year of Food and Drink 2016 which is a celebration of everything delicious about Northern Ireland. Throughout 2016 participants across the Borough have had the chance to taking part in a range of events and workshops making the most of our fantastic local products.

Workshops throughout the year have included Love Veg at Eden Allotment Gardens, Cook Your Catch at Blackhead Path, Pesto making at Ecos Nature Park, Ice Cream making at Dixon Park and Apple Day at Diamond Jubilee Wood, and have proven extremely popular. Our ‘Winter Festival’ was a great way to celebrate the end of this exciting programme.

 Furthermore, this project was intended to act as a reminder of the ecosystem processes which provides us with food, air and water, and remind us of the importance of the natural world around us. With today’s reliance on supermarkets, and the assumption that any food can be purchased at any time of the year, this project has hopefully reminded people of the importance of our local produce and those ingredients which have not incurred thousands of air miles and the associated carbon foot print.

Greenisland Community Orchard

The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Cllr Audrey Wales, officially launched National Tree Week 2016 by planting the first fruit tree in the new Greenisland Community Orchard.

Cllr Wales said “I was delighted to plant the first tree at Greenisland Community Orchard. The community then planted the rest of the site with 75 fruit trees, including apple, pear and plum. Participants also enjoyed building a bug hotel, meeting some woodland creatures and tasting orchard food and drink. I hope this site will flourish and provide a valuable resource for the community for many years.”

National Tree Week is the UK’s largest celebration of trees and the start of the winter tree planting season. As part of our Tree Week celebrations, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council’s free activities across the Borough have ranged from practical workshops in Ecos Nature Park, Ballymena and Bashfordsland Wood, Carrickfergus, to tree planting with school children in Larne.

Anyone can make a difference to their view and to biodiversity by adding a tree. Planting a tree is a very positive thing to do and is great fun, even in the depths of winter. There are plenty of reasons to get planting –it's great exercise, children love it, and you'll be making a valuable contribution to our local wildlife. Every tree counts.

The Tree Council’s National Tree Week is the UK’s largest celebration of trees and the start of the winter tree planting season. The first‐ever National Tree Week was held in 1975 to make Britain more tree‐conscious, encourage tree planting and promote awareness of the importance of proper care and maintenance of trees.

Tree Week marks the beginning of the tree planting season which runs right through to February. Why not get outdoors and plant a tree this winter, or simply enjoy the tremendous trees we already have in the Parks & Open Spaces in our Borough?

Friends Of

The Friends Of Bashfordsland Wood & Oakfield Glen continue to meet each month, on the second Saturday of the month, at Oakfield Community Centre, 10am to 1pm. Recent tasks have included river cleans and bat box building. If you are interested in getting outdoors and learning new skills, while preserving this fantastic woodland, please come along.

The 'Friends of' volunteer programme is coming to Larne and Ballymena in January 2017. Please see below for more details. 

Whale Watching, Portmuck

Participants enjoyed Mid & East Antrim's fantastic coastline and learning about local biodiversity at the Whale Watching event, Sunday 6th November, Portmuck, Islandmagee. On the day participants were pleased to see harbour porpoise, grey seals and seabirds.

You can often also see whales and dolphins at this spot - a real treat.

 To find out more about Mid & East Antrim's biodiversity please visit: www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/biodiversity

Mid and East Antrim In Bloom awards ceremony 2016

The Mayor of Mid & East Antrim Borough Council, Cllr Audrey Wales, was delighted to host the Mid & East Antrim in Bloom awards ceremony on Friday 28^th October at the Carrickfergus Town Hall. At the awards ceremony winners and runners up received their certificates and prizes and enjoyed afternoon tea.

Cllr Wales said “The Mid & East Antrim In Bloom awards are a chance to celebrate the many months, and often years, of hard work individuals and groups put into improving their gardens, towns, villages and schools. The Mid & East Antrim In Bloom campaign encourages everyone who lives in the Borough to think about their local environment and how flowers, plants and gardens can enhance it for people and wildlife. By actively supporting our ‘In Bloom’ campaign and competitions residents not only brighten our Borough but have been fundamental to our success in Ulster in Bloom  and Britain in Bloom.”

“There are ten Mid and East Antrim in Bloom community competition categories in total. The general competitions are open to all residents of the Borough and are the Best Kept Front Garden, Best Kept Front Container Garden, Best Kept Community Planting Scheme, Best Kept Allotment Garden, Best Kept Commercial Premises and the Gardening for Wildlife Award. There are also four competitions specifically for our Young People (16 & under) in the Borough. These competitions are the Tallest Sunflower Competition, the Painting Competition (16 & under / 10 & under), the Poetry Competition and the Best School Gardening Project.”

“I am pleased to say the campaign has been extremely well received this year and has had over 1,000 entrants from all across the Borough. In 2017 we will continue our Mid and East Antrim in Bloom campaign, continue to take an active role in supporting community horticulture and continue to be an award winning Borough.”

To see a full list of winners and runners up please visit www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/inbloom

Wild About Food: Apple Day

‘Wild About Food: Apple Day’ on Saturday 22^nd October at Diamond Jubilee Wood Whitehead, saw participants enjoying making apple food and drink including apple juice and chutney, helping out with tree maintenance in the community orchard, meeting friendly farm animals and building a giant bug hotel.

Success at the 2016 Open & Direct Best Kept Awards

Mid and East Antrim has enjoyed more success at 2016 Open & Direct Best Kept Awards. 

The Best Kept Medium Housing Area Winners were Tobar Park in Cullybackey and the Best Kept Large Village Winners award went to Ahoghill  (closely followed by runner up Broughshane!).

Well done to all the communities involved!

Photo: Cllr John Carson, Joe Mahon (Patron of Northern Ireland Amenity Council) and representatives from Ahoghill, Cullybackey and Broughshane.

Light up the Night!

On Saturday 15^th October participants enjoyed a magical lantern-lit family evening at Bashfordsland Wood & Oakfield Glen, Carrickfergus. Participants enjoyed lantern making, storytelling, marshmallow toasting and other surprises at the woodland camp. This event was organised by Mid & East Antrim Borough Council and The Woodland Trust. 

Mid and East Antrim success at the Britain in Bloom awards

At the RHS Britain In Bloom Awards 2016 in Birmingham on Friday 14th October Whitehead won the Silver Gilt in the Small Town Category. The award was collected by Bill Pollock from Brighter Whitehead and Mayor of Mid & East Antrim Borough Council.

Ahoghill won gold in the Champion of Champions category. The award was collected by Wallace Elder from Ahoghill in Bloom and the Mayor of Mid & East Antrim Borough Council.

Ahoghill were then also crowned the RHS Britain In Bloom Champion of Champions 2016 - the highest award possible. 

Congratulations to all the community volunteers and staff involved.

Mid and East Antrim in Bloom Best School Gardening Project - winners and runners-up announced

Best School Gardening Project

Winner: Carrickfergus Central Primary School, Carrickfergus

Runner-up: Ballymena Academy, Ballymena

Runner-up: Millquarter Primary School, Toomebridge 

Some of Carrickfergus Central Primary School's handiwork - a bug hotel

For more information on the In Bloom competitions and for a full list of winners and runners up please click here 

Mid and East Antrim in Bloom Childrens Painting Competition - winners and runners-up announced

Painting Competition (16 & Under)

Winner: Ola Myrcha, age 12, from Ballymena

Runner-up: Finlay Schmidt, age 15, from Carrickfergus

Runner-up: Molly Cranston, age 12, from Ballee

Painting Competition (10 & Under)

Winner: Anya Laughlin, age 10, from Ballycarry

Runner-up: Zara Compton, age 6, from Clough

Runner-up: Joshua Neville, age 10, from Carrickfergus

For more information on the In Bloom competitions and for a full list of winners and runners up please click here 

Mid and East Antrim in Bloom Childrens Poetry Competition - winners and runners-up announced

Poetry Competition

Winner: Robbie Morrow, Age 12, from Ballycarry

Runner-up: Rhianna Taylor, age 12, from Larne

Runner-up: Caitlin O’Hara Murray, age 8, from Carrickfergus

The winning poem by Robbie Morrow below:

Mid and East Antrim In Bloom

In Carrick Castle, Larne Lough, Knockagh

Coast Road, Bannside, Braid and Ballymena

Green fingers are busy across the Borough

Gardening has never been so thorough

Digging, planting, sowing seeds

All types of plants – just no weeds!

Flowers of all kinds, in all sorts of places

Make the towns pretty, put smiles on faces

Rainbows of colour to brighten the gloom

Mid and East Antrim is covered in bloom!

For more information on the In Bloom competitions and for a full list of winners and runners up please click here 

Borough's Success At Ulster In Bloom Awards 2016

The results of the 2016 Translink Ulster in Bloom Competition have been announced, officially recognisng Northern Ireland’s top gardening talent.

Thanks to the efforts of the community and staff across the Borough, Mid & East Antrim received the highest number of awards across the 11 councilshe top Large Town category went to Ballymena; the Small Town to Ahoghill; the Large Village award went to Cullybackey which also achieved the prestigious ‘Most Improved’ title at the same time. The Community Rail Halt Award went to Whitehead Train Station. 

Meanwhile, Bill Pollock from ‘Brighter Whitehead’ is the winner of the Ulsterbus Tours Community Champion Award in recognition of the lasting and positive difference he has made personally to his local area by embracing the ‘Ulster in Bloom’ ethos.

Councillor Wales, who attended the Awards in Portrush earlier this week commented: “I am very happy indeed with the results of this annual horticultural competition.

“We support the way it encourages cities, towns and villages right across Northern Ireland to look their best, boosting civic pride through beautiful plant and floral displays. I congratulate all those who participated across the whole Borough, including the many local people who so happily embraced the concept of civic pride and all the hard work of our own Parks and Open Spaces staff.”

The Translink Ulster in Bloom Competition is co-ordinated by the Northern Ireland local Government Association (NILGA).

Bill Pollock, winner of the Ulsterbus Tours Community Champion award  2016

Mid and East Antrim In Bloom Painting and Poetry Competitions

Some of our Mid and East Antrim In Bloom Competitions for young people are still open. There are great prizes to be won and winners and runners up will be invited to an awards ceremony in October.

The Competitions still open are:

Painting Competition (10 & under)

Painting Competition (16 & under)

Paintings on the theme ‘Mid and East Antrim in bloom’

Poetry Competition

Poetry on the theme ‘Mid and East Antrim in bloom’

Entries must be received by 30th September 2016.

Please post to the address below and please make sure an application form is attached to the back of the painting or poem detailing name, address and contact details:

Mid and East Antrim in Bloom

11 Antrim Street

Carrickfergus

BT38 7DG

Bat Training for Council staff

Karen Healy from Northern Ireland Bat Group pictured with staff members Lisa Haggan, Irene Black & Sarah Lennox. Council staff were given the chance to learn about bats and best practice guidelines for assessing planning applications for bat potential as bats and their roosts are legally protected throughout UK & Ireland.  Participants also gained general information on bats, bats and the law, bat roosts in buildings/trees/bridges/derelict structures and the impact of wind turbines on our bat populations.

There are eight bat species in Northern Ireland and all are legally protected. To find out more about biodiversity in the Borough please click here

The Tallest Sunflower in the Borough Announced

The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Cllr Audrey Wales, has announced the winner and runners-up of the Mid and East Antrim In Bloom Tallest Sunflower Competition.

Cllr Wales said “The winner is James Brown Kerr, aged 7, from Cullybackey, whose sunflower grew a mighty 3 metres. Runners-up are Laura Stewart, aged 12, from Ahoghill, with a blooming 2metre 85cm sunflower, and Noah McTeggart-Hughes, age 4, from Ballycarry, who grew an impressive 2metre 70cm sunflower.”

Cllr Wales commended the effort made, saying “After months of tender loving care by these young gardeners 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 to them.”

Mayor of Mid & East Antrim pictured with James Brown Kerr, age 7, from Cullybackey

Cllr Wales continued “I would like to remind all the young people in the Borough that there is still a chance to enter the Mid and East Antrim In Bloom  Painting and Poetry competitions. Why not paint a picture of your garden or favourite flower or write a poem about ‘Mid and East Antrim In Bloom’?”

The Young People's painting and poetry competitions remain open until 30th September. Application forms are available at www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/inbloom    

Wild About Food: Bread Making

The Wild About Food: Bread Making workshop was held on Sunday 11^th September at Andrew Jackson Cottage Carrickfergus

Participants were able to learn traditional bread making skills such as drop scones, soda bread and fruit pancakes. The ‘Wild About Food’ project is Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s contribution to Northern Ireland's Year of Food and Drink 2016 which is a celebration of everything delicious about Northern Ireland. The ‘Wild About Food’ project has been running since May 2016 in collaboration with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and is funded by Heritage Lottery Fund.

The next Wild About Food event is ‘Apple Day’ a celebration of the community orchard at Diamond Jubilee Wood, Whitehead on Saturday 22^nd October, 11am-2pm. 

Friends Of, September Task

The Friends of Bashfordsland Wood & Oakfield Glen carried out important pond maintenance this month including removing invasive species.

The group meets on the second Saturday of each month at Oakfield Community Centre at 10am (to 1pm).

The next task day is Saturday 8^th October 2016.

If you are interested in getting outdoors, meeting new people and learning a new skill, the ‘Friends of’ group could be for you. For more information T: 028 9335 8231 E: biodiversity@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

 

Mayor thanks Parks & Open spaces staff for work on Green Flag sites

The Mayor has visited the award winning Green Flag parks and open spaces in the Borough to meet the staff who work on site. The Mayor thanked staff for their hard work which enables Council to reach this excellent standard by keeping the sites clean, safe and welcoming, protecting and promoting biodiversity and engaging the community in Parks and Open Spaces initiatives and events.

Three new sites were put forward for Green Flag consideration this year – Carnfunnock Country Park, Larne; Ecos Nature Park, Ballymena and Eden Allotment Gardens, Carrickfergus  and all three sites received the coveted Green Flag Award.

Council received four Green Flag Awards last year – for Bashfordsland Wood & Oakfield Glen, Carrickfergus; Diamond Jubilee Wood, Whitehead; Dixon Park, Larne and People’s Park, Ballymena (also pictured below) – and are very pleased to have been awarded the Green Flag Award for these four sites again this year thanks to Council's Parks and Open Spaces staff keeping up the high standards.

The Green Flag Award has been running for many years and has become the recognized benchmark national standard for high quality parks and green spaces. Green Flag Award applications are judged against eight key criteria which are; A welcoming place, Healthy, safe and secure, Clean and well maintained, Sustainability, Conservation and heritage, Community involvement, Marketing and Management.

Mayor meets staff at Eden Allotment Gardens, Carrickfergus

Mayor meets staff at People's Park, Ballymena

The Best Kept in the Borough

The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Councillor Audrey Wales MBE, has announced the winners and runners-up in the Mid and East Antrim In Bloom Best Kept Competitions.

 

Cllr Wales said: "I am delighted to announce the Mid and East Antrim In Bloom Community Competition winners and runners-up.We have been really impressed with the quality and diversity of the entries to the competition this year. It has been an opportunity for me to see the wealth and variety of horticultural talent we have in our Borough.The quality of the entries this year has been impressive, the time and dedication many entrants spend in their gardens is a credit to them. Deciding on the winners is difficult and the marks can be very close, all who took part should be proud of their achievements."

Winners and runners-up will be invited to the Mid and East Antrim In Bloom awards ceremony in October to receive their certificates and prizes. A full list of all our winners will soon be available online at www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/inbloom

Best Kept Front Garden

Winner: Robin & Florence Balmer, Cullybackey

Runner-Up: Louis Hamilton, Larne

Runner-Up: Elizabeth Boyd, Cullybackey

Runner-Up: Maurice Langley, Carrickfergus

Mayor with Best Kept Front Garden winners Robin and Florence Balmer from Cullybackey

Best Kept Front Container Garden

Winner: Philomena Corey, Carrickfergus

Runner-Up: Patsy Abram, Glenarm

Runner-Up: Arthur & Libby Page, Whitehead

Runner-Up: Annette Keith, Carrickfergus

Mayor with Best Kept Front Container Garden winner Philomena Corey from Carrickfergus

Best Kept Community Planting Scheme

Winner: Ahoghill Patchwork Group, Ahoghill

Runner-Up: Dixon Park Residents Association, Larne

Runner-Up: Mill Brae Bloom, Larne

Best Kept Community Planting Scheme winner Ahoghill Patchwork Group 

Best Kept Allotment Garden

Winner: Alan Rice, Larne

Runner-Up: Maggi Watson, Greenisland

Runner-Up: Robert McComb, Carrickfergus

Best Kept Allotment Garden winner Alan Rice from Larne

Best Kept Commercial Premises

Winner: Willow Beauty, Ballymena

Runner-Up: Hillcrest Self Catering Cottage, Carrickfergus

Runner-Up: Hairtopia, Whitehead

Best Kept Commercial Premises winner Willow Beauty, Ballymena

Best Kept Commercial Premises runner up Hillcrest Self Catering Cottage, Carrickfergus

Gardening for Wildlife Award

Winner: Phil Allen, Carrickfergus

Runner-Up: Nicholas Davis, Magheramorne

Runner-Up: Ben Palmer, Greenisland

Gardening for Wildlife Award winner Phil Allen from Carrickfergus