Biodiversity in the Borough this weekend

Learn more about fantastic frogs this Saturday 30th April, Ecos Nature Park, Ballymena, 1pm - 3pm.

International Dawn Chorus Day is the worldwide celebration of nature's daily miracle – bird song. This year International Dawn Chorus Day is on Sunday 1^st May and Mid and East Antrim is hosting three wonderful walks so everyone can join in the excitement. 

Woollen Woods Workshop, Dixon Park Larne

Pictured are some keen knitters in Dixon Park, Larne this Saturday (23rd April '16).

Our final Woollen Woods Workshop is Saturday 30th April, 10am - 1pm, Lighthouse Yarns Whitehead. Come along, learn a new skill and make a contribution to Northern Ireland's only Woollen Wood!

Sarah Anthony, Heather Murray, Michaela Brown, Janet Tweed

Woollen Woods

The next woollen workshop is Saturday 23rd April, at Dixon Park, Larne. Come along and learn a new skill and make a contribution to the only Woollen Wood in Ireland!

A few pictures for inspiration!

National Gardening Week

Green fingered gardeners were out in force last week to celebrate National Gardening Week (11^th-17^th April 2016) as part of this year’s Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom campaign. Britain in Bloom is the UK’s largest community gardening campaign. The theme of this year’s Bloom campaign, Greening Grey Britain for Health and Happiness, will see community groups around the UK organising gardening activities to boost local health and wellbeing.

In Mid & East Antrim volunteers have been busy carrying out essential tree maintenance in the community orchard at Diamond Jubilee Wood, Whitehead and carrying out a Big Spring Clean at Carrickfergus Mill Ponds.

Mayor of Mid & East Antrim, Cllr Billy Ashe, said “I’d like to thank the volunteers for their hard work, these events are just a few of many which will be organised across the Borough to promote Mid and East Antrim in Bloom and the positive impact community gardening activities have on people’s health and wellbeing.”

“We encourage 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’ activities and competitions residents will not only make their garden, school or business more attractive but also assist Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s entry to the Translink Ulster in Bloom Competition and the Britain in Bloom Competition.” Councillor Ashe urged those keen to participate to stay updated via the Council’s website and social media.

Victoria Primary School Eco Club carrying out a Big Spring Clean for National Gardening Week 

Woollen Woods Workshops

April is #LoveToKnit month and in the run up to the 2016 Woollen Woods Grand Opening  have a number of craft workshops across the Borough. This is a chance for you to come along and make your woolly creation for the wood. Our workshops are open to both experienced and novice knitters and we will have experts at each workshop to help out. There will be a range of activities for all abilities including pom-pom making, felting, and crocheting. 

Workshops:

Saturday 16^th April, 10am-1pm, The Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena

Saturday 23^rd April, 10am-1pm, Dixon Park, Larne

Saturday 30^th April, 10am-1pm, Lighthouse Yarns, Whitehead

If you can’t make it to a workshop but would still like to be involved you can send your woolly contributions to:

 Lighthouse Yarns, 

12 Edward Road, 

Whitehead,

 BT38 9QB.

 Deadline for submissions is 30^th April 2016.

The grand opening of the Woollen Wood is Saturday 7^th May 2016, Diamond Jubilee Wood Whitehead, with a free family fun day on site with arts, crafts, environmental activities and more festivities on site from 1pm - 4pm. Diamond Jubilee Wood Whitehead is the first and only Woollen Wood in Ireland. 

'Friends of' April Task

The Friends Of group will be meeting this Saturday, 9th April, 10am - 1pm, and will be cleaning up the Sullatober River which runs through Bashfordsland Wood and Oakfield Glen.