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