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?