Local Biodiversity Action Plan Launched

The Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) for Carrickfergus, Ballymena and Larne Council areas, which will form the new Mid and East Antrim District Council area was launched today and marks what will be a key landmark for biodiversity conservation in the region. The plan was presented by the Mayors of the three Council Boroughs and is considered an important step in furthering conservation of the rich biodiversity heritage that exists in the area. The document sets out how the biodiversity resource within the region can be protected and enhanced for the benefit of all and for future generations.  

The formation of a biodiversity plan has now increased importance, given the fact that the new Councils are taking on significant new responsibilities that impact on biodiversity including planning, urban regeneration and community development. Their role has recently been formalised in the Wildlife and Natural Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, which introduced a statutory duty for public bodies to further the conservation of biodiversity. 

 

Carrickfergus, Ballymena and Larne Borough Councils, which are merging to form a new Local Authority covering Mid and East Antrim, are committed to the protection and enhancement of biodiversity and the wider environment. This commitment is underpinned by the development of this Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP), and the document will raise awareness of special flora and fauna, provide a framework for local action and encourage wider involvement and partnership working.

 

Stressing the importance of partnerships Alderman Charles Johnston, Mayor of Carrickfergus, said : “This Local Biodiversity Action Plan covering Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne Council areas will enable all lead partners - including council, government and non-government agencies and community groups - to continue to work together to deliver biodiversity benefits throughout the future Mid and East Antrim area.’

 

Councillor Martin Wilson, Mayor of Larne Borough Council said : “We are delighted to launch this document as it sets out a framework to undertake practical conservation work, and to raise awareness of the wealth of wildlife and special places that exist in this region’.

 

Councillor Audrey Wales, Mayor of Ballymena, said the plan would stimulate increased involvement: “The new LBAP will provide an opportunity for organisations and communities to get involved in practical wildlife conservation.   There are a huge number of people within the area that are already doing great work on behalf of Biodiversity and through the strategy we hope to support even more projects on the ground and inspire more people to become involved in the future.”

 

Commenting on the new plan Councillor Billy Ashe stated “it is hoped that Mid and East Council will get an opportunity to formally adopt this new plan which can form a solid platform on which to take forward this important work”.

 

This production of the LBAP was supported by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

 

READ THE DOCUMENT HERE

Borough Success at Gardening Oscars

Carrickfergus Borough has scooped two Silver Gilt awards at the 50th Britain in Bloom UK Final awards in Bristol. Britain in Bloom is Europe’s biggest community gardening campaign run by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Carrickfergus was successful in the Large Town category and Whitehead scooped another Silver Gilt in the Small Town category.

 

Commenting on the experience of taking part in Britain in Bloom 2014, Alderman May Beattie, Chairperson of the Parks and Countryside Sub Committee of Carrickfergus Borough Council stated: “Once again we have benefitted immensely from participating in Europe’s premier horticultural awards scheme. From an aesthetical perspective, the Borough’s planting schemes are looking tremendously well. However, on a more important note, it is the immense community and voluntary participation and support of our initiatives, at creating and maintaining our blooming borough on an all year round basis that is pivotal in our ability to take part in this prestigious competition. I would like to commend all who took part in this year’s initiative.”

Stephen Daye, Parks and Countryside Development Officer who attended the ceremony which was held at the Bristol Marriott City Centre and was attended by almost 400 community gardening champions, said “This is a wonderful accolade for the Borough. It is the result of much hard work and no-one should underestimate the amount of effort which has gone into this campaign by all our partners. Our Borough's successes could not have happened without the generous support of local people, businesses and schools; and statuary bodies such as Carrickfergus Borough Council, the Housing Executive and Department of Regional Development.”

Bill Pollock, Chairperson of Brighter Whitehead who also attended the ceremony said “Britain in Bloom is a magnificent opportunity for Whitehead to enhance its surroundings and create beautiful displays that are enjoyed by everybody. Our ‘in bloom’ campaign is much more than flowers and making the town look good for one day; instead it is a 365 day initiative that looks at sustainable development and biodiversity, conservation and recycling, local environmental quality, permanent landscaping, and public awareness of the environment. I would encourage everybody interested in our campaign to visit the Brighter Whitehead website (www.brighterwhitehead.co.uk) for further details on our campaign and how you can help us next year.

Commenting on Carrickfergus in Bloom’s efforts, RHS judges Brendan Mowforth & Mark Wasilewski said: ‘An evident community spirit has been fostered and is well supported by the strong relationship with and support from Carrickfergus Borough Council. There is a very strong emphasis on biodiversity, health and well-being, and the Brighter Whitehead Group works actively in fostering cohesion across all sections of the town.”

The RHS Britain in Bloom awards are a chance to celebrate the work of dedicated volunteers across the UK, of which there are up to 300,000, and to recognise achievement, innovation and a commitment to keeping our villages, towns and cities clean, green and thriving.
Bloom volunteers collectively invest nearly 11 million hours every year into local Bloom activities, which equates to almost £70 million at the National Minimum Wage. It is hoped that the transformation of community spaces championed at the RHS Britain in Bloom awards ceremony will encourage even more people to get involved and help continue to make a positive difference over the next 50 years.

‘Out to Play’ at Shaftesbury Park

Carrickfergus Borough Council held its first family ‘Out to Play’ session in Shaftesbury Park. This event focused on free, unstructured play and was facilitated by the Council’s Parks and Countryside Section and Play Board NI. At the event, children of all ages were encouraged to play in whatever way they wanted – most importantly, there were no rules.

 

Team work - the Villiers and Farmer families build a den and swings

at Shaftesbury Park in Carrickfergus

 

Eve and Daniel Currry having a 'splashing time' at Shaftesbury Park in Carrickfergus

Playday in Carrickfergus

Playday is the national day for play and takes place on Wednesday 6th August from 11am to 3pm in the Marine Gardens in Carrickfergus. To celebrate Playday, children, young people and communities get out and play at hundreds of community events across the UK. As well as a celebration, Playday is an opportunity to campaign on issues affecting children's play. 

 

Alderman May Beattie, Chairperson of the Parks, Countryside and Amenities Sub-Committee said “This is a great opportunity to enjoy the Marine Gardens Play Area and for Playday we have a number of additional free activities such as a bouncy castle, face painting, balloon modeling, Punch and Judy and DJ on site.” 

 

Alderman Beattie added “Play is such an important part of any child's development and Playday provides a fantastic opportunity to celebrate it and promote its many benefits. It also highlights the benefits of imaginative play to parents and communities.”  

 

“Outdoor play is vital for any child, providing stimuli to learn and the health benefits of being in the open air. The range of play opportunities on offer in Carrickfergus Borough is extensive and gives parents and carers some great opportunities to get outdoors with their youngsters".  

 

“Getting outside to play is healthy. It’s part of a healthy lifestyle. Play reduces stress and helps fight the obesity epidemic in our society today. So many good things come from good play.”  

 

“This year, we're calling on everyone to celebrate Playday 2014 and show why play is fundamental to children's enjoyment of childhood, and vital to their health, well-being and development. In light of government cuts to play services across the country, it is more crucial than ever that we unite to stand up for play.” 

 

“Carrickfergus Borough Council has set out a clear committed to children’s play with a mission to create child and family friendly play spaces which will support our young people in building relationships and learning new skills that will positively develop their capacity both socially and emotionally. Last year we published our play strategy for the Borough and the ‘Children’s Charter’ which set out our ten pledges to the children and young people of Carrickfergus Borough and how Carrickfergus Borough Council will achieve those pledges”.  Ended Alderman Beattie

 

For Further Press Information Contact: Stephen Daye, Parks & Countryside Development Officer at Carrickfergus Borough Council. T: (028) 93358000 ~ M: 0793 9633834 ~ E: parks@carrickfergus.org ~ W: www.carrickfergus.org.

 

 

Mia Walls, Jasmine Steel, Ellie Spratt and Ella Ferris from Little Einsteins Nursery in Carrickfergus.

 

Matthew Beck from Carrickfergus.

 

Woodland Walk at Bashfordsland Wood

Photo from Woodland Walk (on Monday 28th July) in Bashfordsland Wood with Dermot Hughes. Part of Love Parks Week.

Carrickfergus Borough gets set to love parks

The people of Carrickfergus Borough and throughout the UK are showing how much they love their local parks by getting out and celebrating national Love Parks Week, which takes place between Friday 25th July and Sunday 3rd August.

 

Alderman May Beattie, Chairperson of the Parks, Countryside and Amenities Sub-Committee said “Love Parks Week encourages friends, families, the young and old, to come together and enjoy what our parks and green spaces offer. People must never forget that these spaces provide many opportunities for friendships, education, health, exercise and simple play and fun. Let’s celebrate our green spaces, show you support for Love Parks Week.”

“Love Parks Week is the perfect excuse to get outdoors and enjoy the summer. We’re celebrating all that parks have to offer, so why not visit your local park during the campaign to show what it means to you?

“Love Parks Week is the ultimate green campaign; it commands for our parks and green spaces to be supported and invested in, whilst delivering a whole week of free local outdoor events throughout the Borough, visit our website www.carrickfergus.org/loveparks to find out what’s going on in a park near you.”

“Events in the Borough (LINK) range from no pain no gain Boot Camp and Body Combat taster sessions to more genteel pursuits such as Tai-Chi , woodland walks and outdoor theatre. We want these events to inspire people to get out and enjoy the fresh air of Carrickfergus Borough’s green space.”

Love Parks Weeks is now in its eighth year and last year more than 380,000 people were inspired to head down to an event at a beautiful park or green space. This is the second year the nationwide initiative has been run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, who stepped in at the eleventh hour to save the campaign following the closure of parks charity GreenSpace last year.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Love Parks Manager, Paul Todd said: “Love Parks Week is the ultimate celebration of our beautiful parks and green space and it is fantastic that Carrickfergus Borough is getting involved in this year’s event. Green spaces are absolutely vital to every community and make a massive contribution to people’s health. In this time of budget cuts, it is essential that everybody uses and values their local green space, otherwise we could all be in danger of losing them. We want this year’s event to be the biggest and best celebration yet, so we are urging everyone to get down to their local green space and take part in the festivities.”

See all Events at: http://www.carrickfergus.org/events/item/477/love-parks-week-2014/

Love Parks Week events in Carrickfergus - Advance Notice

Love Parks Week is an annual campaign to celebrate parks and other green space.With over loads of events across the Borough - from Zumba classes to Butterfly Hunts - there was something for everyone in Love Parks Week 2014. Check out our Love Parks Week events website at http://www.carrickfergus.org/events/item/477/love-parks-week-2014/.

Planting the Hedgerow - Free Fun Day Out

 

 

Come along to this free event and help thicken up the hedgerows around Bashfordsland Wood. Find out what wildlife our native hedges support and why they are one of nature's greatest assets.

EVENT DETAILS: Saturday 5th April 2014 from 10am to 1pm at Bashfordsland Wood.(Meet at Oakfield Community Centre 10am sharp then a short walk to Bashfordsland Wood).

This outdoor event is FREE. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear.

Event Link

Love Parks this Valentine's Day

Carrickfergus Borough Council has launched its plans for 2014 Love Parks Week on Valentine's Day in the most romantic place possible – the great outdoors. Over the past six years the people of Carrickfergus Borough and throughout the UK have shown how much they love their local parks by getting out and celebrating national Love Parks Week, which takes place between 25th July to 3rd August 2014. Events range from Tai Chi, Zumba & Boot Camps to Moth and Butterfly Hunts and other wildlife events and walks. We want these events to inspire people to get out and enjoy fresh air and the fun of the outdoors. More information at http://www.carrickfergus.org/loveparks

Carrickfergus Children’s Charter Launched

Young people from throughout Carrickfergus Borough celebrated the launch of the new Children’s Charter and the completion of a year long initiative - Green Kids in Outer Space. Green Kids offered young people from across the Borough an opportunity to tell Carrickfergus Borough Council and other organisations what stops them from being able to play and what would make play easier and better for those young people. Their views have been recorded and used to write the Children’s Charter for the Borough.

The celebration event is part of the Green Kids in Outer Space initiative which has been supported by the European Union's PEACE III Programme which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body and delivered locally through the CAN PEACE III Partnership.

The young people also took part in a number of art workshops facilitated by artist Janet Crymble between January and April 2013 and submitted paintings and photographs that were used to create three collages of Carrickfergus, Greenisland and Whitehead. The collages will be placed at Marine Gardens Play Park next month.

A Blooming Marvellous Borough

The results of the 2013 Translink Ulster in Bloom Competition were announced on Tuesday (10th September) celebrating Northern Ireland’s finest horticultural talent. The Borough won five awards in total, the most in any year since the inception of the competition. Carrickfergus came first in the Large Town category with Whitehead coming second in the Small Town category. The efforts of the Brighter Whitehead Community paid off as it received the Community Rail Halt award for its work. Carrickfergus Rail & Bus Station was runner-up in the Best Station award. Finally, Carrickfergus Borough Council won an award for its innovative Biodiversity projects.

Mayor of Carrickfergus Borough, Alderman Billy Ashe, speaking following the announcements, is clearly delighted with the accolades:
"Translink Ulster in Bloom is a magnificent opportunity for our Borough to enhance its surroundings and create beautiful displays that are enjoyed by everybody. Our Borough is renowned for its floral displays which are enjoyed by residents and tourists alike.  The Carrickfergus in Bloom initiative also plays a critical role in bringing people and investment to the town. However, it is important to say that issues such as cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement are equally as important. In the Borough, the 'In Bloom' initiative is much more than bedding plants and making the Borough look good for one day; instead it is a 365 day a year initiative. Carrickfergus Borough Council along with our partners have done a wonderful job in broadening the appeal of the Carrickfergus in Bloom initiative and by getting people to work together, we have made our Borough much better.”

Alderman May Beattie said: “As Chairperson of the Parks and Countryside Sub Committee of Carrickfergus Borough Council, I am absolutely thrilled with the five awards achieved today.  The wins are all very well-deserved and I am delighted that this tops the number of awards achieved to date in any given year of the competition.  Our successes within Ulster in Bloom could not have happened without the generous support of local businesses and local people throughout the Borough, as well as statutory bodies such as the Housing Executive and Department of Regional Development. I would like to personally thank all the staff at Carrickfergus Parks and Cleansing Sections whose hard work and imagination has been the backbone of our entry over the years and I congratulate everyone who took part this year."

Speaking at the results ceremony in The Mill, Downpatrick, John Trethowan, Chairman, Translink, said: “2013 continues to place Northern Ireland under the international spotlight with many high-profile events attracting thousands of visitors to cities, towns and villages. Beautiful plant and floral presentations play an important role in creating a lasting, positive and welcoming image of Northern Ireland, encouraging people to make return visits with friends and family.

Top Tips for Blackberry Picking

Take a container and search out brambles near you - try Bashfordsland Wood in Carrickfergus or Diamond Jubilee Wood or Beach Road Nature Reserve in Whitehead.

Try to pick blackberries that are away from the roadside (traffic fumes can impair the fruit) and avoid picking fruit from lower branches as they may have been visited by animails!

Blackberries don't keep for long so either eat them within 24 hours of picking or freeze them. If you are freezing them, lay them in a single layer on a baking tray in the freezer and then once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag

Remember to pick your blackberries by Michaelmas Day (29th September), by legend - the day the Devil spits on them, making them inedible.

Blackberry Recipes at the BBC

Council to celebrate the Miracle and Wonder of play

A feast of free family entertainment is set to thrill people of all ages at Carrickfergus' newest play park this weekend. The Miracles and Wonder Weekend event will be held at Marine Gardens in Carrickfergus on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th August 2013 from 11am to 4pm each day. This is not only a great opportunity to enjoy the new play area at Marine Gardens; we also have a number of children's activities to enjoy including bouncy castles, face painting, balloonmodelling, a DJ, giant lawn games, storytelling, Punch and Judy and much more. We also have an artist on site that will beorganising a number of arts and craft workshops.

The weekend's purpose is to celebrate the miracle and wonder of play.  The two day event is part of the Green Kids in Outer Space initiative which has been supported by the European Union's PEACE III Programme which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body and delivered locally through the CAN PEACE III Partnership.

Green Kids in Outer Space has given children and young people from across the Borough an opportunity to tell Carrickfergus Borough Council what stops them from being able to play and what would make play easier and better for them and their friends. Their views have been recorded and used to write a play strategy for the Borough of Carrickfergus. This is a document that acts like a map charting what we as a Council need to do over the next four years to improve play opportunities in our area. The strategy document will be launched in September.

The Play Park is part of an overall investment at Marine Gardens of £1.3 million, the play park is segmented into sections for toddlers, juniors and seniors, ensuring that there is good quality outdoor fun for all to enjoy. The impressive centre piece is a galleon ship reaching a height of over 30 feet and which can be found in the senior nautical adventure area. The galleon called Result, is named after the very last ship to have been built in Carrickfergus in 1893.

EVENT LINK

Council unveil flowerbed to mark charity milestone

Carrickfergus Borough Council have planted a beautiful floral display in celebration of local premature baby charity, TinyLife who are celebrating 25 years of supporting families of premature and vulnerable babies born in Northern Ireland.

The flowerbed which is located on the Marine Highway near the historic Carrickfergus Castle was officially unveiled this afternoon by Alderman May Beattie, Chairperson of the Parks, Countryside and Amenities Sub-Committee who said, Carrickfergus Borough Council is delighted to highlight the good works of TinyLife and help them celebrate their 25 years anniversary.”

TinyLife offers a range of vital family support services, including a hospital to home service, breast pump hire, Dad’s support group and a dedicated baby sensory room for babies with disabilities and to aid the mother baby bonding process at the Carryduff offices.  The charity has supported a number of families in and around the Carrickfergus area and would like to extend their warmest thanks to Carrickfergus Borough Council, the Sub-Committee and Alderman May Beattie and the people of Carrickfergus Borough for their continued support.

Carrickfergus Borough gets set to love parks

The people of Carrickfergus Borough and throughout the UK are showing how much they love their local parks by getting out and celebrating national Love Parks Week.

 

Love Parks Week takes place between Saturday 27 July and Sunday 04 August.

Alderman May Beattie, Chairperson of the Parks, Countryside and Amenities Sub-Committee said “Love Parks Week encourages friends, families, the young and old, to come together and enjoy what our parks and green spaces offer. People must never forget that these spaces provide many opportunities for friendships, education, health, exercise and simple play and fun. Let’s celebrate our green spaces, show you support for Love Parks Week.”

“Love Parks Week is the perfect excuse to get outdoors and enjoy the summer. We’re celebrating all that parks have to offer, so why not visit your local park during the campaign to show what it means to you?

“Love Parks Week is the ultimate green campaign; it commands for our parks and green spaces to be supported and invested in, whilst delivering a whole week of free local outdoor events throughout the Borough, visit our website www.carrickfergus.org/loveparks to find out what’s going on in a park near you.”

“Events in the Borough range from no pain no gain Boot Camp and Body Combat taster sessions to more genteel pursuits such as woodland walks and outdoor theatre. We want these events to inspire people to get out and enjoy the fresh air of Carrickfergus Borough’s green space.”

Love Parks Weeks is now in its seventh year and last year more than 1.4 million people were inspired to head down to an event at a beautiful park or green space. This is the first time the nationwide initiative has been run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, who stepped in at the eleventh hour to save the campaign following the closure of parks charity GreenSpace in March.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Love Parks Manager, Paul Todd said: “Love Parks Week is the ultimate celebration of our beautiful parks and green space and it is fantastic that Carrickfergus Borough is getting involved in this year’s event. Green spaces are absolutely vital to every community and make a massive contribution to people’s health. In this time of budget cuts, it is essential that everybody uses and values their local green space, otherwise we could all be in danger of losing them. We want this year’s event to be the biggest and best celebration yet, so we are urging everyone to get down to their local green space and take part in the festivities.”

LOVE PARKS WEEK EVENTS IN CARRICKFERGUS BOROUGH - FULL LIST HERE

'Love Parks Week' saved by Keep Britain Tidy

Keep Britain Tidy has stepped in to save Love Parks Week following the news that national parks charity GreenSpace was forced to close in March this year. Keep Britain Tidy already run the Green Flag Award scheme celebrating the country’s best parks and green spaces and the decision was taken that the flagship campaign should be rescued to run alongside it. Love Parks Week, which runs from 27th July to 4th August. Keep Britain Tidy has also announced that they will also be using Love Parks Week as the launch pad for building a new coalition of key partners to develop the week of action and, beyond this, build it into a year round ‘Love Parks’ campaign. The partnership is in its infancy but is likely to include Groundwork, the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, as well as partner organisations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Love Parks Week was launched in 2006 to raise awareness of the importance of green space. Last year, more than 1,000 events took place during the week, encouraging more than 1.4 million people to head down to a beautiful park or green space. Despite the tight timescale to deliver this year’s campaign, Keep Britain Tidy hope the week will be another huge success, encouraging hundreds of thousands of people to celebrate the country’s fantastic green spaces. Their Chief Executive Phil Barton said: “We know that  parks and green spaces are an essential asset to every community and make a major contribution to people’s health. That is why we were determined that Love Parks Week should be saved. By bringing together Love Parks Week and our Green Flag Award programme, our goal is to encourage millions more people to visit, enjoy and take pride in their local parks and green space. Ultimately, we believe everyone has a right to good quality green space on their doorstep and there is a huge body of research shows that they are an essential component of healthy, happy and strong communities. In addition, I’m excited at the prospect of a new coalition of organisations coming together in support of a broader year round Love Parks campaign. While it’s early days, the fact that we can use Love Parks as a rallying call to bring the sector together in the face of substantial budget cuts and threats to park services means we can continue to demonstrate just how valuable our parks and green spaces really are."

Carrickfergus Borough Council who have supported Love Parks Week over the years, has welcomed the move by Keep Britain Tidy. A Council spokeperson said "We showcase are Parks during Love Parks Week to celebrate that quality green spaces are essential to healthy, happy communities.  See the Council's Love Parks webpage at www.carrickfergus.org/loveparks."

Community Gardeners at Work in Carrickfergus

Carrickfergus Community Gardeners renovated a piece of green space between St. Nicholas Church and Market Place in Carrickfergus Town Centre on Saturday 9th March 2013. Well done to all involved.

Works starts on Marine Gardens play area

Work has started on the new Marine Gardens play area. See designs in Compass Magazine at http://www.carrickfergus.org/fs/doc/Queen%20Compass%202012.pdf.

78 species found at Moth & Butterfly Hunt

At the weekend a Moth & Butterfly Hunt took place at Eden Allotment Gardens and Whitehead Diamond Jubilee Wood. The event was a great success with 78 different species of moth & butterfly found over the two day monitoring period. The results prove the rich and diverse habitats and species which exist in Carrickfergus Borough. The scale of the results impressed Catherine Bertrand, from Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland. Catherine said "The measures Council has taken to extend habitat provision and protect wildlife in Carrickfergus has resulted in a healthier environment, not just for wildlife but for everyone who lives here."

The Moth & Butterfly Hunt was part of the Love Parks Week initiative, which takes place between Saturday 21st and Sunday 29th July 2012. Events this weekend include:

Whitehead's Marvellous Medicine Walk with Marian Partridge on Saturday 28th July at 11am meeting in Blackhead Car Park.

A Woodland Walk at Oakfield Glen & Bashfordsland Wood with Dr Ben Simon on Saturday 28th July at 2pm meeting in Oakfield Community Centre.

Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet on Saturday 28th July in Shaftesbury Park. Gates open at 6.30pm. Show starts at 7.30pm.

Around the Allotments Photographic Exhibition by Stevie Gill (28th July 2012 - 8th August 2012) at Carrickfergus Museum & Civic Centre.

All events are free. For further information visit http://www.carrickfergus.org/events/item/263/love-parks-week/