Carrickfergus in Bloom Winners Honoured at Prize-Giving

Community floral and artistic creativity was recognised by the Carrickfergus in Bloom initiative organised by Carrickfergus Borough Council. The local ‘Best Kept’ competition winners and runners received their well earned certificates and prizes at a prize-giving lunch in Carrickfergus Town Hall today (Friday 31st October) with over 90 people attending the event.

 

Competition categories included Best Kept Garden & Best Kept Container Garden for householders; Best Kept Commercial Premises for commercial organisations; Painting, Poetry and Tallest Sunflower Competitions for young people.

At the Lunch, the Chairperson of Parks, Countryside & Amenities Sub-Committee, Alderman May Beattie thanked all those who took part in the competition and made it such a success. “The Carrickfergus in Bloom Community Competitions have really caught the imagination of our Boroughs citizens. This year over 1,230 people created some beautiful floral displays that we can all enjoy." said Alderman Beattie

“This year we have a great deal to celebrate, at the Britain in Bloom awards, the Borough received two silver gilt awards for Carrickfergus and Whitehead towns, our best result since the inception of the competition. We also received awards at Ulster in Bloom.”

“Carrickfergus in Bloom is a beacon of community gardening good practice, as it encourages people to get involved, builds community spirit and improves the environment we all live in. With initiatives such as our school growing clubs and green gyms which create opportunities for health, wellbeing and learning.”

Alderman Beattie also thanked the competition sponsors who paid for many of the flowerbeds and hanging baskets throughout the Borough. "The success of Carrickfergus in Bloom could not have happened without the generous support of local businesses throughout the Borough of Carrickfergus."

"We would also thank our partners that have made Carrickfergus in Bloom such a success. Conservation Volunteers, The Woodland Trust, Translink, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the Department of Regional Development and many others have all helped to improve the environment of Carrickfergus Borough this year“. Ended Alderman Beattie

List of Winners: http://www.carrickfergusinbloom.org/newwinners.htm

Community Garden Competition Winners Announced

Alderman May Beattie, Chairperson of the Parks, Countryside and Amenities Sub-Committee has announced the Carrickfergus in Bloom Competition Winners and Runners-up this morning for the Borough-wide Best Kept Awards.

 

At the Carrickfergus home of the Best Kept Container Garden winner Deborah Walker, Alderman Beattie said: “We are delighted to announce the Carrickfergus 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.”

“Winners and runners-up will be invited to a prize-giving ceremony at the Town Hall in October to receive their certificates and prizes. At the ceremony we shall announce our plans for Carrickfergus in Bloom in the coming year. I would also like to thank the sponsors for supporting Carrickfergus in Bloom". ended Alderman Beattie

Stephen Daye, Parks & Countryside Development Officer with Carrickfergus Borough Council and one of the judges commented "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."

To view a list of all winner visit www.carrickfergusinbloom.org

Tallest Sunflower Winners Announced

The winner and runners-up of the Carrickfergus in Bloom Tallest Sunflower Competition have been announced today.

 

The winner is Samantha Braniff, aged 6, from Carrickfergus whose sunflower grew a mighty 3 metres! The runners-up are Olivia Hadden from Greenisland, age 8, and Keera Reid, age 7, from Carrickfergus.

Stephen Daye, Parks & Countryside Officer explained “In March Carrickfergus Borough Council distributed two thousand packets of Sunflower seeds to local school children as part of the Carrickfergus in Bloom initiative to Get Kids Growing. After months of tender loving care by the 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."

“We would like to remind everyone that there is still a chance to enter our painting and poetry competitions. Why not paint a beautiful picture of your garden or favourite flower, or write a poem about ‘Carrickfergus In Bloom’?”

Launch of Carrickfergus in Bloom 2014.

This lunchtime (Friday 30th May) Alderman May Beattie, Chairperson of the Parks, Countryside and Amenities Sub-Committee for Carrickfergus Borough Council launched Carrickfergus in Bloom 2014 in the grounds of the Andrew Jackson Cottage. Local school children and community representatives from throughout Carrickfergus Borough joined in with Alderman Billy Ashe, Mayor of Carrickfergus to the sounds of the APEX Jazz Band.

 

Alderman Beattie said “Carrickfergus hosted the Translink Ulster in Bloom awards ceremony this year and as hosts we notched up no less than five awards, the most the Borough has ever achieved in some twenty years of competing. Additionally, both Carrickfergus and Whitehead have been nominated to represent the province in the prestigious 2014 Britain in Bloom Awards in the “Large Town” and “Small Town” categories respectively. Carrickfergus Borough Council has a long and active role in supporting community horticulture which goes far beyond the decorative. In fact, one of the five awards achieved this year was a special award for outstanding achievement for its programmes promoting biodiversity.”

 

Alderman Beattie continued “Carrickfergus Borough Council is committed to our localCarrickfergus in Bloom initiative. This year the challenge goes out to everybody who lives and works within the Borough of Carrickfergus. Whether you plant a hanging basket, enter one of the community gardening competitions, plant a tree, start growing fruit and vegetables or put up bird box, there is something for everyone to do and enjoy in their garden or in the community green space that we all benefit from. This year we are continuing with the Carrickfergus in Bloom Community Competition. Categories include Best Kept Garden for individuals; For children we have Painting and Poetry Competitions and the very popular Tallest Sunflower Competition. For the Business Community we have hotly fought categories such as Best Kept Shop. These competitions not only brighten up our Borough but have been fundamental to our success in Ulster in Bloom. Let’s make 2014 another winning years for our Borough.”

 

Alderman Beattie also announced that in the next few weeks the Council will plant out thousands of summer bedding plants and thanked the many sponsors for their generous support and commitment to the Carrickfergus in Bloom initiative. She also thanked the local schools who have shown such commitment to the Carrickfergus in Bloom initiative. “The Schools Growing Club initiative is a great success and young people throughout the Borough are already benefiting with the link between healthy eating and growing fruit and vegetables at home and school. The growing schools initiative offers students the benefit of practical hands on activities, helping to motivate and enhance their learning experience.”

 

Alderman Beattie continued “In 2014 we will continue with the Carrickfergus in Bloom campaigns of promoting capacity building through our grants initiative; we will also be encouraging wildlife gardening thought the Blooming Wild campaign; as well as the food growing campaign with initiatives such as the One Pot Pledge. Fruit and vegetable growing is also taking place at Eden Allotment Gardens and our new allotment site at Greenisland. We thank Sunnybank Garden Centre for continuing their support of the Best Kept Allotment Competition. If residents are interest in obtaining an allotment visit our website: www.carrickfergus.org/allotments. ”

 

Alderman Beattie also highlighted the important partnership working that is carried out. “Carrickfergus Borough Council along with the Department of Environment, Northern Ireland Housing Executive plus various community and charitable groups are working together to improve the environment of our Borough."

 

 

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.