Big Butterfly Count - this weekend (21st & 22nd July)

Carrickfergus Borough residents will part in the world’s biggest butterfly survey this weekend. This follows a warning from Butterfly Conservation President Sir David Attenborough who has warned that butterflies could suffer serious population crashes this year following record-breaking wet weather.

Last year, the UK public counted more than 320,000 butterflies. The data provided vital information - revealing that the average number of individual butterflies seen was down by 11% compared with 2010's figures. This year Butterfly Conservation wants to discover how garden favourite - the Small Tortoiseshell is faring after research revealed numbers were down across our countryside once again.

Catherine Bertrand, from Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland said: "The measures we take to protect butterflies in Carrickfergus result in a healthier environment, not just for wildlife but for everyone who lives here. I would encourage Carrickfergus residents to come along to the Butterfly Count events at Eden Allotment Gardens and Whitehead Diamond Jubilee Wood this weekend. " Carrickfergus Borough we have a number of Big Butterfly Count events.

Big Moth Hunt on Saturday 21st July at 7pm at Eden Allotment Gardens. Join Catherine Bertrand from Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland and discover what moth species you can find at Eden Allotment Gardens, Beltoy Road, Eden. This event continues the following morning (Sunday 22nd July) at 11am to ID what has been discovered.

Big Butterfly Count on Sunday 22nd July 2012 from 2pm at Whitehead Diamond Jubilee Wood (Meeting at Bentra Golf Course Car Park). Join Catherine Bertrand from Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland and discover what species you can find at the Borough's new venue Whitehead Diamond Jubilee Wood, which open in June this year to commemorate the 2012 Diamond Jubilee, marking Queen Elizabeth's 60th year as monarch.

Both events are FREE and those attending will also receive a FREE Butterfly ID Chart.

Sir David is urging the UK public to see how species have fared following several exceptionally damp months. April, the wettest for a century, was followed by the dampest June on record which saw flooding across parts of the UK. It is feared butterflies may have suffered poor breeding seasons as a result, which could lead to population crashes later this year or next spring. Conservationists are drawing parallels with the wet summer of 2007 which resulted in widespread flooding across parts of the UK and saw butterfly numbers plummet. Prolonged cold, wet weather delays emergence periods, reduces butterflies' life span and hampers mating and egg laying leading to fewer offspring. The results of this year's Big Butterfly Count will help assess the impact of the wet weather on our butterflies.

Sir David Attenborough explained: "The wet weather this spring and early summer has made life really hard for our butterflies and things could get worse unless conditions improve. Our butterflies were already struggling - almost three quarters of UK species have decreased in numbers during the last ten years. These falls are worrying because butterflies are important indicator species for our environment - their declines suggest a wider insect biodiversity crisis. You can play a vital role in the battle to secure their future. By taking part in the Big Butterfly Count you will be providing important information that could help turn their fortunes around."

For the third year running, the Big Butterfly Count is taking place in partnership with Marks & Spencer as part of its Plan A commitment to be the world's most sustainable major retailer by 2015. Richard Gillies, M&S Director of Plan A, said: "This is our third year of partnering with Butterfly Conservation, and we are encouraging all of our farmers, customers and employees to take part in the Big Butterfly Count. After all of the wet weather we have had this year we need as many people to take part as possible; at M&S we really want to make a positive contribution to the environment and by helping to get as many people involved in the Butterfly Count we can get a better understanding of biodiversity and how we can all play our part to protect it."

The Big Butterfly Count is encouraging a new generation of butterfly conservationists with The Butterfly Effect - a fun, educational programme organised by the National Schools Partnership (NSP) to get primary schools and families involved in the Count. Create your own virtual butterfly and discover more at http://www.butterflyeffectschools.org/

For more details about the big butterfly count visit http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/

Love Parks Week

Love Parks Week (21 July 2012 to 29 July 2012) 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 is something for everyone in Love Parks Week 2012.

Events include:

Moth Hunt on Saturday 21st July from 7pm in Eden Allotment Gardens. Come back the next day at 11am to identify the moths collected.

Big Butterfly Hunt on Sunday 22nd July at 2pm in Whitehead Diamond Jubilee Wood.

Woodland Walk at Oakfield Glen & Bashfordsland Wood 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.

For events at www.carrickfergus.org/loveparks

2012 Translink Ulster in Bloom Competition Launched

Gardeners have been urged to help save the bumblebee by planting more pollinating flowers for this year’s Ulster in Bloom competition.

The 34th year of the annual horticulture competition has attracted 142 entries representing councils, community groups, businesses, bus and rail stations all preparing to impress judges.

Translink Chief Executive Catherine Mason said the Royal Horticultural Society had reported a decline in bee numbers, a serious concern considering the important role they play in the pollination of flora. "We have chosen to give away 'stock' seeds, a type of pollinator flower which supports bees and the transfer of pollen between plants. We would encourage our passengers to pick up a free packet of seeds from their local station and help support local biodiversity."

Speaking at the launch at Cultra Manor in north Down, Ms Mason called 2012 a flagship year for Northern Ireland: "It's important that our cities, towns and villages look their best and leave a lasting positive impression with visitors," she said. "The work undertaken by Ulster in Bloom also supports local biodiversity and this year, as part of our Go Eco drive, we are launching the Big Seeds Giveaway."

Councillor Freda Donnelly, of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association said: "I would like to pay tribute to the council parks and technical services departments, the local In Bloom committees, the business community and the many residents for their valued contribution to the Translink Ulster in Bloom competition. "This combined effort has made a notable improvement to the environment and townscapes right across Northern Ireland.

Love Parks Week Photographs

Blooming Wild Day Out at Amphitheatre Mill Ponds on 27 July 2011

Jason Ashton, Katie Tyrrell, Sophie Brown, Samantha Thompson, Emma Thompson & Paul Browne at the Blooming Wild Day Out at Amphitheatre Mill Ponds on 27 July 2011.

Butterfly Counting at the Blooming Wild Day Out at Amphitheatre Mill Ponds on 27 July 2011.

Phil, Tristan, Crystal and Kallista McClean at the Blooming Wild Day Out at Amphitheatre Mill Ponds on 27 July 2011.

Molly Summervale at the Blooming Wild Day Out at Amphitheatre Mill Ponds on 27 July 2011.

 Declan Lee at the Butterfly Count at Eden Allotment Gardens on 25 July 2011.

Big Butterfly Count at Bashfordsland on 25 July 2011.

Trees or Turf

A report prepared for the Woodland Trust highlights the cost savings and other benefits of planting woodland as opposed to grassland in urban areas.

The report "Trees or Turf - best value in managing urban green space", produced for the charity by Land Use Consultants, compares the costs of maintaining a number of grassland regimes with those of different woodland types in urban areas. The results show that native woodland creation can provide an attractive and less costly alternative to amenity grassland.

For further information, including a full copy and summary of the report, visit http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/campaigning/our-views-and-policy/woods-for-people/Pages/treessavemoney.aspx

Reducing the Horticultural Use of Peat

Defra today set out a new policy framework to reduce the use of peat in horticulture to zero by 2030 as part of the Natural Environment White Paper. This includes the following milestones:

a progressive phase-out target of 2015 for government and the public sector on direct procurement of peat in new contracts for plants;

a final voluntary phase-out target of 2030 for professional growers of fruit, vegetables and plants;

we will establish a Task Force bringing together representatives from across the supply chain with a clear remit to advise on how best to overcome the barriers to reducing peat use, exploring all the available measures to achieve this goal;

building on the advice of the Task Force, we will review progress towards these targets before the end of this spending period and consider the potential for alternative policy measures if necessary.

The taskforce will be chaired by Dr. Alan Knight OBE and include representatives from retailers, growing media manufacturers, growers and environmental organisations. It will have a clear remit to foster a partnership approach focussing on identifying and addressing supply chain issues, exploring all available measures to deliver our ambition and determining the criteria against which the policy will be reviewed. Peat is cheap, readily available and of consistent quality, and any alternative has to compete with these factors. The taskforce will produce a comprehensive and detailed roadmap to address barriers in relation to both the supply and demand of peat alternatives, with the aim of reforming once and for all a supply chain focussed around peat.

Also published today was the summary of responses to Defra’s recent consultation on this issue, along with two research reports which provide part of the evidence base for today’s announcement. Link: Summary of consultation responses.

In Carrickfergus Borough Council we have already baned the purchasing of peat at our properties (more info here).

Frog Video at Bashfordsland Wood

Have enclosed below a video of frogs and their spawn at a pond in Bashfordsland Wood.

Tree Planting in Whitehead

The Mayor of Carrickfergus, Alderman Jim McClurg joined members of Brighter Whitehead today to plant 30 trees in celebration of Tree Week.

Blue Sky Green Space

A new report that collates the latest and most persuasive data on the positive influence of green spaces has been published by the GreenLINK coalition. The document, Blue Sky Green Space, outlines the many benefits that a diverse range of quality green spaces bring, covering health, communities, economic and environmental value. The full collaborative document is currently available in draft form online, where comment and contribution is encouraged from all. An executive summary of the report was presented to ministers in October as part of GreenLINK's advocacy strategy. Read the report here.

Keep Britain Tidy Christmas Card Competition

Are you dreaming of a green Christmas? Then show what Keep Britain Tidy means to you this festive season by designing the Keep Britain Tidy Christmas card!

Help Keep Britain Tidy to spread their yuletide message far and wide, the winning picture will be transformed into the 2010 Christmas e-card which will then be emailed out to all their thousands of friends and supporters up and down the country!

Open to all ages, they are looking for eye-catching entries which cleverly combine fun and festivity along with an environmental theme. The Keep Britain Tidy logo (click here) should be depicted somewhere in your picture and all entries should be on one side of A4 paper in a landscape format, and submitted by post. To enter, simply send your picture to:

Christmas Card Competition
Marketing Team
Keep Britain Tidy
Elizabeth House
The Pier
Wigan
WN3 4EX

So what are you waiting for, fast forward to Christmas, get creative and help Keep Britain Tidy!

LINK: Keep Britain Tidy website

Bashfordsland Wood Big Butterfly Count

Carrickfergus Borough residents joined Catherine Bertrand from Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland to discover what butterfly species they could find at Bashfordsland Wood for the Big Butterfly Count on Wednesday 28th July.

Eden Allotment Gardens Moth Hunt

Have enclosed some photographs from the Eden Allotment Gardens Moth Hunt on 27th & 28th July 2010.





See more photographs of the Moth Hunt at www.edenallotments.co.uk.

Love Parks Week in Carrickfergus Borough

Love Parks Week 2010 will take place between Saturday 24th July and Sunday 1st August. We are asking as many people as possible to get into parks to join our campaign for continued investment and support for these valuable assets. Love Parks Week is an annual UK campaign, organised by parks charity GreenSpace. The campaign has been established as a major event that is celebrated in parks across the country.

In Carrickfergus Borough we have a number of events.

Shakepeare's Much Ado About Nothing: Don't miss the now annual outdoor theatre production of one of Shakepeare's finest plays, 'Much Ado About Nothing' on Saturday 24 July at Shaftesbury Park, Carrickfergus. Gates open Saturday: 6.30pm; Show starts 7.30pm. Admission is Free, but entry is strictly on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early to avoid disappointment. Don't forget to bring a picnic and dress appropriately for the outdoor weather conditions!

Alice through the Looking Glass: For the first year, this event will include a special performance of the children's classic 'Alice through the Looking Glass' on Sunday 25 July making a special afternoon out for all the family.
Gates open at Shaftesbury Park, Carrickfergus on Sunday: 2pm; Show starts 3pm. Admission is Free, but entry is strictly on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early to avoid disappointment. Don't forget to bring a picnic and dress appropriately for the outdoor weather conditions!

Big Moth Hunt: Date: Tuesday 27th July (7.30 to 9pm) & Venue: Eden Allotment Gardens, Beltoy Road, Eden. Join Catherine Bertrand from Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland and discover what moth species you can find at Eden Allotment Gardens, Beltoy Road, Eden. Fun FREE event for all. FREE Butterfly ID Chart for all participants. Under 18's must be accompanied by an adult. This event continues the following morning at 10am to ID what has been discovered.

Moth Identification Event: Date: Wednesday 28th July (10am) & Venue: Eden Allotment Gardens, Beltoy Road, Eden. This follows on from the Big Moth Hunt on Tuesday 27th at Eden Allotment Gardens.

Big Butterfly Count: Date: Wednesday 28th July (11.30am to 1pm) & Venue: Bashfordsland Wood (Meet at Oakfield Community Centre). Join Catherine Bertrand from Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland and discover what species you can find at Bashfordsland Wood. Fun FREE event for all. FREE Butterfly ID Chart for all participants. Under 18's must be accompanied by an adult.

Seashore Safari: Date: Saturday 31st July 2010 from 12 to 1.30pm & Meet at Blackhead Path Car Park, Whitehead. Flora and Fauna Rocks! Explore the flora, fauna and geology of Blackhead Path and shoreline. Visit the weird and wonderful habitat that exists along Blackhead Path with Geologist Ian Enlander from the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group and Botanist John Wann.

Would You Like An Event In Your Local Park? Then please contact us, see details below.

For further information please contact: Stephen Daye, Parks & Countryside Development Officer. Telephone: 028 9335 8039 ~ E-Mail: parks@carrickfergus.org . To visit the Love Parks Week Website go to: www.loveparksweek.org.uk

Postcards from the Park
As if all these lovely events weren’t enough, you can also win £1,000 of Jessops vouchers simply by taking a great photo of your park. GreenSpace has teamed up with the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund to bring you the Postcards from the Park photography competition. It ends along with Love Parks Week on 1st August, so take a peek at www.postcardsfromthepark.org.uk and get snapping!

LINK: Love Parks Week in Carrickfergus

Making Butterflies Count

The last three years have seen butterflies in the UK experience the most dramatic decline in numbers since records began, with almost half of them now under threat. To help bring an end to this, Marks & Spencer and Butterfly Conservation are teaming up to launch Making Butterflies Count.

The Making Butterflies Count initiative targets both M&S customers and suppliers to raise awareness about the importance of butterflies and moths and encourage them to take action to reverse their devastating declines. This valuable partnership is part of the retailer's eco-plan, Plan A commitment to be the world's most sustainable retailer by 2015.

Sir David Attenborough, President of Butterfly Conservation, said: "Butterflies are wonderful, extraordinary creatures. Numbers have been falling, but Butterfly Conservation scientists have demonstrated that these declines can be reversed. They have also found that when you change the environment to help butterflies thrive, all sorts of other wildlife benefits too. Nature comes back to life. I'm delighted Marks & Spencer is working with Butterfly Conservation and I wish them every success implementing their ambitious Plan A commitments."

Butterflies and moths are very sensitive to environmental change, which makes them a very good indicator of the health of the countryside. They are essential for the pollination of plants and caterpillars provide food for many birds and other wildlife. If the UK lost all of its butterflies and moths, farmers would see a big drop in numbers of other wildlife and impacts on crop yields.

Richard Gillies, M&S Director of Plan A, commented: "We want to lead the way in making a positive contribution to the environment and society across everything we do and everything we sell. Our partnership with Butterfly Conservation is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness with both our farmers and our customers about the importance of butterflies. We hope that our campaign will be a major way of helping to reverse the long-term decline of butterflies and moths, as well as enhancing the habitats for wildlife and improving the environment for us all."

As part of the Butterfly Conservation partnership, M&S wants to engage all of it's farmers in the UK to help protect the butterfly. Over the next 12 months Butterfly Conservation will visit key M&S farmers, and all M&S farmers will be given advice on how to encourage and maintain more butterflies on their farms.

The retailer is launching a range of butterfly related products including plants which attract butterflies, butterfly adorned products such as t-shirts and jewellery, to help raise awareness about the importance of butterflies, whilst M&S will also be making a donation from the sale of the products to Butterfly Conservation.

Richard Gillies continued: "We want to make it as easy as possible for all our customers and farmers to get involved - with the launch of the Big Butterfly Count, our fantastic range of products, and also the support our farmers will be getting from Butterfly Conservation, there should be something for everyone."

Link: Butterfly Conservation Campaign
Link: Carrickfergus in Bloom Blooming Wild!

Swan kill condemned

Carrickfergus Borough Council has condemned the killing of a swan at the Amphitheatre Wildlife Ponds in Carrickfergus. Stephen Daye, Parks & Countryside Development Officer with Carrickfergus Borough Council said "The swan was killed by a single shot crossbow sometime yesterday evening (9th June 2010) from a dart lodged in its neck. The bird's mate and seven cygnets’ were thankfully not injured during the vicious attack at the wildlife ponds off Prince William Way in Carrickfergus. The police have been contacted and have launched an inquiry after the dead bird was discovered on Thursday morning." "The swan would have died a slow and painful death and it is vital that those responsible or those who have evidence pertaining to this attack contact the police immediately. Whoever is responsible must be found so that we can prevent other animals from falling victim to this kind of senseless violence. We see far too many cases where people seem to think they can simply use animals for target practice." The offenders could face a fine of up to £5,000 under the The Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.

'Green' exercise quickly 'boosts mental health'

Just five minutes of exercise in a "green space" such as a park can boost mental health, researchers claim. There is growing evidence that combining activities such as walking or cycling with nature boosts well-being. In the latest analysis, UK researchers looked at evidence from 1,250 people in 10 studies and found fast improvements in mood and self-esteem. The study in the Environmental Science and Technology journal suggested the strongest impact was on young people. The research looked at many different outdoor activities including walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding and farming in locations such as a park, garden or nature trail. The biggest effect was seen within just five minutes. With longer periods of time exercising in a green environment, the positive effects were clearly apparent but were of a smaller magnitude, the study found. Looking at men and women of different ages, the researchers found the health changes - physical and mental - were particularly strong in the young and the mentally-ill.

A bigger effect was seen with exercise in an area that also contained water - such as a lake or river. Study leader Jules Pretty, a researcher at the University of Essex, said those who were generally inactive, or stressed, or with mental illness would probably benefit the most from "green exercise". "Employers, for example, could encourage staff in stressful workplaces to take a short walk at lunchtime in the nearest park to improve mental health." He also said exercise programmes outdoors could benefit youth offenders. "A challenge for policy makers is that policy recommendations on physical activity are easily stated but rarely adopted widely."

Paul Farmer, chief executive of mental health charity Mind, said the research is yet further evidence that even a short period of green exercise can provide a low cost and drug-free therapy to help improve mental wellbeing. "It's important that people experiencing depression can be given the option of a range of treatments, and we would like to see all doctors considering exercise as a treatment where appropriate." Mind runs a grant scheme for local environmental projects to help people with mental illness get involved in outdoor activities.

Peat-free garden centre composts better than peat, says Which? Gardening

Carrickfergus Borough Council has been using peat free compost for years now but it has now been found that peat-free compost is out-performed its peat-containing rivals for the first time, according to tests by Which? Gardening. The magazine has awarded "best buys" for container compost to three peat-free varieties — Vital Earth Tub and Basket Compost, William Sinclair New Horizon Multi-Purpose Compost and Vital Earth Multi-Purpose Compost. But no peat-containing compost met best buy standards in Which? Gardening trials. Which? scored Scotts Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Compost the lowest total overall, with "plants performing poorly from the start and showing signs of nutrient deficiency within the first few weeks." Which? performed the tests in spring 2009 on Impatiens "Pink Sparkle" and "Sarpo Mira" seed potatoes in 624 containers, testing 26 multi-purpose, John Innes and specific container composts. A slow-release fertiliser was incorporated into each pot at the start and then pots were watered no more than once a day during the trial. Experts assessed the Impatiens for flowering and vigour on 3 occasions between June and October. The potatoes were harvested in August and their yield and quality recorded. Which? Gardening also recorded how often each pot required watering. Visit the Carrickfergus Borough Council website on biodiversity.

Make the One Pot Pledge

Carrickfergus Borough Council is backing a nationwide campaign launched today by Garden Organic that will target a growing band of people that want to have a go at growing their own food for the first time. The campaign, the One Pot Pledge, aims to help gardening newcomers to grow an edible crop by using simple steps and clear advice to encourage and enthuse them.

Stephen Daye, Parks & Countryside Development Officer said "We want to encourage Carrickfergus Citizens to make the One Pot Pledge and sow, grow and harvest their own food for the very first time in 2010. It is expected that 30,000 people throughout the UK will take the pledge."

"Growing food, even on a small scale in just a pot, gives people the chance to connect with the food they eat. As well as saving money and encouraging healthier eating, growing fruit and vegetables also helps people to make more sustainable food choices."

"Despite the surge in interest in 'grow your own' many newcomers, although keen to have a go, still don't know where to start when it comes to food growing. Many are put off because they think they don't have space to garden, or because they don't have the time or knowledge. By encouraging people to start small with just one pot, the One Pot Pledge campaign aims to combat this, promising to make growing easy and successful. To join the campaign, go to The One Pot Pledge website, www.onepotpledge.org, which features everything from downloadable growing advice and tips."

Gardening Guru and BBC Gardeners' World presenter Alys Fowler says, "Eating food that you've grown yourself is one of life's great pleasures and one that everyone should have the chance to enjoy. With the One Pot Pledge campaign we want to inspire and support people to try something new and experience the joy of growing their own food from seed to harvest."

According to Garden Organic, research last year showed that 26%* of the UK had grown its own. The charity says that if every one of those people encouraged just one person to also give it a go then there would be over 6 million new gardeners experiencing the joy of sowing, growing and eating their own produce in 2010.

To pledge to be part of the campaign you can sign up at www.onepotpledge.org from Monday 22 March 2010. After making the pledge, you will be invited to pick a favourite from the suggested easy to grow varieties, follow the growing instructions and tips, check progress from regular email updates, and look forward to harvest time.

None of the crops featured are difficult to grow and include potatoes, salads, french beans and chillis. More experienced gardeners signing up to the pledge will be encouraged to have a go at growing something new, that they have not tried before.

As well as providing simple and clear guidance, Garden Organic also wants experienced gardeners to join the campaign as 'Gardening Gurus'. It hopes that gurus will encourage and support those with less experience to make their first attempt at food growing a success.

Bob Sherman, Head of Horticulture at Garden Organic says, "Garden Organic's work is all about passing on knowledge and providing encouragement. We hope that experienced gardeners will also join the campaign and along with a non-gardening friend, colleague or family member, make the pledge together. "

"One of the best incentives for a beginner is having a friendly face to turn to for help and advice and as gardeners we tend to love sharing our passion and knowledge. We want the nation's gardeners to join us and share their love of growing delicious, sustainable food to get thousands more people growing their own."

Vanishing of the Bees

Saw a great film the other day called Vanishing of the Bees. The film tracks the decline of the honey bee population in the Uk and throughout the world. see the website www.vanishingbees.co.uk for further details.