Bentra Mini Golf Opens

The newly installed mini golf facility placed at Bentra golf course has been officially opened today, Friday 30th January 2015. The opening ceremony took place at 11.00am with the Carrickfergus Mayoress, Patricia Johnston, unveiling a commemorative plaque on behalf of the Mayor, Alderman Charles Johnston, to mark the official opening of the mini golf facility, joined by Council Members and funders along with Whitehead Primary School Year 7's who will be testing the course out.

The mini golf course, funded by GROW South Antrim, features 18 holes highlighting key points of interest from the Borough throughout, players must plot their way round the fun and exciting challenges of each hole.

Councillor Terry Clements, Chair of the Bentra sub-committee said “This mini golf facility is a great addition to the Bentra golf course and compliments the regeneration projects completed in Whitehead. This has been built and designed for all the family in mind; I would encourage families with children of all ages to come along to try out this new addition to the Borough for a fun day out.”

The course will be open Monday to Sunday from dawn to dusk.

Pricing for mini-golf:
Adult price £3.50
5 – 12’s price £2.00
Under 5’s price £1.00
Family Ticket £10.00
25% discounted rate for 10+ players.

For further information on the mini golf facility please contact Bentra Clubhouse on 028 9337 8996 or e-mail: mail@bentragolf.co.uk.

Hedgelaying at Diamond Jubilee Wood

Photograph from Hedgelaying event on Saturday (15th Nov) at Diamond Jubilee Wood in Whitehead. Hedgelaying is a traditional management technique. Our next Hedgelaying event will be Saturday 29th November 2014 from 10am - 3pm at Diamond Jubilee Wood in Whitehead.

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.

Biodiversity Summer School in Diamond Jubilee Wood

Carrickfergus Borough Council will be hosting a Biodiversity Summer School from Monday 4th to Friday 8th August 2014 – every morning from 11am to 1pm at Diamond Jubilee Wood in Whitehead. The aim is to inspire and galvanize Borough residents to discover more about the incredible species and habitats on their doorstep.

 

The Biodiversity Summer School is a free outdoor event across five days and gives families the opportunity to take part in fun biodiversity projects such as pond dipping, mini-beast hunts and bird box building. Learn about the natural world through a variety of activities and games. There is no need to book - just turn up to take part whatever your age. We will be meeting every morning at 11am at Bentra Car Park (Slaughterford Road, Whitehead).

 

This is the second year of the Biodiversity Summer School (see enclosed photo from last year) which is part of a wider environmental campaign headed by the BBC called the ‘Summer of Wildlife’. Which has a clear purpose to showcase and celebrate the UK's unique and extraordinary flora and fauna.

 

The Biodiversity Summer School is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our local wildlife at Diamond Jubilee Wood in Whitehead. Although the wood only opened in 2012, the 60 acre site which is the Borough’s newest public park, is already a haven for wildlife and an excellent opportunity to celebrate the local biodiversity we have on our doorstep.

 

Event Details:

 

Day 1 (Monday 4th August): Natural Art: Come along on a guided tour of the woodland and collect natural materials to make your own unique piece of art! Leaves, twigs, petals and grasses can be bound together or pressed onto paper to make a wonderful picture or creative piece of jewellery to take home.

 

Day 2. (Tuesday 5th August): Come Dine with Me: Help feed our feathered friends by making lots of tasty cakes and treats from raw ingredients. Using natural and recycled materials these treats can be left in the nature reserve or taken home and will completely biodegrade. Learn how to reuse household waste to create simple feeders for taking home and learn the importance of feeding birds especially through the winter season.

 

Day 3. (Wednesday 6th August): Pond Life: What's living in the water in the woodland? From quick- flying insects on the surface to wriggly fish in the water, catch and bottle a variety of minibeasts for a closer look at the secretive and mysterious world of the pond. Learn about the food chain of the pond, how they share the wettest part of the wood and what you can do to enhance their wild habitat.

 

Day 4. (Thursday 7th August): Build-a-Box: Do you want to attract more wildlife into your garden? Make your own habitat for wildlife to take home. Choose from bird or bat box or a mini-beast hostel, and use a range of hand tools to follow a set template. Learn how the importance of protecting our native birds and bat with instruction on where to place and how to monitor your bird and bat box.

 

Day 5. (Friday 8th August): Seed Bombing: Get your hands dirty for a great cause. Roll up your sleeves and make mud pies and dip them in lots of lovely native wildflower seeds. Join us for a walk around the woodland, find a bare patch of ground and then... throw your seed bomb where it will grow into a beautiful patch of wildflowers over the next few years. Bees will love you for giving them food!

For further information or for updates on the above information check the Council website www.carrickfergus.org or telephone 028 9335 8000.

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 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

Tree Week Launched in Carrickfergus Borough

National Tree Week (23rd November - 1st December) is an annual festival to mark the start of the tree planting season, and a nationwide celebration of trees and woods. Alderman May Beattie, Chairperson of the Parks, Countryside & Amenities Sub-Committee has launched Tree Week in Carrickfergus Borough. The launch at Whitehead Diamond Jubilee Wood highlighted our Borough's achievements since the year 2000, in which Carrickfergus Borough Council has planted 165,000 trees and by the end of this tree planting season in March 2014 we will have planted a further 5,000 trees around the Borough.

Alderman Beattie said “Although in recent years, pests and diseases have threatened some of our most loved trees, such as ash and larch, Carrickfergus Borough Council continues to be committed to planting more trees. National Tree Week is a great chance for communities to do something positive for their local treescape. 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 is great exercise, children love it, and you will be making a valuable contribution to our community woodland.” To take part in a tree planting event or for further information contact: Stephen Daye, Parks & Countryside Development Officer at Carrickfergus Borough Council. t: 93358039 or e: parks@carrickfergus.org”. ended Alderman Beattie

Our next tree event: ‘Celebrate the Christmas Hedgerow’on Saturday 30th November 2013 (11am to 1pm) at Eden Allotment Gardens (Beltoy Road, Eden). FREE fun family day with guided walks, foraging, exploring biodiversity and planting; make seasonal Christmas wreaths and walnut boats; take part in art workshops; plus food demonstrations and tasting of hedgerow drinks, pancakes and jellies. For further information please visit www.carrickfergus.org/events

For further information on this or future tree planting events please contact the Council’s Parks Service on 9335 8000. More tree planting events will take place in January, February and March to keep in touch visit www.carrickfergus.org/treeweek.

Photograph: L to R (Top) - Damian Armstong (Princes Trust), Alderman May Beattie (Carrickfergus BC), Beverley Todd (CAN Peace 3), Gerry Drake (Princes Trust), Courtney Laughlin (Princes Trust), L to R (below) - Olivia Smith & Peter Topping (Pupils from Whitehead Primary School).

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

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

This weekend (Saturday 6th July 2013) check out our Big Dock Dig Out at the Diamond Jubilee Wood in Whitehead.

 

Event Link: http://www.carrickfergus.org/events/item/414/big-dock-dig-out/

Wild Flowers at Diamond Jubilee Wood in Whitehead

The wild flowers at Diamond Jubilee Wood in Whitehead are looking great at the moment.

To find out more about the wood visit www.carrickfergus.org/jubileewood.

Peregine Watch

Like to meet the Whitehead peregrine family? You can on Saturday 8th June at 10am (to 12noon) in Beach Road Nature Reserve, Whitehead. Bring binoculars /telescopes if you have them. Park by the Scout Hut and join local expert Ian Enlander and Biodiversity Officer Ben Simon. For further information contact Ben Simon at 07841927919.

Planting the Hedgerow - Free Fun Day Out

Come along to this free event and find out what wildlife our native hedges support and why they are one of nature’s greatest assets.

EVENT DETAILS: Saturday 23rd February 2013 from 10am to 1pm at Diamond Jubilee Wood, Whitehead.

You can access Whitehead Diamond Jubilee Wood via the pedestrian entrance at Bentra Golf Course car park. This free fun day out is for all the family. Please bring suitable outdoor clothing and footwear! Wellies are recommended for this site.

Species-rich hedgerows are important to us as well as to our wildlife. They are of historical importance often marking townland or estate boundaries. They also provide colour, shelter and food; act as stock barriers; and prevent soil erosion. Unfortunately, many of our native hedgerows have lost a lot of these values due to neglect or mismanagement. So, we’ve teamed up with Antrim, Belfast and Newtownabbey councils to restore and enhance the hedgerows in these areas.

You can play your part too. We want people to get involved to help restore and manage the habitats. We’ll provide you with training to help you develop skills required to support the restoration programme. Over the next two years we will be running foraging events and training workshops in autumn and winter. To get involved come along to this event or use the contact information below.

Hedgerow Hopes Initiative is a Heritage Lottery funded project.

Launch of Tree Week in Carrickfergus Borough

Alderman May Beattie, Chairperson of the Parks, Countryside & Amenities Sub-Committee launched National Tree Week in Carrickfergus Borough at Whitehead Primary School on Friday 23rd November 2012. The launch will highlight the TREEmendous achievements since the year 2000, in which Carrickfergus Borough Council has planted 160,000 trees and by the end of this tree planting season we will have planted a further 5,000 trees around the Borough.

Alderman Beattie said “Now more than ever has confirmed the need to plant more trees. Recent events have confirmed that the view across the countryside and in our towns is set to change faster than anyone could have expected. In recent years, pests and diseases have started to threaten some of our most loved trees, such as oak and horse chestnut, but the spread of ash dieback and the anticipated devastation of the UK population of ash trees has left everyone considering what the next steps should be.”

“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 community woodland. To take part in a tree planting event or for further information contact: Stephen Daye, Parks & Countryside Development Officer at Carrickfergus Borough Council. t: 93358039 or e: parks@carrickfergus.org”. ended Alderman Beattie

“Anyone with land of their own, whether a garden, woodland or field, can make a difference to their view by adding a tree”, said Pauline Buchanan Black, Director-General of The Tree Council. “This year, though, the campaign carries particular significance as we look for ways to minimise the impact of ash dieback and carefully consider what to plant. Rising concern about tree diseases has also reminded us of the importance of checking not only where the seed of their tree started life, but also where it was germinated and grown. Not since Plant A Tree in ’73 has there been the same urgency to safeguard a view for the future”.

Alasdair Douglas, Chair of The Tree Council, added “It is almost exactly 40 years since Secretary of State for the Environment Peter Walker stood up in the House of Commons and announced that the following year was to be designated National Tree Planting Year. This was the Government initiative to encourage the planting of new trees to replace those millions killed by Dutch Elm Disease. The Tree Council was formed from that initiative and has been running National Tree Week ever since. We couldn’t have foreseen that we’d be faced with the losses from a tree disease of similar epidemic proportions just as we go in to National Tree Week but this seems a timely moment to ask the public to think carefully about what will happen to their view and what they will do to restore it for future generations.”

Next Tree planting event: Tree Planting Day at Amphitheatre Mill Ponds on Thursday 29th November at 10am. For further information please visit www.carrickfergus.org/treeweek

For further information on this or future tree planting events please contact Stephen Daye on 9335 8000. More tree planting events will take place in January, February & March to keep in touch visit www.carrickfergus.org/treeweek.

Rose Award Success for Borough

Carrickfergus has been award the Translink Ulster in Bloom – Roses in Towns Trophy for 2012 at an award ceremony at Belfast Castle today. The Roses in Towns Trophy, is presented annually to the Council area with the best display of roses. The Borough also received the Best Station Award for Carrickfergus Rail & Bus Station and Best Community Rail Halt Award for Whitehead Rail Station.

Alderman May Beattie said "The three awards received today is recognition of the horticultural talent we have within the borough. Translink Ulster in Bloom is a great 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's 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 initiative. Carrickfergus Borough Council along with our partners have done a wonderful job in broadening the appeal of the Carrickfergus in Bloom initiative, by getting people to work together we have made our Borough better. Our successes within Ulster in Bloom could not have happened without the generous support of local people, community groups, businesses and other statuary bodies. I would like to thank the Council’s Parks and Cleansing staff whose hard work and imagination has been the backbone of our entries over many years and I congratulate everyone who took part this year." Ended Alderman May Beattie

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/

Official Opening of Whitehead Diamond Jubilee Wood

Mrs. Joan Christie OBE, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for County Antrim officially opened Whitehead Diamond Jubilee Wood yesterday (Saturday 23rd June 2012 at 11am). The opening was followed by a family fun day that includes arts and crafts, storytelling, face painting, a bug hunt plus many other activities on a brimming woodland agenda – and all free of charge. With a wealth of fun activities on offer, it was an unmissable and historic day for everyone.

In total 60 Diamond Jubilee Woods have been planted throughout the UK. Each wood is at least 60 acres in size to symbolise 60 years of The Queen’s reign. Whitehead Diamond Jubilee Wood is the only Diamond Jubilee Wood planted in Northern Ireland.

Alderman Jim McClurg, Mayor of Carrickfergus explained “In April 2011 our Council received a presentation about the Jubilee Woods project by the Woodland Trust. We answered Princess Anne’s direct appeal to join in the celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by planting a new 60-acre woodland in Whitehead. We called upon the local community to help with the labour of planting, which began in January 2012. Together, in the words of Princess Anne “we can create something lasting and wonderful. We are pleased to have supported this Woodland Trust UK wide project and have been most appreciative of the support given to us by Patrick Gregg and his team at the Woodland Trust.”

“Although the champagne bubbles have faded from the thousands of street parties that took place over the Jubilee weekend, this Diamond Jubilee Wood will continue quietly growing. This is a project which will be best appreciated by our children and grandchildren. During the Queen’s long reign, second only to Queen Victoria, she has planted thousands of trees. Those trees form a tangible part of her legacy. Our Diamond Jubilee Wood will form part of ours and will be a very fitting tribute to her.”

“This Diamond Jubilee Wood is Carrickfergus Borough Council’ most ambitious environmental project to date. It will link the existing mature oak and ask woods nearby. These are of great age and to complement and extend them, this new woodland contains mainly oak and ask trees. In addition, we have planted rowan, willow, alder, cherry, hazel, hawthorn and blackthorn to provide a diverse wildlife habitat which will be enjoyed for many years to come.” ended Alderman McClurg

Alderman May Beattie, Chairperson of the Parks, Countryside & Amenities sub-committee said “The creation of this new woodland has been an excellent example of partnership and we have so many people to thank including our funders Northern Ireland Forest Service, GROW South Antrim, BIFFA & the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. I would also like to thank the thousands of individuals who took part in the various tree planting events last winter. We now have a woodland with 60,000 trees planted, a 2km of path network, a 1000sqm pond that is already teaming with wildlife. Other attractions include a Commonwealth Tree Avenue planted with copper beech; wildflower meadows, picnic area and a sculpture designed by artist Kevin Killen and local school children."

Patrick Cregg, the Woodland Trust’s Director in Northern Ireland, says: “We’re delighted that Northern Ireland is on the map of Diamond Jubilee Woods.  We’re extremely grateful to Carrickfergus Borough Council for making the land available, and we’re heartened by the enthusiasm of members of the public who helped to plant thousands of trees earlier this year.  The wood will be a wonderful natural resource for local people and visitors, and a much-needed habitat for our precious wildlife.”

It’s official: 60 Royal Woods fit for The Queen

From Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides to Whitehead in County Antrim, the UK's landscape and local environments are about to be transformed by the creation of 60 special woodlands. The new woods are a living, lasting tribute to The Queen’s historic Diamond Jubilee.

Each wood is at least 60 acres in size to symbolise 60 years of The Queen’s reign. And, long after the champagne bubbles have faded from the thousands of street parties taking place this Jubilee weekend, the Diamond Woods will continue quietly growing.

There will be a Diamond Wood in every region of the UK, giving everyone the chance to create an environmental legacy in their area. The Trust has worked with a diverse range of landowners from across the UK to create the new woods; including private landowners, universities, local authorities, and even the Queen herself is creating a Diamond Wood at Balmoral.

Northern Ireland’s gem, on the edge of the seaside village of Whitehead, is the result of a joint partnership between the Woodland Trust and owner Carrickfergus Borough Council.

Patrick Cregg, the Trust’s director in Northern Ireland, says: “We’re delighted that Northern Ireland is on the map. We’re extremely grateful to Carrickfergus Borough Council for making the land available, and we’re heartened by the enthusiasm of thousands of members of the public who rolled up their sleeves to help plant thousands of trees earlier this year. The wood will be a wonderful natural resource for local people and visitors, and a much-needed habitat for our precious wildlife.”

The Whitehead gem is already sparkling. Over 60,000 native trees, mostly oak and ash, now grace this quiet corner of nature. Other features include a stunning metal tree sculpture; while one of summer’s highlights will be a glorious wildflower meadow, boasting vibrant displays of cornflower marigold, poppy, ox-eye daisy and yellow rattle.

Woodland Trust Jubilee Woods Director Georgina McLeod said: “We’re absolutely delighted that so many different organisations and landowners have joined with the Trust to create these 60 very special Diamond Woods. They will help make a massive difference to the environment and pay a special tribute to Her Majesty the Queen. By the end of the project millions of people will have planted trees, a testament to the nation’s love for trees and our second longest reigning monarch.”

On top of the prestigious 60, the Trust has also confirmed that over 250 smaller Jubilee Woods will be planted across the UK helping to achieve the Trust’s ambitious target of planting 6 million trees this year, at least 1 million of them planted by children.

Bird Watching with Dot

Photographs from Bird Watching with Dot event held at Whitehead Diamond Jubilee Wood on Sunday 6th May 2012.