Big Jubilee Bug Hunt this Saturday

Celebrate the Queen's historic 2012 Diamond Jubilee on Saturday 28th April from 11am to 1pm at Whitehead Diamond Jubilee Wood with a Bug and Beastie Hunt with Pond Dipping and the Green Machine on site plus lots of other environmental activities at this fun outdoor event for all the family. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Pedestrian entrance and car parking at Bentra Golf Course.

New Art Piece Installed in Diamond Jubilee Wood

A new art piece has been installed at Whitehead Diamond Jubilee Wood. The art piece was designed by artist Kevin Killen and local school children from Whitehead Primary School. The art piece was funded by Grow South Antrim and The Woodland Trust.

60,000 Trees Planted

The last remaining trees were planted at Whitehead Diamond Jubilee Wood just before Easter. That brings a total of 60,000 trees planted at the new woodland. Members of the Northern Ireland Conservation Volunteers (CVNI) and local people came out for the last tree planting day of the year.

Whitehead Diamond Begins to Sparkle

The ‘Diamond Wood’ at Whitehead is glowing with life thanks to the hard work of nature lovers from throughout Northern Ireland. School children, local people and visitors transformed the landscape by planting thousands of trees during a week-long series of events in celebration of the Queen’s historic Diamond Jubilee.

Whitehead's new wood is the result of a partnership between the Woodland Trust and proud owner Carrickfergus Borough Council; and is one of 60 Diamond Woods springing to life across the UK as part of the Trust's ambitious Jubilee Woods project.

The Northern Ireland gem will be home to 60,000 native saplings, mostly oak and ash. In addition, a majestic tree-lined avenue already has pride of place: 54 copper beech trees represent the 54 countries within the Commonwealth and extend a warm leafy welcome to all. The 'Commonwealth Tree Avenue' was planted by the Housing Executive's Housing Community Network as part of its work to promote good race relations across Northern Ireland.

Patrick Cregg, director of the Woodland Trust, said: "We're extremely grateful to Carrickfergus Borough Council for making this land available. And we're heartened by the enthusiasm of the children and adults who rolled their sleeves up to get the tree planting underway. It's a wonderful way to mark the Queen's 60-year reign, while making a meaningful contribution to the environment."

The Mayor of Carrickfergus Borough Council, Alderman Jim McClurg, added: "Thanks to collective efforts we have the beginning of a fantastic natural resource. This new woodland will provide a much-needed habitat for wildlife and will be a lasting legacy for future generations. We hope that everyone - local people and visitors from further afield - will take time to explore and enjoy this quiet corner of nature."

Plant Your Tree for the Jubilee

Nature lovers are invited to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by making a personal and lasting contribution to the environment. Mark this historic event by rolling up your sleeves to plant trees at Northern Ireland’s new ‘Diamond Wood’, just outside Whitehead, on Saturday 25 February from 10.30am to 3.30pm.

Tree planting, arts and crafts, storytelling, face painting and archery are just some of the activities on a brimming woodland agenda – and all free of charge.

The Woodland Trust’s Jubilee Woods project aims to involve millions of people in planting six million trees throughout the UK. At the core of the project will be the creation of 60 special Diamond Woods – each at least 60 acres in size.

Land on the doorstep of the seaside village of Whitehead has been chosen as the venue for Northern Ireland’s Diamond Wood. This jewel in the crown is the result of a joint partnership between the Trust and owner Carrickfergus Borough Council, and is funded by Forest Service and GROW under the NI Rural Development Programme.

Patrick Cregg, the Trust’s director, says: “This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Queen’s 60-year reign while making a meaningful contribution to the landscape. This February - the anniversary of the accession to the throne - will see mass tree planting right throughout the UK. We’ve a target to plant 60,000 native saplings here at Whitehead, and we hope that individuals and groups will help get things off to a flying start.”

The Mayor of Carrickfergus, Alderman Jim McClurg, adds: “We want as many people as possible - local people and visitors - to join us. And with a wealth of fun activities on offer, it’s an unmissable day for everyone. This new wood will be a fantastic natural resource, a haven for wildlife, and a living legacy for future generations.”
 
EVENT LINK

Video Link: Importantance of Parks and Green Spaces

Happy new year to all our readers. Experts from the health sector came together at a GreenSpace conference to reveal exactly how important parks and green spaces are to public health. Have enclosed a video link that you may be interested in: http://youtu.be/xA3Xks3SL1s

Tree Planting at Eden

Eden Primary P6 pupils planting for Tree Week

P6 pupils from Eden Primary School attended a Tree Planting event at Eden Allotments & Playing Fields last week.

The 37th annual National Tree Week will ran from 26th November to 4th December 2011 and launches the winter tree-planting season. Every year millions of trees are planted across the UK as part of the initiative. Tree Week started in 1975 and this year in Carrickfergus Borough we will be playing our part by planting more trees that ever.

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.

Also in attendance were representatives from local charity Mindwise, the environmental improvement group Conservation Volunteers plus local MLA Roy Beggs and Councillor Andrew Wilson.