Evening Birdsong at Bashfordsland Wood

Join well-known bird expert Dot Blakely (seen on TV's BBC Wildweek Live), to find out more about birds in and around Bashfordsland Wood.

 

Birdsong can be soothing and relaxing, cheerful and inspiring. In fact, a recent survey by the National Trust found that birdsong is our favourite spring sound! So don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to hear Birdsong at Bashfordsland Wood guided by televisions Bird Expert Dot Blakely (from BBC’s Wildweek Live).

Bird enthusiasts often get up at the break of dawn to hear the calls of our common birds including chaffinches, sparrows and finches. But this month Carrickfergus Borough Council is taking a more laid back approach with a dusk chorus event at Bashfordsland Wood.

This will be a wonderful experience for the whole family - ideal for all ages and both keen birdwatchers and novices. Dot will help you identify our different birds by their songs and answer any birding questions. Bashfordsland Wood is a prime location for Carrickfergus bird life - come and hear for yourself!

This evening performance is tuning up on Friday 30^th May. Meet at 7pm at the entrance to Bashfordsland Wood at Red Fort Park, off Marshallstown Road. This event is outdoors so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

For further information please contact Ben Simon on e-mail biodiversity@carrickfergus.org

Event Link: http://www.carrickfergus.org/events/item/537/evening-birdsong-at-bashfordsland-wood/

Spring Clean at Eden Allotment Gardens

This Saturday (17^th May) Carrickfergus Borough Council is holding a Spring Clean day at the Eden Allotments. This is the perfect chance to tidy up your plot and meet other plot holders.

Carrickfergus Borough is ‘Growing for Gold’

Carrickfergus in Bloom is distributing 4,000 packs of sunflower seed to local school children to promote its Tallest Sunflower Competition and also celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom. Carrickfergus & Whitehead towns will represent Northern Ireland this summer in the Britain in Bloom finals.

Carrickfergus in Bloom is asking the Borough’s young horticultural enthusiasts to join the thousands of young gardener’s throughout the UK in a mass-planting of sunflower seeds during National Gardening Week (14-21 April) to celebrate 50 golden years of Europe’s largest community gardening campaign – RHS Britain in Bloom.

A Council spokesperson said "Carrickfergus Borough Council is distributing the sunflower seeds to Carrickfergus Borough primary and secondary school children as part of the Carrickfergus in Bloom Tallest Sunflower Competition.”

“What better way to celebrate this huge anniversary for Britain in Bloom than a mass planting of beautiful golden sunflowers. These gorgeous and uplifting plants have been known to grow an astonishing four metres high, which reflects the sort of spirit and drive we associate with our local young people and other volunteers who transform our Borough each year.”

“We’re providing the seeds as a big ‘thank you’ to all the industrious and passionate young people who work to ensure that our Borough stays clean, green and beautiful. It is also a chance to do something big for the environment – sunflowers provide vital food for pollinators this summer.”
“The Carrickfergus in Bloom Children's Community Competitions has a total prize fund of £350. Other competitions include Poetry & Painting; entries for these competitions must be received by 30th September.”

"Everybody who lives within the Borough of Carrickfergus is invited to take part in Carrickfergus in Bloom as there is something for everyone. By entering you not only brighten up your own house but you also aid our Borough's entry to the Ulster & Britain in Bloom competition. The winners and runner-up of all Carrickfergus in Bloom competitions will be invited to a prize-giving ceremony at the Town Hall in October to receive their certificates and prizes. In 2013, 1850 people took part in the Carrickfergus in Bloom community competitions.”

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

Community Orchard Planting Day on 23rd February 2014

Fruit Tree Planting Event on Sunday 23rd February 2014, starting at 1pm in Whitehead Diamond Jubilee Wood. A full-on family event so, apart from the tree-planting, there’ll be guided walks, artistic endeavours and other attractions. Experts on hand to tell you the stories of the trees, show you how to forage food for free, teach you how to keep a hedge under control. We’ll help you to build your own bird-box, hang some feeders and make a leaf-print. This event is organised by Transition Town Whitehead.

Turning plastic bags into apples: The government's 'carrier bag levy' was started in April 2013; it meant you had to pay a 5p charge when you chose to take a shop's plastic bag with your groceries. This has raised over £3m since then, much of which has been channelled into the NI Environment Agency's NGO Challenge Fund, available to community and voluntary organisations for environmental projects. Transition Town Whitehead has been one of the beneficiaries; and received a grant of almost £8,500 from the fund for their 'Edible Landscape' project. With the ready co-operation of Carrickfergus Borough Council, who manage Diamond Jubilee Wood. They intend to plant a sustainable and edible community orchard in the Diamond Jubilee Wood. The grant has enabled them to buy almost 200 fruit and nut trees - apples, pears, cherries, damsons, walnut, hazelnut - and a mixture of berry bushes. Within a few years, these trees will be bearing fruit, for the benefit of everyone who visits the wood and, indeed, for the bird population as well.

Jim Kitchen, from Transition Town Whitehead, said, "Planting these trees this year is our investment in the future. In a few years' time, we'll literally be able to use the fruits of our labour by making puddings, jams and chutneys from the produce of this orchard. We hope this is the first step in what will become an edible landscape - over the next few years, we can add beehives, fruiting hedgerows and, maybe one day, a full scale community allotment scheme. So, why don't you come along and help us take the first steps. It's all happening on Sunday 23rd February from 1pm to about 4pm. If it's still raining, put on your boots and waterproofs, bring a spade if you have one, and join us for this planting party. You don't need to know anything about planting trees; you just need a wee bit of enthusiasm.

Photo from Hedgerow Event