Love Parks Week 2015

Love Parks Week starts today (Friday 24th July) and runs to Sunday 2nd August 2015. This is an annual national campaign to celebrate parks and other green spaces. 

Today we have a Mini Beast Hunt starting at 2pm in Carrickfergus Mill Ponds, and a Town Parks Tour in Larne at 2pm, meeting at Larne Leisure Centre. Tomorrow (Saturday 25th July) there is a Seashore Safari at Blackhead Path, Whitehead, at 11am.

Future events throughout the Borough range from Moth and Butterfly Hunts, a Mini-Golf competition and Zumba in the Park, plenty for all the family to enjoy. 

Councillor Billy Ashe, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, 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 simply play and fun. Let's celebrate our green spaces, show your support for Love Parks Week."

A full list of events can be found here 

Denise McVeigh, Alison Diver, Cllr Billy Ashe and Sarah Davis launching Love Parks Week 2015

Woollen Woods Video

Diamond Jubilee Wood, Whitehead was been transformed into a Woollen Wonderland this summer - the first Woollen Wood in Northern Ireland!

Woollen Woods is UK wide project that began in 2013 and covers five regions on the UK mainland. Woollen Woods is an enchanting outdoor art installation featuring hundreds of woodland-themed woollen artworks which were created by schools, knitting groups and individuals all over Northern Ireland. 

To mark the grand opening of the Woollen Wood, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council held a free family fun day on Saturday 16th May 2015 in collaboration with Voluntary Arts and Lighthouse Yarns. Activities included arts and crafts such as pom-pom making, felting and origami and environmental activities including bug hunting and pond dipping.

This is a fantastic project which has brought the arts and the environment together. The wool installation will be in the wood until the end of the summer, why not go see for yourself? Look out for felted flowers and fruit, plus woollen wildlife and more creations hidden among the trees!

A video of the Woollen Woods grand opening can be viewed here 

Love Parks Week 2015 is coming!

Love Parks Week is an annual campaign to celebrate parks and green spaces.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council will be holding a series of events from Friday 24th July to Sunday 2nd August to join in this celebration. With pond dipping, butterfly and moth hunts, woodland walks, zumba workouts, buggy workouts, a mini golf competition and more, there is sure to be something for everyone, so get outside and enjoy our green spaces!

A full list of events can be found here 

Allotment Workshops, July and August 2015

Due to their popularity Mid & East Antrim Borough Council’s Allotment Services will be holding another series of FREE Allotment Workshops this July and August. We would like to invite anyone interested in learning more about growing their own food along to these workshops. This is a great opportunity to see what other people are growing, learn some new skills and make some new friends.


Workshops at Eden Allotment Gardens

Sat 18^th July, 12noon - 1pm – Preparing your Plot

Sat 8^th Aug, 12noon – 1pm – Sowing from Seed and Plug

Sat 15^th Aug, 12noon – 1pm – Composting and Organic Fertilizer

Alison Diver, Growing Communities Officer, will meet participants at Eden Allotment Gardens at 12noon on specified dates.
Participants are advised to wear appropriate clothing and footwear for these outdoor events.
Materials and tools will be provided but attendees are encouraged to bring their own. 

Red Arrows Over Carrickfergus

Some spectacular photos of the Red Arrows aerial display over Carrickfergus on Sunday 5th July 2015.

This was part of the Tall Ships celebration and 32,000 people came to Carrickfergus to enjoy the day. These photos were taken from Marine Gardens, which was the perfect spot to enjoy the display and see the Tall Ships sailing past. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council had also laid on entertainment and activities on the green at Marine Gardens. 

Allotment Training Workshops a Success

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Allotment Services has just concluded a series of free allotment workshop sessions.

Training was held at Eden Allotment Gardens, Carrickfergus and Greenisland Allotment Gardens, each Saturday for three weeks in June.The workshops covered basic skills such as preparing and maintaining a plot, sowing from seed and plug, composting and organic fertilizers.

One of those who attended at Greenisland Allotment Gardens, Lisa Haggan, said: “The training was interesting and informative; I was able to learn some great planting and allotment management techniques. A lovely mix of gardeners attended and personal coaching was provided for the less green fingered among us - a very inspiring training programme.”

The project proved so popular that the Council is planning to hold more throughout the year. Allotment holders notified when exact dates and times are confirmed.

There are still some plots available at both Eden and Greenisland Allotment Gardens. Visit the Council website to complete an application

Community Groups Going Green

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has issued a call to local community groups to consider the benefits of outdoor life by taking an allotment.

The Council’s Allotment Services dedicates a number of plots to group use - and while there are a limited number available in Eden and in Greenisland – the Mayor, Councillor Billy Ashe, has urged them to look at the many positive outcomes. He said: “Benefits include exercise and a healthier lifestyle, fresh air, peace and quiet and of course the opportunity to meet new friends. As well as having the satisfaction from learning new skills and seeing results of hard work, allotment tenants also end up – hopefully - eating their own fresh and organic produce.”

Annette Gibney, a volunteer with Women’s Aid Carrickfergus, said: “Being part of our community plot at Eden Allotment Gardens, I know that the allotment is very beneficial to our families to provide a social gathering and a safe place to encourage health and well-being. We are no Monty Don’s but through trial and error we are learning and are planning a ‘bangers and mash’ day. The mash will be made with potatoes and scallions grown on our very own plot!”

Austin Heron, Secretary of the Carrickfergus Community Cultivators, said: “Having a community plot at Eden Allotment Gardens has allowed the group to make new friends and socialise with others who enjoy a similar pastime. We have been able to grow a range of fruit and vegetables, which saves money on the food bill, and we get a great sense of well-being and satisfaction from learning new skills and growing our own. It’s also important to remember that allotments are extremely beneficial to the environment – they are sustainable and wonderful sites for biodiversity.”

There is some availability at both Eden and Greenisland Allotment Gardens. Group representatives are asked to visit the website and complete an application form 

Alison Diver, Growing Communities Officer, with the Carrickfergus Community Cultivators at Eden Allotment Gardens