Moth Night, Beach Road Nature Reserve

A big thank you to all our moth recorders who came to our Moth Night on Friday 11^th September at Beach Road Nature Reserve, Whitehead. The records from Moth Night are incorporated into a UK wide database and it will be great to see all the little spots of activity on the map from our recordings in Whitehead.  You can visit www.mothnight.info to find out more

Carrickfergus in Bloom Tallest Sunflower Competition

Olivia Hadden, age 9, from Greenisland has won the Carrickfergus in Bloom Tallest Sunflower Competition 2015. Olivia's sunflower grew to a mighty 3m 51cm. 

Runners up were Laura & Ellen Ritson, age 8 and 6, from Carrickfergus, with their 2m 98cm sunflower and Carla Brown, age 9, from Carrickfergus, whose sunflower grew to 2m 61cm. 

Hedgerow Harvest

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is holding a Hedgerow Harvest event to celebrate bountiful blackberries. Join us for a blackberry picking expedition around the allotments and turn your harvest into your very own jam. You can also try other delicious harvest time treats. This is a free event and suitable for all ages, so come along and get harvesting! 

Eden Allotment Gardens, Carrickfergus

Sunday 13th September

2pm - 3.30pm

Moth Night!

Did you know there are over 2,500 species of moth in the UK? Although not as showy as butterflies, moths are just as beautiful and equally interesting! Moth Night is a UK wide initiative to support moths and moth recording. To celebrate Mid and East Antrim Council is holding two moth events at Beach Road Nature Reserve, Whitehead. Join us on Friday 11^th September at dusk for a moth hunt (7pm-8pm) and again the next morning to discover what mysterious moths we have caught in our moth traps (9am-10am).

 Moth Hunt,  Friday 11th Sept, 7pm - 8pm

Moth ID, Saturday 12th Sept, 9am - 10am

Beach Road Nature Reserve, Whitehead

Carrickfergus In Bloom Community Competitions

The winners and runners up in the hotly contested Carrickfergus in Bloom community competitions have been announced.

Best Kept Garden

Winner: Georgina Daphne Brown

Runner-Up: Ruth Hickey

Runner-Up: Philomena Corey

Runner-Up: Phil Allen

Best Kept Allotment (sponsored by Sunnybank Garden Centre)

Winner: Jenny Hawthorn

Runner-Up: Mark Hutchinson

Runner-Up: Graham Easthope

Runner-Up: Magi Delahay

Best Kept Community Planting Scheme

Winner: Charles Sheils Charity

Runner-Up: Impact Carrickfergus

Runner-Up: Carrickfergus Traders Association

Runner-Up: Windsor Residents Association

Best Kept Commercial Premises

Winner: The Royal Oak, Carrickfergus

Runner-Up: Lighthouse Yarns, Whitehead

Runner-Up: Anita’s Courtyard Gifts, Carrickfergus

Runner-Up: The Windrose, Carrickfergus

Best Kept Garden Winner - Georgina Daphne Brown

Best Kept Garden Runner-Up - Ruth Hickey

Best Kept Allotment Winner - Jenny Hawthorn

Best Kept Community Planting Scheme Winner - Charles Sheils Charity, Christine Harper (second from right) pictured with Sheils residents

Best Kept Commercial Premises - The Royal Oak, owner Michael Degnan pictured

Best Kept Commercial Premises Runner-Up - Lighthouse Yarns, owner Louise Williamson pictured (left) with knitting group

Friends Of Bashfordsland Wood & Oakfield Glen Volunteer Programme

Are you interested in getting outdoors in the fresh air, learning new skills and meeting like-minded people? Then our volunteer programme could be for you! As a member of the ‘Friends Of’ volunteer group, you’ll be helping conserve and protect your local woodland and playing a vital role in bringing our woods to life and opening them up for everyone to enjoy.

Tasks will vary from litter picking and path maintenance to wildlife surveys and tree management. We will be meeting on the second Saturday of each month at Oakfield Community Centre at 10am  (to 1pm) 

Task days:

Saturday 12th September 2015

Saturday 10th October 2015

Saturday 14th November 2015

Saturday 12th December 2015

A Plot For All Ages

Photos from the National Allotment Week celebrations at Eden Allotment Gardens, Carrickfergus. 'A Plot for all Ages’ was this year’s theme and was designed to emphasise the benefits that allotments bring to everyone regardless of age and to highlight the fact that we need to value our plots and preserve them for future generations to enjoy. Events at Eden Allotment Gardens included Allotment Wildlife Walk, Allotment Arts & Crafts, Allotment Tidy Up and Organic Compost & Fertilizer Workshop

Looking for birds and bugs at Eden Allotment Gardens

Arts & Crafts at Eden Allotment Gardens

Tidy Up at Eden Allotment Gardens