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.

“Blooming” Busy Pupils Help Local Traders!

Downshire School’s Year 11 and Year 12 Horticulture classes were busy this week preparing floral hanging baskets for traders to display in the centre of Carrickfergus.

Chairperson of the Parks, Countryside & Amenities Sub-Committee, Alderman May Beattie who visited the blooming busy pupils said “The aim of the project, which has been funded by the Council’s Carrickfergus in Bloom initiative, is to brighten up the town centre this Christmas and use the horticultural talents of the Downshire School pupils.”

“Downshire pupils were a natural choice to create the floral displays due to the delivery of the subject of Horticulture which has had enormous examination success; and the interest in the Gardening Club which runs at lunch time and after school. Such examinations and clubs promote vocational opportunities for the young people and certainly their work on the planters for the Council has let them see a possible horticultural career path.”

“Carrickfergus in Bloom is a beacon of community gardening good practice, as it encourages residents to get involved, builds community spirit and improves the environment we all live in. With initiatives such as the school growing clubs, real opportunities for health, wellbeing and learning are being created.”

Principal Mrs Stewart commented on how pleased she was that the school had been given the opportunity to engage in such a civic venture and noted that the pupils now would be able to see their work on public display and would therefore take an even greater pride in their contribution to the local community. Everyone looks forward to seeing the lovely baskets adding a splash of colour to the newly refurbished town centre in the run up to Christmas.

Teachers Mrs Pauline Cowan (Downshire School) and Mr Robert Simpson (Newtownabbey Regional College) observed that doing work like this adds an extra dimension to the pupil’s experience of school and certainly provides added value to their educational experience.

Robert Stewart from Carrickfergus Traders Association thanked the school on behalf of the town centre shops benefiting from the floral displays this Christmas. He added “The Traders Association has been working in partnership with Carrickfergus Regeneration Partnership to roll out a floral scheme initiative. It is hoped that further work including community gardens within the town centre will compliment the completed public realm improvement scheme and that this will be an opportunity for more schools across the Borough to be involved”.

National Poetry Day

To celebrate National Poetry Day today (Thursday 4th October 2012), Carrickfergus Borough Council has announced the winners of the Carrickfergus in Bloom Poetry Competition. The winners are:

Winner: Laura Wright, Whitehead.
Runner-Up: Anna Bricle, Carrickfergus.
Runner-Up: Eve Hughes, Carrickfergus.

Read the winning poems at http://www.carrickfergusinbloom.org/newwinners.htm

Works starts on Marine Gardens play area

Work has started on the new Marine Gardens play area. See designs in Compass Magazine at http://www.carrickfergus.org/fs/doc/Queen%20Compass%202012.pdf.

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

Carrickfergus in Bloom Winner Announced

Alderman May Beattie, Chairperson of the Parks, Countryside and Amenities Sub-Committee has announced the Carrickfergus in Bloom Competition Winners and Runners-up this morning for the Borough-wide Best Kept Awards.

At the Whitehead home of the Best Kept Garden winner Leslie Spearman, Alderman Beattie said “We are delighted to announce the Carrickfergus in Bloom Community Competition Winners and Runners-up. Despite the dismal weather this year we have been impressed with the quality and diversity of the entrants that have entered. It has been an opportunity for me to see the wealth and variety of horticultural talent in our Borough.”

“Winners and runners-up will be invited to a prize-giving ceremony at the Town Hall in October to receive their certificates and prizes. At the ceremony we shall announce our plans for Carrickfergus in Bloom in the coming year. I would also like to thank the sponsors for supporting Carrickfergus in Bloom." ended Alderman Beattie

Stephen Daye, Parks & Countryside Development Officer with Carrickfergus Borough Council and one of the judges commented "The quality of the entries this year has been impressive, the time and dedication many entrants spend in their gardens is a credit too them. Deciding on the winners is difficult and the marks can be very close, all who took part should be proud of their achievements." Please note Best Kept Painting & Poetry competitions are still open to enter visit www.carrickfergusinbloom.org/competitions.

 

Best Kept Garden

• Winner: Leslie Spearman from Whitehead
• Runner-Up: Deborah Walker from Carrickfergus
• Runner-Up: Georgie Brown from Carrickfergus
• Runner-Up: Nicola Porter from Carrickfergus

Best Kept Container Garden

• Winner: Marilyn Cairns from Carrickfergus
• Runner-Up: Annette Keith from Carrickfergus
• Runner-Up: Elizabeth Johnston from Eden
• Runner-Up: Chris Hamil from Whitehead

Best Kept Community Planting Scheme

• Winner: Carrickfergus Traders Association
• Runner-Up: Brighter Whitehead
• Runner-Up: Barn Court Children’s Home, Carrickfergus
• Runner-Up: Brooklands Drive Residents Association, Whitehead.

Best Commercial Premises

• Winner: The Courtyard, Carrickfergus.
• Runner-Up: Hairtopia, Whitehead.
• Runner-Up: Gary's, Carrickfergus.

Best Kept Café, Pub or Hotel

• Winner: Coffee & Cream, Whitehead.
• Runner-Up: Hillcrest Bed & Breakfast, Carrickfergus.
• Runner-Up: The Courtyard Coffee House, Carrickfergus.

Tallest Sunflower Competition

• Winner: Thomas & Harry Irwin from Carrickfergus
• Runner-Up: Laura Clugston & Roma Rajkumar from Carrickfergus
• Runner-Up: Sarah & Scott Alexander from Carrickfergus

Tallest Sunflower Competition

Alderman May Beattie, Chairperson of Parks, Countryside & Amenities Sub-Committee is asking the Borough’s young gardening enthusiasts who have not filled in their application to do so before 4th September.

Alderman Beattie said "Carrickfergus Borough Council in April handed out thousands of sunflower seeds to Carrickfergus Borough primary and secondary school children as part of the Carrickfergus in Bloom initiative. We also distributed application forms with the seed packs and have been amazed by the number of applications and photos received to date, the competition really catches the imagination of our young people. Last year's winner Joel McKimm from Carrickfergus grew a massive sunflower over 3 meters in height and we hope to have similar sizes this year despite the poor summer weather and recent stormy weather "

"Applicants for the Tallest Sunflower Competition are requested to measure their sunflower during the last week of August using a metric tape measure and complete the application form. Additional application forms are available from the Carrickfergus Museum & Civic Centre, Local Newspapers or from the Carrickfergus in Bloom website: www.carrickfergusinbloom.org."

"Due to the bank holiday Tuesday 4th September is the last day applications will be accepted and not 1st September as recently advertised in press advertisements and on promotional leaflets."

"The Carrickfergus in Bloom Children's Community Competitions have 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 in Bloom competition." ended Alderman Beattie

The winners and runner-up will be invited to a prize-giving ceremony at the Town Hall in October to receive their certificates and prizes.

TAKE PART IN COMPETITION