Welcome to the Carrickfergus in Bloom Website
There are many reasons why we feel proud of Carrickfergus Borough - one of them is the abundance of flowers and attractive horticultural displays. Each summer the Borough is brightened up by hundreds of hanging baskets, bedding displays, shrub beds and trees. Carrickfergus Borough Council developed the Carrickfergus in Bloom environmental improvement initiative to brighten up the Borough, to become a 'Borough of Flowers'. The objective is to make a brighter Borough for the benefit of all citizens and visitors. This website has been designed to provide current news, information and advice on all our inbloom activities. However, please do contact carrickfergus in bloom if you would like to see anything else at www.carrickfergusinbloom.org. Carrickfergus Borough is located in County Antrim in Northern Ireland.
Carrickfergus in Bloom Community Competitions & Virtual Flower Show
Each year we organise the Carrickfergus in Bloom Community Competitions with a £1200 prize fund. The categories are Best Kept Garden; Best Kept Container Garden; Best Kept Community Planting Scheme; and BestKept Commercial Premises. The Young people’s categories include Painting, Poetry and Tallest Sunflower.
Click here to view the 2011 community gardening winners or
Click here for the 2011 Virtual Flower Show winners.
For more information on our competitions.
Carrickfergus in Bloom Gardening Advice
The following gardening tips have been added to help to make your garden a success. Hanging Basket Tips, Butterfly Paradise, Composting your Garden Waste, How to Plant and Stake a Tree, Tree Planting Tips, Wildlife Gardening, Build a bird nestbox, Night time Gardening, Grow Crops in Pots, Growing Tomatoes etc. Click here to visit our gardening advice section. Not sure when things in the garden should be done? Use the handy carrickfergus in bloom gardening planner to find out what your should be doing in your garden each month.
Carrickfergus in Bloom Campaigns
A vital part of the Carrickfergus in Bloom initiative is the campaigning work we do in the community. In 2011 we continue our campaigns to promote biodiversity through our Blooming Wild campaign, growing vegetables in schools, getting communities working with community grants; tree week kicks off our tree planting campaign and linking gardening to the health, fitness and wellbeing agenda. Click here to view the Carrickfergus in Bloom campaigns section.
Latest News
Ulster in Bloom Success for Borough: Gardeners throughout Carrickfergus Borough are celebrating following the results announcement for the 2011 Translink Ulster in Bloom Competition. The horticultural talents of our Borough were recognised at a ceremony in Ballymena today with awards for Carrickfergus Town and Whitehead Railway Station. more
New Woodland for Whitehead: Diamonds are forever, Whitehead is set to sparkle with a precious new addition. Land on the doorstep of the town will be the Northern Ireland venue for a new 'Diamond Wood' to mark the Queen's 60 years on the throne. Our new gem - just over 60 acres of grassland near bentra - has been made available by Carrickfergus Borough Council. more
Fancy an Allotment? Did you know that Carrickfergus Borough is home to the largest allotment site in Ireland? The allotments at Eden off Beltoy Road have 189 plots and if you are interested in growing your own fruit and vegetables please apply online at www.edenallotments.co.uk. Allotment gardening can provide a number of benefits to individuals and the environment. For more information on our allotment service click here.
Nest Box Challenge: Put up a bird box and join others in the Nest Box Challenge survey. We want to encourage everyone to put up nest boxes in their local area in order to promote and enhance biodiversity and conservation of our breeding birds and wildlife. All you have to do is put a nest box up at your home, school or workplace, register for the Nest Box Challenge and then let us know what happens. For more information on our Nest Box Challenge click here.
Beach Road: Check out the environmental improvements at Beach Road Nature Reserve. For further information on this newly improved resource for Whitehead click here for further information or you can visit the Beach Road Nature Reserve website.
One Pot Pledge: Carrickfergus Borough Council is backing a nationwide campaign launched by Garden Organic that will target a growing band of people that want to have a go at growing their own food for the first time. To find out more or take part click here.
