Carrickfergus in Bloom News

Put the spring back into your step this month. People across the Carrickfergus Borough can make a real impact by volunteering to help conserve the environment this Spring and throughout the year. Stephen Daye, Parks & Countryside Development Officer at Carrickfergus Borough Council and Carrickfergus in Bloom Co-ordinator said “Come springtime, we all want to be outside; it's a lovely time of the year to appreciate green spaces. And if you want to help your environment, locally is a great place to start.” “In Carrickfergus Borough we are blessed with many community groups that do tremendous work to improve their environment. Whether you live in Greenisland, Carrickfergus, Eden or Whitehead a group could do with your help or you can contact Carrickfergus in Bloom about starting up a group within your own locality.“ Bill Pollock a volunteer with Brighter Whitehead said “Volunteering sounds very worthy, but once you actually start doing it and get involved, especially if it's something near to your community, you get to know people you wouldn't normally come across and you get so much more out of it than you think you're going to. You make new friends, you get a sense of achievement and at the same time you're making a huge difference to the area that you're in. The other great thing is that anybody can volunteer - you don't need to be qualified, you haven't got to be fully able. Basically, you've just got to have the get up and go to want to get involved. Whether it's weeding or making the tea, everybody has something to give.” To take part in a community project within the Borough or start up a new group contact Stephen Daye, at Carrickfergus Borough Council, Civic Centre, Antrim Street, Carrickfergus. Telephone 9335 8039 or E-Mail: inbloom@carrickfergus.org.

Brighter Whitehead has secured funding from Carrickfergus Council's Good Relations Service for a 'One World Garden'. Bill Pollock explained "The theme for Britain in Bloom this year is ‘Local Roots’ and we would like to engage with this important theme. After some discussion with local stakeholders it was thought that a suitable project would be a ‘One World Garden’. This ‘One World Garden’ will include plants that represent the different cultural groups within the town. The garden will be designed not only as an educational aid but more importantly to bring people together i.e. different ages, different races and different local and international cultures. The garden will be located in the Recreation Grounds at Chester Avenue and will be completed in May 2008. Download plan proposals.

To celebrate the success of Whitehead in the RHS Britain in Bloom competition, Carrickfergus Borough Council hosted a civic reception at Whitehead Golf Club on 15 February 2008 for representatives of the Whitehead community. Whitehead scooped the top environmental award at Coventry Cathedral on Wednesday 26th September. The Britain in Bloom results followed on from the town’s success at Ulster in Bloom in which it received a first place in the small town category. Alderman May Beattie said “It’s fantastic that the work in Whitehead has been recognised in this way. Britain in Bloom is a very prestigious event so this is very good for Whitehead. Looking at sustaining the environment is one of the things which is key to the Council and we want to continue that.”

Children from Whitehead Primary School in Northern Ireland have been learning how to welcome wildlife into their gardens throughout the winter. Whether the weather is fine or whether the weather is not, furry and feathered friends may well need a little extra help to survive the season and local youngsters have proved keen to lend a hand. They welcomed a real live hedgehog into their classroom as part of an innovative natural learning experience organized under the Carrickfergus In Bloom Blooming Wild banner. The Blooming Wild! campaign has been designed to encourage everyone to do at least one thing to help support wildlife in their gardens. The campaign recognizes that local wildlife habitats are increasingly under threat and that every garden, big or small, could be a potential mini nature reserve. From small, simple changes such as putting up a nest box to larger projects such as building a wildlife pond, we can all make a contribution to securing the future of our local wildlife. The Blooming Wild! Campaign isn’t restricted to schoolchildren. It aims to increase everyone’s knowledge of biodiversity issues within the Borough.

To keep in touch with all Carrickfergus in Bloom activities, join our mailing list: Click Here. To contact Carrickfergus in Bloom by e-mail: Click Here or telephone 028 9335 8039.

The Carrickfergus in Bloom initiative is organised by Carrickfergus Borough Council.

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Carrickfergus Borough Council developed the Carrickfergus in Bloom initiative to brighten up the Borough, to become a Borough of Flowers. Our objective is to make a Brighter Borough for the benefit of all citizens and visitors. The Carrickfergus in Bloom initiative includes the towns of Carrickfergus, Whitehead, Eden and Greenisland.