News
Funding announced for 'One World Garden' (21 March 2008)
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. To download the plan click here
Spring into Action (20 March 2008)
Put the spring back into your step this month and volunteer! People across 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.” ended Bill. 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. T: 9335 8039 or inbloom@carrickfergus.org or www.carrickfergusinbloom.org
Civic Reception for Whitehead Community (15 February 2008)
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.”
Walk on the Wild Side in Whitehead (15 February 2008)
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.
Joanna Lumley announces ‘Postcards from the Park’ competition winner
A photo of Whitehead Recreation Grounds was chosen as regional winner of the nationwide ‘Postcards from the Park’ photo competition which was set up to celebrate lottery investment in parks. The winning photographer, Alex Kane, received the news in person from Joanna Lumley at the exhibition launch at Mile End Park Arts Pavilion in London. The stunning black and white photo, highly impressed the judges who included celebrated photographer Mike McCartney (brother of Paul) and Damien Demolder, editor of Amateur Photographer Magazine. ‘Postcards from the Park’ was launched by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund (BIG), with parks charity, GreenSpace. Joanna Lumley, actress and Patron of Mile End Park, said: "Parks are among the UK's most treasured features and the ‘Postcards from the Park’ competition was a great way of celebrating that fact.” For more information about the exhibition please call the HLF on 0207 592 6102. Click here to preview images from the exhibition.
Wild Week (25th October 2007)
To meet the ever-growing interest in wildlife, and to coincide with the new landmark series The Nature of Britain, Carrickfergus Borough Council is joining forces with the Conservation Volunteers to organise a ‘Wild Week’ event in Windsor Play Park, Whitehead on Thursday 25th October (1 to 3pm). ‘Wild Week’ is a nation campaign that runs between 22-28 October. ‘Wild Week’ will complement the Carrickfergus in Bloom campaign ‘Blooming Wild!’. Blooming Wild! is a local campaign to encourage people to do one more thing for wildlife in their gardens. Find out more about ‘Wild Week’ and ‘Blooming Wild!’.
Blackhead Path Beach Clean-Up (15 September 2007)
A Blackhead Path beach clean-up has been organised for Saturday 15th September from 4pm to 5pm. Meet at the Blackhead Path car park to help clean up and survey our coastline. This is part of a UK wide beach clean-up and litter survey organised by the Marine Conservation Society - the UK charity dedicated to the protection of the marine environment and its wildlife.
Whitehead success at Ulster in Bloom (4th September 2007)
The visits are over, the votes have been cast, and the Judges have made their final decisions. The results of the 29th Translink Ulster in Bloom Competition are in! And it proved to be a blooming marvellous summer for our town’s green-fingered gardeners as they turned up the flower power to win three category’s in this year’s competition. Whitehead have triumphed again! The results announced today (04 September) at Tullylagan Country Hotel in Cookstown are as follows:
Small Town – 1st – Whitehead
Best Station Award – 3rd – Whitehead Rail Station
Community Rail Halt Award – Whitehead Station
Judgement Day for Whitehead as Judges Arrive (09 August 2007)
Whitehead again represented Northern Ireland in the Coastal Resort category of Britain in Bloom this year. The judges arrived on 9th August 2007, in what Alderman May Beattie, Chairperson of Parks, Countryside & Amenities Sub-Committee called "Judgement Day for Whitehead". In the town a huge horticultural operation has been going on and thousands of plants are being tended in Whitehead's acclaimed floral displays. The Judges are two highly-qualified horticulturalists Jim Buttress & Sue Wood. They were accompanied around the town by Alderman May Beattie (Chairperson of Brighter Borough), Bob Pollock (Chairperson of Brighter Whitehead), Stephen Daye (Parks & Countryside Development Officer) and Matt Hunter (Parks & Countryside Operations Officer). Before judging Jim Buttress & Sue Wood meet the many groups that work in partnership with CBC including sponsors at a reception in Whitehead Golf Club. In September, the results will be announced in Coventry, Bill Pollock will represent Brighter Whitehead at the event.
Big Thanks to Cannon Motors (31 July 2007)
Local Hyundai dealer Cannon Motors Limited, (Belfast Road, Carrickfergus) have agreed to sponsor our transport via the loan of the Hyundai Santa Fe for the Britain in Bloom judging on Thursday 9th August.