29 June 2006
Summer evening picnics to celebrate woodland
If you go down to the woods today . . . .
Bring your picnic, a rug or seat - and yes your teddy bear, if he would like to come – to Throne Wood, just off the Antrim Road, on Tuesday 4 July. Parking is available at Hazelwood Integrated Primary School, Whitewell Road, from 6.00 to 8.00 pm. Access to the wood is behind the school, directly from the school grounds.
This is one of the Woodland Trust’s series of summer events, taking place as part of its ‘Tree for All’ campaign. Tree For All aims to give everyone, especially children, the chance to get close to nature.
Ten summer evening picnics, delivered in partnership with the Ulster Wildlife Trust, will take place throughout July and August; all from 6 to 8pm. So come and enjoy the great outdoors at the following venues:
July
Tuesday 4th - Throne Wood, North Belfast
Friday 7th - Woodland Walkway, Clarawood, East Belfast
Friday 14th - Bog Meadows (an Ulster Wildlife Trust property) West Belfast
Friday 21st - Ligoniel Wood, North Belfast
Friday 28th - Old Warren Wood, Lisburn
August
Tuesday 1st - Seymour Hill, Dunmurry, Lisburn
Friday 4th - Woodland View, Bowtown, Newtownards
Tuesday 8th - Corrog Wood, Portaferry, Ards Peninsula
Tuesday 15th - Oakfield Glen, Carrickfergus
Tuesday 22nd - Monkstown Wood, Newtownabbey
World of Owls will be special visitors on the night, bringing an air of woodland magic to the scene. Fun activities will be organised by the Ulster Wildlife Trust and light refreshments, subject to availability, will be provided. These events have been made possible thanks to support from Better Belfast Landfill Tax Credit Scheme and Environment and Heritage Service.
Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Outdoor clothes and footwear, suitable for taking part in fun games and activities, should be worn. Please note that there are no toilet facilities in the woods! Those planning to attend should contact Cathy McCann at the Ulster Wildlife Trust on 028 4483 0282.
The summer picnics are part of a year long series of Woodland Trust events, which have included tree-planting events and tracking the first signs of the seasons. Brian Poots, the Trust’s senior woodland officer, explains: “We are delighted at how successful the year has been. The response from schoolchildren and their teachers has been most encouraging. Now, we’re pleased to be able to give local people – both adults and children - the chance to explore and appreciate their nearest woodland through our series of summer picnics.”
You can find out more about Tree For All - the largest children’s tree-planting initiative the UK has ever seen, by visiting www.treeforall.org.uk
Ends
Notes to editors
For picnic enquiries contact: Cathy McCann at the Ulster Wildlife Trust on 028 4483 0282
For media enquiries contact: Kaye Coates at the Woodland Trust on 028 9127 5787
Or The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, e-mail media@woodland-trust.org.uk
The Woodland Trust: The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s understanding and enjoyment of woodland.
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free. Further news can be found at http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/
Here in Northern Ireland the Woodland Trust cares for 52 woods. These woods contain a mix of newly created community woodland, mature woodland and ancient woodland (land continuously wooded since 1600). We are also working to create the first comprehensive record of ancient woodland in Northern Ireland.
