Wrap up warm and blow the winter cobwebs away on Saturday 26 November, from 12 to 3pm, at the Woodland Trust’s Galgorm Wood, Cullybackey.
Explore the natural treasures of Galgorm, roll your sleeves up to plant trees and enjoy an afternoon brimming with free fun activities for all the family.
Activities include face painting, storytelling, arts and crafts and a CBBC ‘Deadly Scene Investigation’ trail for children. Solve the puzzle and discover which animal has committed a terrible crime! And to help keep warm, the first 50 people will receive a complimentary hot drink and hat.
Michelle McCaughtry, the Trust’s People Engagement Co-ordinator, says: “We would love people to come along and help us plant oak and ash trees. Saturday 26 November is the start of National Tree Week and this is a wonderful opportunity to do something positive for the local environment.
“Thanks to funding from Biffaward, Galgorm Wood has recently been enhanced and we hope that members of the public will be encouraged to visit, discover and enjoy this fantastic natural resource.”
Two local primary schools - Buick Memorial and The Diamond - have already discovered the wood on their doorstep. The young nature detectives have put this picturesque woodland and its precious wildlife under the microscope during recent events with the Woodland Trust.
Improved access and new pathways will lead you on your woodland journey. The project has been funded by Biffaward, a multi-million pound environment fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), which utilises landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services.
National Tree Week, run by the Tree Council, marks the start of the winter tree planting season. It’s an annual celebration of trees and woods, and this year runs from 26 November to 4 December.
Access to Galgorm Wood is via the Maine riverside path in Cullybackey. As you drive through Cullybackey from Ballymena you will see the site signposted Galgorm Wood (brown sign) on the left beside the Spar.
Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Please wrap up warm and wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear. For further details please contact the Woodland Trust on 028 9127 5787.
Notes to editors
For media enquiries contact:
Kaye Coates at the Woodland Trust’s Bangor Office on 028 9127 5787; email kayecoates@woodlandtrust.org.uk or
The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121; email media@woodlandtrust.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 three key aims: i) to enable the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees ii) to protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future iii) to inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees
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.
Here in Northern Ireland the Woodland Trust cares for 51 woods. These woods contain a mix of recently planted woodland, mature woodland and ancient woodland (that’s land continuously wooded since at least 1600). We have recently produced the first-ever comprehensive record of Northern Ireland’s ancient woodland; find out more at www.backonthemap.org.uk