Tidy Randalstown holds first ever NatureFest event

NATURE and the environment were in the spotlight last Friday and Saturday as Tidy Randalstown hosted their first NatureFest, funded by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Community Festivals fund.

Eighty-four children, accompanied by teachers, assistants and Tidy Randalstown volunteers took part in a quartet of activities organised for schools on Friday, with four groups taking it in turns to plant a pansy in a pot in the Scout Hall, enjoy juice, treats and a garden tour at Maine Fold, make an ECO badge in Arches Hall and learn about compost making at 8 Arches Lane.

The sun shone as the excited, but beautifully behaved children walked in pairs from venue to venue, all returning to the Scout Hall at the end of the morning to collect their very own potted pansy to take home.

All the schools thanked the “wonderful Tidy Randalstown volunteers” for an enjoyable morning.

Saturday morning began with Chairperson Helen Boyd doing a live interview for BBC Radio Ulster’s Your Place and Mine on the bank of the River Maine to promote NatureFest.

The festival then opened up to the general public, offering wildlife and garden trail walks, talks, live music, crafting sessions, free cupcakes, a Nature Hunt and a range of exhibits and demonstrations at the Scout Hall and along the viaduct path.

As part of European Heritage Open Days six churches were also open to visitors during the afternoon.

Along with local families and folk from as far afield as Canada and Australia Tidy Randalstown was delighted to welcome the Mayor Neil Kelly, and High Sheriff of County Antrim, Mrs Patricia Perry and her family.

During his visit the Mayor got up close and personal with some of the delightful creatures on show at Amy’s Mobile Ark petting farm, while Mrs Perry stopped to admire the talents of the Antrim Floral Art Group.

As well as trying out a range of crafting activities in the Scout Hall, renamed the Craft Hut for the day, children took up the challenge of the Nature Hunt, trying to find unexpected objects from nature hidden in many of the exhibitors’ stands.

The winning entry came from Ivy McCarroll who receives the prize of a family pass to Millstream Alpacas located between Antrim and Randalstown.

Commenting on the day, Helen Boyd said “NatureFest was a big undertaking for us and we’re so grateful to everyone who made the event possible - to the Council for their funding and support; to the Scouts and Randalstown Arches for providing venues; to the churches for opening up their buildings, providing parking, and even, very generously, catering; to all our exhibitors, speakers, walk leaders, musicians, and of course our own team of volunteers who put many, many hours into advance planning and, on the day, setting up, facilitating and clearing up.

“We’ve had some great feedback from those who attended and we’ll be working to build on this success as we look forward to NatureFest next year.”