Menu
09/08/2006
Belfast hosts ‘Celebrate Wildlife Festival’
The Ulster Wildlife Trust is to hold its ‘Celebrate Wildlife Festival’ at the award-winning Bog Meadows Nature Reserve in Belfast on Saturday.
The day will be packed full of fun and exciting activities for people of all ages including games, talks, demos, music and food all with a wildlife/environmental theme, providing an unmissable opportunity to celebrate and learn more about the Natural World.
The Bog Meadows Local Nature Reserve is a 50 acre wildlife haven in south-west Belfast adjacent to the M1 Motorway and to a large urban population.
Wetland, grassland and woodland habitats within the reserve are home to an array of wildlife including newts, bats, rabbits, field mice, waterfowl, and many important bird species.
The creation of the M1 Motorway in the seventies had a devastating effect on the site and the wildlife at the habitat. Left derelict for more than two decades, the site was saved from development by the local community after several years of campaigning.
A ‘Friends of the Bog Meadows’ Group was formed by local people and a strong partnership evolved between this group, the Ulster Wildlife Trust, local stakeholders, local people and users of the site.
Commenting on the festival, Ulster Wildlife Trust Bog Meadows Nature Reserve Warden, Ross Towers, said: “Visitors will be able to have a go at pond-dipping and butterfly netting, get up close to some wildlife you wouldn't see everyday on Bog Meadows with Belfast Zoo’s beasties and Exploris with their marine touch tank. If that's not enough, you can go on a guided nature walk, get your face painted like your favourite animal or create some wildlife art.”
He continued: “This will be a hands on, get-in-there-and-have-a-good-time, kind of an event - from wildlife hunts and willow weaving, to starfish and stick insects, there’ll be plenty of opportunity to get up close and personal with nature. Enjoyment guaranteed.”
The informative talks and demos will cover themes such as the ‘Birds of Belfast’ and ‘How to Recycle your Waste’, and further activities will be delivered by a wide range of local environmental organisations.
There will also be music from local musicians, pure fun from circus performers, and fairtrade food to sample at the stalls in the ‘Food Tent’.
The event will be held from 11am until 4.30pm on Saturday August 12, and is free of charge.
A free shuttle bus to and from Bog Meadows leaving from Belfast City Centre, Castle Place (Opposite HMV) every hour from 11am to 3pm, with last return to Belfast City Centre at 4.30pm.
For more information, contact the Ulster Wildlife Trust on 028 44830282 or email events@ulsterwildlifetrust.org.
(EF/SP)
The day will be packed full of fun and exciting activities for people of all ages including games, talks, demos, music and food all with a wildlife/environmental theme, providing an unmissable opportunity to celebrate and learn more about the Natural World.
The Bog Meadows Local Nature Reserve is a 50 acre wildlife haven in south-west Belfast adjacent to the M1 Motorway and to a large urban population.
Wetland, grassland and woodland habitats within the reserve are home to an array of wildlife including newts, bats, rabbits, field mice, waterfowl, and many important bird species.
The creation of the M1 Motorway in the seventies had a devastating effect on the site and the wildlife at the habitat. Left derelict for more than two decades, the site was saved from development by the local community after several years of campaigning.
A ‘Friends of the Bog Meadows’ Group was formed by local people and a strong partnership evolved between this group, the Ulster Wildlife Trust, local stakeholders, local people and users of the site.
Commenting on the festival, Ulster Wildlife Trust Bog Meadows Nature Reserve Warden, Ross Towers, said: “Visitors will be able to have a go at pond-dipping and butterfly netting, get up close to some wildlife you wouldn't see everyday on Bog Meadows with Belfast Zoo’s beasties and Exploris with their marine touch tank. If that's not enough, you can go on a guided nature walk, get your face painted like your favourite animal or create some wildlife art.”
He continued: “This will be a hands on, get-in-there-and-have-a-good-time, kind of an event - from wildlife hunts and willow weaving, to starfish and stick insects, there’ll be plenty of opportunity to get up close and personal with nature. Enjoyment guaranteed.”
The informative talks and demos will cover themes such as the ‘Birds of Belfast’ and ‘How to Recycle your Waste’, and further activities will be delivered by a wide range of local environmental organisations.
There will also be music from local musicians, pure fun from circus performers, and fairtrade food to sample at the stalls in the ‘Food Tent’.
The event will be held from 11am until 4.30pm on Saturday August 12, and is free of charge.
A free shuttle bus to and from Bog Meadows leaving from Belfast City Centre, Castle Place (Opposite HMV) every hour from 11am to 3pm, with last return to Belfast City Centre at 4.30pm.
For more information, contact the Ulster Wildlife Trust on 028 44830282 or email events@ulsterwildlifetrust.org.
(EF/SP)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
14 March 2008
'Wildlife' Crime Targeted
Members of the public have been urged to speak up against wildlife criminals by a Northern Ireland partnership formed to reduce wildlife crime.
'Wildlife' Crime Targeted
Members of the public have been urged to speak up against wildlife criminals by a Northern Ireland partnership formed to reduce wildlife crime.
24 February 2009
Bog Meadows Search Underway For Boys' Remains
There has been a call for sensitivity from a local politician as police forensic teams today began examining ground close to the Bog Meadows wildlife sanctuary in west Belfast. Police were carrying out a dig at the nature reserve today after an unrelated search for unmarked babies' graves uncovered further, unexpected human remains.
Bog Meadows Search Underway For Boys' Remains
There has been a call for sensitivity from a local politician as police forensic teams today began examining ground close to the Bog Meadows wildlife sanctuary in west Belfast. Police were carrying out a dig at the nature reserve today after an unrelated search for unmarked babies' graves uncovered further, unexpected human remains.
18 May 2009
Report Wildlife Crime, Urges Partnership
Wildlife need better protection, says an anti-crime partnership on combating animal abuses. More "could be done to tackle wildlife crime in Northern Ireland" if all wildlife crimes were reported to local police, according to PAW NI - the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime in Northern Ireland.
Report Wildlife Crime, Urges Partnership
Wildlife need better protection, says an anti-crime partnership on combating animal abuses. More "could be done to tackle wildlife crime in Northern Ireland" if all wildlife crimes were reported to local police, according to PAW NI - the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime in Northern Ireland.
05 May 2022
People Urged To Participate In Citizen-Science Survey
People across Northern Ireland have been urged to take part of a citizen-science survey to help understand the country's insect population and inform the development of future conservation efforts.
People Urged To Participate In Citizen-Science Survey
People across Northern Ireland have been urged to take part of a citizen-science survey to help understand the country's insect population and inform the development of future conservation efforts.
23 May 2017
PSNI Use Drones To Combat Wildlife Crime
The PSNI are using drones to help prevent and combat wildlife crime. Police used drones to monitor 'hot-spot' areas where crimes against birds of prey are occurring.
PSNI Use Drones To Combat Wildlife Crime
The PSNI are using drones to help prevent and combat wildlife crime. Police used drones to monitor 'hot-spot' areas where crimes against birds of prey are occurring.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:It will be cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, soon followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
