It is great to be able to plan events now with an element of confidence. It’s been really lovely to be able to lead walks and meet lots of lovely people again since last summer. Most organisers are still wary of overly large gatherings, so bookings are usually required, even for free events. Please honour your booking, as “no-shows” mean that someone else loses out – if you can’t make it, please let me or the organisers know.
Nature Walks in Mid and East Antrim
Friday 27th January 2023 at Bashfordsland Wood and Oakfield Glen, Carrickfergus (2pm)
Friday 24th February at Straidkilly Nature Reserve, Glenarm (2pm)
Tuesday 21st March at Larne Leisure Centre, Larne (2pm)
These walks are part of a series of EmbRACE events run by Mid and East Antrim Council, led by Dermot. Although not focussing on foraging as such, we’ll be seeing some edible plants along the way.
The Bashfordsland walk will concentrate on the legacy of the Victorians and the plants that they introduced at the time.
At Straidkilly, we’ll be looking at a wild and natural woodland that is starting to “wake up” in spring.
At Larne, we’ll be looking at some of the seaweeds and creatures that inhabit the intertidal zone along the promenade.
Booking is essential and numbers will be limited.
For Bashfordsland, book using https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=0CKnVPopx0W40LVvQZAzzfPsdGB41DNHoZ954kQ_4ixUQ05JU0VKVERKMFRHTjJMNDc4NFdEWkVSNS4u
For Straidkilly, book using https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=0CKnVPopx0W40LVvQZAzzfPsdGB41DNHoZ954kQ_4ixUM0oyWjNYRjJFUEMwRDhTTTZTWDdUVTlRQi4u
For Larne, book using https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=0CKnVPopx0W40LVvQZAzzfPsdGB41DNHoZ954kQ_4ixUNjg5OUhNQUFaT0swQ1JSSko2RTJHREJYOS4u
Originally planned for September last year as part of the European Heritage Open Day events and cancelled following Queen Elizabeth’s death, Mid and East Antrim Council are having a foraging and tasting session at Arthur Cottage in Cullybackey. We will walk down into Galgorm Woods and when we get back to the cottage, we can taste freshly baked griddle bread and homemade jams.
Booking is required, and enquiries can be made by contacting The Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena 028 2563 5077 or by emailing braid.enquiries@midandeastantrim.gov.uk
A second event in the Andrew Jackson Cottage, near Carrickfergus, will be on Saturday 28th January, where I will be demonstrating and cooking chutney from 12 to 2. This will be a drop-in session, no booking required.
Larne Museum and Arts Centre has a small herb garden, and is putting on an event to chat about the herbs in the garden and to taste various herbs, both from the wild and from the garden itself.
Past Events – Locations of Forage events around the country
Co. Londonderry
Learmount Forest, Feeny
Roe Valley CP, Limavady
Rath Dubh, Moneyneany
Draperstown
Downhill Forest
Ballyscullion, Bellaghy
Drumnaph Wood, Maghera
Prehen, Derry
Gransha, Derry
Lough Beg, Toome
Killaloo Wood, Claudy
Ness Wood, Claudy
Ballyronan
Co. Tyrone
Cabin Wood, Cookstown
Augher
Drum Manor Forest Park, Cookstown
Dungannon Park
Gortin Village
Lissan House, Cookstown
Springhill, Moneymore
Gortin Glen Forest Park
Ecclesville Wood, Fintona
Co. Armagh
Slieve Gullion Forest Park
Crossmaglen
Oxford Island
Co. Fermanagh
Devenish Partnership, Enniskillen
Castle Archdale Forest Park
Tully Castle
Killyfole Lough
Co Antrim
Cushendall Beach
Rathcoole
Randalstown
Sentry Hill, Newtownabbey
Eden Allotments, Carrickfergus
Antrim Castle Demesne
Jubilee Wood, Whitehead
Bashfordslnd and Oakfield Woods, Carrickfergus
Mossley Mill
Rathlin Island
Greenisland Allotments
Shane’s Castle Estate
Broughgammon Farm, Ballycastle
Ecos Park, Ballymena
Cloughmills
Bendooragh
Ballintoy
People’s Park, Ballymena
Galgorm
Crumlin Glen
Larne
Portglenone
Straidkilly and Glenarm
Glengormley
Glynn
Carnmoney Hill
Republic of Ireland
Marlay Park, Dublin
St. Anne’s Park, Dublin
Carlingford, Co. Louth
Tintern, Co. Wexford
Belfast
Shaw’s Bridge
Belvoir Forest Park
Tullycarnet
Ormeau Park
Lagan Lands East
Lagan Towpath
Lagan Meadows
Cherryvale Park
Bog Meadows NR
Orangefield
Co. Down
Moneyreagh
Hillsborough Estate
Comber Greenway
Castlewellan Forest Park
Rathfriland
Rostrevor Forest Park
Tollymore Forest Park
Delamont Country Park
Bangor
Dundrum
Groomsport
Newcastle
Portaferry
Whiterock
Strangford
Loughbrickland
Annahilt
Lacken
