Belfast Hills Newsletter - Summer 2012

See inside for full programme of events!

Hosted by the Belfast HillsPartnership, the festival willfeature walking tours, old-time busruns, traditional games, a treasurehunt and fair and a summermurder mystery that is sure tocaptivate and enthrall. The programme of events willrecall how we lived and workedduring the Great War, the roaringtwenties, the hungry thirties andthe wartime forties in the BelfastHills.Landscape Partnership ManagerLizzy Pinkerton said the festivalwas a bright new dawn for theBelfast Hills.“The aim of the festival is to enablepeople to enter into the full BelfastHills experience with everything thehills have to offer from theacademic side of our heritage tothe fun, family events, murdermystery and movie barge cinema.“All the heritage on offer relatesdirectly to the communities in thearea of the Belfast Hills.“Our massive festival kicks off the

start of our Heritage Lottery FundLandscape Partnership Schemewith a bang. “If it’s been years since you’vevisited the Belfast Hills or if you’venever ventured there, then this isthe time to do so,” she said.“We are also delighted to securefunding from the RuralDevelopment Programme which ishelping to pay for the festival andkeeping prices free or subsidised.“Thousands of people live in thecity below and we want them toexperience what is their legacy and their hills. We hope it willencourage people to becomeaware that the area is something to enjoy, cherish and protect.” For event details log ontowww.belfasthills.org/events, email [email protected] or call 02890 603 466.

Everyone’s invited to the Belfast Hills Heritage Festival. The first everBelfast Hills Heritage Festival kicks off from July 2 to 8 with a week of fun,frolics, tours and amazing events brought through the mists of time.

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There’s a whole lotta allotment fun taking root at a new Belfast

City Council community garden at Ballysillan.

Glorious sunshine greeted the opening of the allotments

recently – a space that has been transformed from a rundown

plot to a community garden growing fresh food. The

Conservation Volunteers and Salvation Army

are spearheading the three-year scheme

which will deliver a variety of horticultural

programmes, training and events.

The Belfast Hills Partnership expressed dismay after arsonists set fireto Cave Hill less than 48 hours after a wildlife survey recorded hundredsof species. The Partnership had hosted the Belfast City Council-fundedBioBlitz at the end of May.

Hundreds of species – including rare and important plants and animals –were recorded in the bioblitz. The area was earmarked for the study dueto its abundance of wildlife including badgers, bats, Irish hares, birds ofprey and insects. A rare plant (mossy saxifrage) was recorded. The Réal'swood white butterfly was also a great find at the site.

As part of the event a heath land survey walk was undertaken over the actual site that latersuffered damage in the blaze that affected three acres of McArt’s Fort.

Jim Bradley, Belfast Hills Partnership Manager said the area ofCave Hill had suffered repeated attacks with devastatingeffects.

“It is particularly dismaying that we were up on Cave Hillrecording about 400 species - confirming how vital and

important this wildlife site is,” he said.

“Of course we say again that lighting fires poses a realdanger for people using the Belfast Hills and also for those

setting the fires - especially with cliff edges present in CaveHill Country Park.

“We wish to thank everyone for their quick response in phoninginto the emergency services about this fire, and to the Fire and

Rescue Service for their prompt attendance and bringing thisblaze under control.

“In conjunction with Belfast City Council we have just erected afire card dispenser at Belfast Castle which explains

what to do when a fire is spotted.”


The Belfast Hills has entered the world of radio hamming thanksto a Whiteabbey radio operator who took to Divis Mountain tocommunicate with the world of wireless. Our own Marconi radiohammer Peter Martin was taking part in a global scheme topromote shortwave activities on the summits of the world.

Summits on the Air (SOTA) is an award scheme for radioamateurs and shortwave listeners that encourages portableradio operation on mountains. The scheme is designed for all

ages and not just formountaineers. The activityinvolves activators who ascend the summits. Chasers eitheroperate from home, a local hilltop or with activators on othersummits.

SOTA is now fully operational in countries around the world.Each summit earns the activators and chasers a score which isrelated to the height of the summit. Certificates are available forscores, leading to the prestigious "Mountain Goat" and "ShackSloth" trophies.

To get involved go to www.sota.org.uk. See the video of Peter on Divis on our facebook page.

Welcome to our newest crop ofstaff who will be delivering ourHeritage Lottery - fundedLandscape Partnership Schemefor the Belfast Hills.Our new outreach and projectsofficers are Jo Boylan and David

Scott. Both have come to usfrom Lagan Valley RegionalPark and we’re delightedto have such exemplarypeople onboard who are at

the top of their game in

delivering landscapepartnership projects.They are the final part of afive-member team who will be delivering the £1.8 millioninitiative at the Belfast HillsPartnership.Jo said she was looking forwardto working with thecommunities in and around theBelfast Hills and bringing thewonderful resource of the hillsto the people living close by.

David who has lots of experiencein similar schemes, said he wasamazed at the potential for thehills in the future and waseager to get started inimproving the landscape of the Belfast Hills.

Get signed up to our E-NewsletterTo receive updates and events go to www.belfasthills.org and click on ‘sign up for our E-Newsletter’. Become our Friend! - Why not support the Partnership by becoming a Friendof the Belfast Hills? Get free entry to most events and enjoy other benefits for just £10 a year.Details are on our homepage. We’re at ‘Belfast Hills Partnership’ on Facebook, ‘Belfast Hills’on Twitter and ‘Belfasthills’ on YouTube!


History in theHeart of the HillsMonday 2 July 10.00am-12.30pmCost: FREEJoin us in Belfast Castle – ourheritage HQ – for a series oftalks from local history andarchaeology experts. Have teaand hot buttered scones beforea guided walk in the afternoon to discover some of the hiddenhistorical treasures of Cave Hill. *Booking required

Butterflies, Birds and theBronze Age at SlievenacloyTuesday 3 July, 11am–1pm

Cost: FREEEnjoy a guided walk aroundthis old farmstead, nowone of the Hills’ best

nature reserves andteeming with orchidsand butterflies.Slievenacloy is rich inarchaeology with

Bronze Age cairns as well as abeautifully preserved old limekiln. Wear suitable clothing andsturdy footwear. The walk is notsuitable for children aged 8 andunder. *Booking Required

Wolves, Houndsand LegendsWednesday 4 July,2.30–4.30pmCost: FREEThe gothic setting of ClotworthyHouse is the location for thisstorytelling odyssey into theBelfast Hills. Children andfamilies can take part in thisengaging journey of theimagination that tells dramatictales of folklore and fable.Book early to avoid disappointment!

Murder Most Foul! -Murder Mystery of the

Belfast HillsFriday 6th July, 7.00pmCost: £12Investigate this hotsummer night murder

mystery that promises intrigue,drama and dastardly deedsrevealed. This whodunit has acast of lively characters fromthe past. Join them for supperin the elegant surroundings ofthe Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum.To book for this event contact theIrish Linen Centre & LisburnMuseum on 02892 663 377.

A Brief History of Divisand Black MountainThursday 5th July, 11am – 1pmCost: FREEFind out about thedevelopment of Belfastfrom a Hills’perspective, its legacyand learn about theinfluence of settlement, its riseand fall in population, habitatand farming changes and thefuture predictions for itsmanagement.*Book now as places are limited!

History in the Heart of the HillsMon 2 July, 10am – 12.30pm

Butterflies, Birds andthe Bronze AgeTues 3 July, 1am - 1pm

Go Potty for Prehistoric PotteryTues 3 July, 2 – 4pm

Flying Machines & Secrets of the SentryWed 4 July, 10am – 4pm

Wolves, Hounds & LegendsWed 4 July, 2.30 – 4.30pm

Brief History of Divis & Black MountainThurs 5 July, 11am – 1pm

River Barge Movie TheatreThurs 5 July, 7.30pm

On the buses, Heritage TourFri 6 July, 10am – 4pm

Murder Most Foul, MurderMystery - Fri 6 July, 7pm

Treasure Trail & Fun DaySat 7 July, 11am – 4pm

The Black Bull of Colin GlenSun 8 July, 11am – 1pm


Thousands of native trees havetaken root as part a newhedgerow initiative led by theBelfast Hills Partnership.

Volunteers, the public andstaff helped create a wildlifecorridor stretching for morethan 800 metres andencompassing over 5,000trees during a communityevent at Ballycolin Road.

Youngsters and people of all ages got down and dirtyto learn the traditional skillsof native hedgerow planting.

Spades were at the ready ashawthorn, oak, alder, willowand rowan got planted as part of the scheme to improve wildlife habitat in the Belfast Hills.

The planting will bring birdsand pollinating insects into thearea, improve the look of thelandscape, and give shelter forlivestock.

The event was funded by theNorthern Ireland EnvironmentLinks (NIEL) Challenge Fund

and supported by the NorthernIreland Environment Agency.This work was part of ourfarmland grant scheme whichforms an important part oflandscape scale work beingundertaken by the BelfastHills Partnership.

People have been out and enjoying our recent events inthe Belfast Hills. Our Half Moon Lake tour was a great dayout, the bus tour a resounding success and our Titanicwalk on Cave Hill and the BioBlitz proving very popular.

There’s so much moregoing on with theupcoming HeritageFestival. But if you’re notabout for that there’s theever-popular berrypicking evening on Cave Hill and our kiteflying day out on Divis – both events beinggreat days out for all the family. [email protected] or call 02890 603466 to find out more about our events or

go to www.belfasthills.org/events.


Funders of the BelfastHills Partnership

Hailed as an oasis in the heart ofBelfast’s housing sprawl anduntil recently known only to thefew people living near it, thedeeply secluded lake sits nestledin the middle of a residential arealike a secret garden.But now schoolchildren (picturedenjoying a bird study) and otherpeople have been orbiting thecrescent-shaped waterway andwildlife oasis in the middle ofLenadoon. Belfast City Counciland the wider Lenadooncommunity have been improvingthe site that’s now a secret hubfor people to visit and enjoy.

The former mill pond which usedto power machinery at the oldlinen factory on the Suffolk Road,has reopened for communityrecreation and education. It is setamid two acres of woodlandcontaining footpaths,environmentally-themed art pieces,benches and information panels.There is a programme of eventsplanned for the year if you’d liketo get involved. Just contact02890 615 319, [email protected] [email protected] orlog onto www.facebook.com/halfmoon lake belfast.

There have been moonbeams of interest in a little known ‘Half MoonLake’ in the heart of a sprawling urban area in west Belfast.

NEWCREATION Design Tel: 028 38 321 255

It’s your Belfast Hills: The Partnership brings together statutory bodies with a role to play in the Belfast Hills,including Belfast, Lisburn, Newtownabbey and Antrim councils. These representatives are joined by people from thefarming, community, commercial, recreation and environmental sectors. All have pledged to work together to benefitthe Belfast Hills. Charity No: XR70288 Company No: NI053189

Address: 9 Social Economy Village, Hannahstown Hill, Belfast, BT17 OXST: 028 9060 3466 • F: 028 9030 9867 • E: [email protected] • www.belfasthills.org

It was withgreatsadness thatwe learnedof the deathof ourdedicatedvolunteerRuby

Kirkland recently. Ruby carried outsterling work in the administrationdepartment of the Belfast HillsPartnership and she will be sorelymissed by all the team. Ruby

passed away at Easter and for sucha youthful woman, it was a greatshock to her family and friends. Shehad worked at the Partnership forfive years and in that time had beena reliable linchpin of the office.Ruby will always be rememberedfor her wit, intelligence and senseof adventure.

As well as losing Ruby, twostalwarts of the Belfast Hills passedaway in May. Hall Fraser was afarmer at Glencairn whose family

had farmed on the slopes of BlackMountain for generations. Hall wasa great voice on behalf of thosefarming the fringes of the hills.

Tom Lovett was another whoworked tirelessly for his localcommunity in Ligoniel as part of theLigoniel Improvement Association.Both men played their part inpointing the way forward for thehills and how important it was forall to be involved. These are all sadlosses for the Belfast Hills.

Fond farewell to Ruby Kirkland

Hidden Half Moon Lakelaunches into orbit


Belfast Hills Newsletter - Summer 2012

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