Date – 31 August 2018 - 1 September 2018
Time – 10:30 am - 4:30 pm
Where – Glenarm Castle, 2 Castle Demesne, Glenarm, Ballymena BT44 0BQ. View Map
Below is the Proposed Itinerary, Please clink on the link here: CIH Autumn Study Tour 2018 for full details and expanded information!!
10.30 Meet at Glenarm Castle Tea Room, for tea/coffee
If travelling from Belfast head north on the M2, then take the Antrim Coast Road from Larne to Glenarm. The Castle is signposted from the town.
11.00 Glenarm Castle Walled Garden – With its own special place in local history, Glenarm Castle is a true national treasure. One of Ireland’s oldest estates, and home to the Earls of Antrim, the garden was restored just over 20 year ago and has many interesting features.
We will be guided through the garden by one of our own members Ciaran Mulholland. There will be a charge for entry to the gardens and the tea and coffee still to be confirmed but estimated at £4.50 each.
13.00 Lunch in the village of Broughshane
14.00 Broughshane . A walking tour of the multi award winning village of Broughshane; its most recent accolade is Village of the year. £2 per head for the tour.
15.00 Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Nursery. One of the few local authorities that grows all its own bedding. Alex Mc Michael and Stephen Daye will host us.
17.00 Travel to accommodation.
19.30 Dinner to be confirmed Belfast
Saturday 1st September 2018
9.30am Tropical Ravine Belfast
Starting in July 2013 a major heritage application was completed by Belfast City Council for a joint project with the Heritage Lottery Fund. The application was successful in winning £2.3 million, this was matched by Belfast City Council’s £1.5 million as part of its Investment Programme.
11.30 Hillsborough Castle Gardens The historic gardens, which were developed from the 1760s onwards, offer intriguing contrasts between ornate formal gardens, woodland and meadows. The gardens the garden’s unique features, including the Yew Tree Walk, Moss Walk, Ice House, Pinetum and the Quaker Burial Ground. The gardens at Hillsborough Castle cover nearly 100 acres.
13.30 Lunch TBC
14.30 Rowallane Gardens, Saintfield. Group rate £7.50 per head includes tour. Carved from the County Down landscape, the garden has grown from the 19th century beginnings of the Reverend John Moore and his nephew Hugh Armytage Moore. Their vision helped create a place where you can leave the outside world behind and immerse yourself in nature’s beauty.
Accommodation: the following hotels are suggested; there are also lots of BnB’s in the university area. Please book your own accommodation
Holiday Inn Express Belfast City Queens Quarter: https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/gb/en/belfast/bfsex/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-EX-_-GB-_-BFSEX
ibis Belfast City Centre: https://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-7232-ibis-belfast-city-centre/index.shtml
In order to finalise numbers for tea and coffee, lunch etc., please confirm your attendance by email to Michael Hagan, Ireland Branch Secretary at ireland@horticulture.org.uk or mhagan@eircom.net or Claire Woods Claire.woods@daera-ni.gov.uk
Please state which days you are attending and if you will be joining us for dinner on Friday evening.
Thank you
Mick Hagan and Claire Woods