Nature and heritage focus of weekend event
This year the theme for European Heritage Open Days (9 & 10 September), is ‘Heritage and Nature: A Landscape of Possibilities’. Many events have been organised to show Northern Ireland’s natural landscape and biodiversity.
Antrim
Greenmount campus nature trails and walled garden
Greenmount campus includes over 18 hectares of landscaped grounds. Walking tours of the nature trail will take you through woodland and past:
- the walled garden dating from 1801
- an ice house
- summer house
- stone arch
- lakes, ponds and a constructed wetland
Armagh
The Palace Demesne Public Park
Palace Demesne Park, set in 300 acres, is the creation of Archbishop Richard Robinson and includes walks that vary in distance and a play park for children. There’s a restaurant and coffee shop in the picturesque Georgian stables and courtyard.
Belfast
Carnegie Oldpark Library
The library has been recently purchased and there are exciting plans to restore this 1906 building to its former glory.
There will be a book sale, film show, refreshments, and a small tree will be given to visitors as part of the ‘Heritage and Nature’ theme to enhance the local environment and encourage children to plant and grow them.
Derry/ Londonderry
Seamus Heaney’s HomePlace
The Seamus Heaney HomePlace features an interactive exhibition over two floors, filled with personal stories, images, and the voice of the poet himself.
His first major work, ‘Death of a Naturalist’, was published in 1966. Throughout his life, Heaney continued to explore the theme of nature and the landscape of his ‘homeplace’.
The centre also features a recreation of Heaney’s Dublin study, a gift shop, a Creative Learning Zone for children and a café.
Down
Bangor Castle walled garden
Designed by the Ward family of Castle Ward in the 1840s, the walled garden was considered a secret garden until it was restored and opened to the public in 2009.
The gardeners will be onsite providing tours of this exquisite garden and to answer questions about the restoration and the four separate horticultural personalities of the garden.
Fermanagh
Guided bus tour of Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark
Take a guided tour of some of the major sites within the UNESCO Global Geopark, including the Cavan Burren, Cornagee Viewpoint, Blacklion, Hanging Rock, and Claddagh Glen, with optional nature walk, and guided tour of Marble Arch Caves.
European Heritage Open Days
If you want to find out more about what and when properties are opening, what events are on, and if you need to book, you can get information and download the brochure at the following link:
Keep up-to-date with European Heritage Open Days on Facebook and on Twitter (@ehodni).
The weekend promises to have something for everyone so why not come along and enjoy a little bit of history right on your doorstep?