Issue 198 - North Down BT18 •BT19 • BT20 • BT21
Holywood’s First Community Orchard Created
Local primary schools recently worked with members of the Holywood Shared Town community group to kickstart this year’s National Tree Week. Located at what is known locally as the old allotments, near Holywood Rugby Club, students from five local schools put their green fingers to the test to help create a new orchard in the town. As part of Ards and North Down Borough Council’s commitment to successfully implement the Tree and Woodland Strategy, Council Officers aim to identify three locations across the Borough every year for a new orchard. Once the Holywood site was identified as a prime location, Officers supported members of Holywood Shared Town and students from Priory Integrated College, Holywood Primary School, Glencraig Integrated Primary School, Sullivan Upper School and Holywood Steiner School to bring the new community orchard to fruition. The Deputy Mayor of Ards and North Down,
Mayor Jennifer Gilmour and Age Friendly Alliance Members
Ards and North Down Borough Council Launches Five-Year Age Friendly Strategy Ards and North Down Borough Council has launched its Age Friendly Strategy and Action Plan for 2023-2027, providing a commitment to ensure the Borough continues to be a great place to live and grow older. The Strategy and Action Plan will build on the success of the 2019-2022 Plan which resulted in the formation of the Over 50s Council. The Over 50s Council is a group of people aged over 50 who live in Ards and North Down. They have been instrumental in helping to identify issues that are
important to people in the Borough as they get older and have been involved in the development of the 2023-2027 Action Plan. Ards and North Down’s demographic profile will change significantly over the next 10 to 20 years, with a higher proportion of people being in the older age brackets.
Between 2011 and 2021, the number of people aged over 65 increased from 27,692 (17.7% of the Borough’s total population) to 36,226 (22.1%). The Borough is recognised as having an ageing population and older people provide a valuable contribution to
our Borough. The Strategy and Action Plan strives to ensure that provisions are made to cater for the increasing number of older people in our Borough, helping them lead active and fulfilled lives.
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Councillor Hannah Irwin, said:“I am delighted to see the creation of Holywood’s first community orchard. Community orchards are an excellent place for people to come together. They provide a space for celebrations as well as being a source of food, and can also be used as an educational resource for local schools, community groups and the wider public. Orchards encourage healthy eating and outdoor activities that improve wellbeing while making our towns, villages and neighbourhoods more pleasant places to live. I hope everyone enjoys this wonderful new orchard in Holywood.” For more information about Ards and North Down Borough Council’s STAND4TREES initiative, visit www. ardsandnorthdown. g o v. u k / r e s i d e n t / p a r k s and-open-spaces/ stand4trees