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Twenty-nine children from the Ballynahinch area visited Castle Espie
during the Welcome Festival for the Brent Geese after their long
flight from Canada.
This was a cross-community trip arranged by Lisa Doherty, and made up of youth clubs from the Langley Road and Drumaness, and the Hillcrest Drive Association. |
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| During the festival the children participated in a drama workshop depicting the journey of the geese from Canada to Ireland, and afterwards they took part in a torchlight procession and watched as archers fired burning arrows into a straw goose which lit up the black October night. |
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As the original visit was on a very dark night, everyone wanted to
come back during the day and learn more about the wildlife at this
special place.
The same children went back again to Castle Espie and, under the guidance of the Education Officer, they learned about the wildfowl, fed the birds at the lake, and even visited a hide to watch the birds at the shoreside. |
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The following week, with sponsorship from the Athletic Bar, and the
help of Marlilyn Stanford, artist in residence at Castle Espie, the
children set about making a large mural depicting the variety of
bird life in County Down.
Lisa said, "We hope that trips like this will continue in the future and that all local children can participate in the experience". |
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