Coleraine went Wild for the Queen’s 90th birthday this week – with locals from the Millburn and Ballysally estates marking Her Majesty’s big day with a wildflower-themed right Royal party.
The Cornfield Project, a £135,000 community wildflower project between the two estates, held a public celebration on Tuesday evening ahead of HRH Queen Elizabeth’s official 90th birthday this Saturday.
In total around 180 people turned out – despite the thunderstorms – and enjoyed a ‘Queen Bee’ treasure trail through the woodland, the planting of a wildflower meadow to mark the occasion, a tour of the ongoing Cornfield Project, and other activities including face painting, barbecues, and wildlife and wildflower stalls.
And as well as planting the meadow, Alternative Angles – a local social enterprise supporting people with learning disabilities – made creative ‘90’ flower pots for the event and Millburn Sunbeam Over 50’s made celebration bunting that was used to promote sowing wildflowers in pots for people to take home.
The whole event was a collaboration between local community groups Building Ballysally Together, Millburn Community Association and Focus on Family– while Causeway Coast and Glens Council financially supported the event via the Queen’s Birthday Grant.
Project Volunteer Billy Ellis said: “It was amazing to see so many people turn out despite the thunderstorms and everyone had a fantastic time marking the Queen’s 90th birthday.”
The event couldn’t have happened without the fantastic support of the volunteer team and the local community groups.
