Students from Ballymagee Primary School and Kilmaine Primary School were joined by the Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Alistair Cathcart, in Bangor’s Linear Park where they planted 50 new fruit trees.

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 community orchard. This year, Linear Park was identified as one of those locations and to celebrate National Tree Week, Year 6 students from both schools planted 50 trees.

 The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Alistair Cathcart, said: “Community orchards are an excellent place for people to come together. They provide a space for celebrations, are a source of food, and they can be used as educational resource for local schools, community groups and the wider public. Bangor’s Linear Park is a beautiful, peaceful area and I was delighted to help the children who were full of infectious enthusiasm in creating this new orchard.”

Orchards can encourage healthy eating and entice more people to enjoy outdoor activities, helping to improve wellbeing, while also making towns, villages and neighbourhoods more pleasant places to live.

For more information, visit www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/STAND4TREES or email ANDparks@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk.