Celebrations At Windmill Hill In Ballynahinch

Much to the delight of the local community, Down District Council has declared Windmill Hill a local nature reserve… the first of its kind in the district. Windmill Hill is managed by both Down District Council and the Woodland Trust. This new status will ensure that Windmill Hill remains a protected site and will continue to make an important contribution to local biodiversity, as well as being a great place for people to visit with breathtaking views over County Down. Danielle Begley, Biodiversity Officer at Council, said: “Windmill Hill is the most fantastic natural resource- for both the people and the wildlife- and we are absolutely delighted to see local people here today enjoying the site and all it has to [caption id="attachment_44582" align="alignright" width="300"] At the launch of the Windmill Hill nature reserve were Coincillor Robert Burgess, Patrick Cregg, Woodland Trust Director, Danielle Begley, Council Biodiversity Officer, and Cllrs Patsy Toman and Garth Craig, with from row, Nathan Cheevers and Halle Lyons from Ballynahinch Primary School with Cllr Maria McCarthy, Chairperson of Down District Council.[/caption] offer!” Children from Ballynahinch Primary School joimed in with the Nature Detective activities on the day, including planting more than 100 trees on the site. Michelle McCaughtry from the Woodland Trust explained: “It’s very important for children to get back to nature. And by planting these native trees today, we are creating a legacy for years to come”. The chair of Down District Council, Cllr Maria McCarthy, planted an oak tree to commemorate the occasion. She said: “Designating Windmill Hill as a Local Nature Reserve demonstrates how committed Down District Council is to working towards conserving local wildlife for the people of Ballynahinch”. Windmill Hill is open to the public all year round and offers woodland walks and tranquility, including informal play areas, witht the promise of brilliant views over the town and countryside of Ballynahinch. Visitors to this historic site, which was the site of the famous Battle of Ballynahinch in 1798, can enjoy a mix of native trees and wildflowers as well as many bird species and insects.]]>