Grab your wellies and your trowel and come to Minnowburn in Belfast on Saturday 9 October to help National Trust staff and volunteers plant 1,000 Bluebell bulbs. Even if you don’t know your dicotyledon from your morifolium the National Trust needs your help to plant the bulbs in a new part of the wood.
Visitors to Minnowburn in previous years have enjoyed the colourful carpet of bluebells that lead up to the old rose garden at Terrace Hill. The wash of blue is an all too familiar sight and the intense colour and sweet scent that comes from this delicate perennial make it a breathtaking spectacle when out and about. The display of colour next spring in the newly planted area will be stunning.
Unfortunately the popular plant is an endangered species. Despite the UK playing host to half of the world’s population of bluebells the number of bluebells we see on our travels is on a steady decline. The Spanish bluebell is frequently planted in gardens and over the years hybridised with the native bluebell to form a hybrid. This hybrid is threatening the population of the pure native bluebell.
As Northern Ireland’s largest conservation charity, the National Trust relies on its volunteers for support and extra hands for bulb planting will be very welcome. It’s a great way to spend a lovely autumnal day, getting soil under your fingers and being out in the fresh, crisp air. Bring the children along too and engage little minds with nature.
The woodlands at Minnowburn play host to a diverse range of flora and fungi and the trees will alive with autumn colour, so make sure you come along on the 9 October.
Meet at Minnowburn car park at 11am.