PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT

SDLP South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns said he was delighted to take part in the BBC Springwatch cleanup of Crumlin Glen today.  

The BBC SWAT team performed lots of pruning and replanting, created a butterfly garden, installed bird and bat boxes on the trees beside the river, removed graffiti and gave the glen a general tidy-up.

Mr Burns commented: “Crumlin Glen is one of the premium recreational and educational facilities in the entire borough of Antrim. However it was starting to look a little bit the worse for wear. This amazing team of local volunteers has given it a much needed facelift and it is looking a lot better this afternoon than it was this morning.”

“The glen is a wonderful place and it is there to be enjoyed by everyone. We have a superb countryside recreation facility right on our doorstep and I hope people will take the time to make use of it this summer. The riverside walk, beside the waterfall, is something every Crumlin resident should experience.

“However, the Glen is not a finished job. There is still a lot of potential there. The recent financial outlay by Antrim Borough Council has been money well spent but I want to see more investment. I would like to see a much improved picnic area, better seating, enhanced waste disposal facilities and better access for the disabled in future.”

“The glen still remains a bit of a ‘hidden gem’, but now we have the new access point close to Main Street it should be opened up to a lot more people. I want to see more local residents use it over the coming months and I am sure they will enjoy the time they spend there.”

ENDS

06.06.08