back in blog mode

I've been away awhile from this portal and really got out of the habit of keeping this blog current so this week I'm going to make a big effort getting back in the swing of things.
First off, bit of a summary of recent happenings. The choker, AKA fringe lily, is dispersing. Council officials did spray some chemicals on the plant during September and it does seem to have worked but I was later told that this is the time of year for the blasted thing to die anyhow, so the proof of the pudding is going to be next Spring....
Cliftonville FC's new stand is ready and I understand the team are playing Linfield tomorrow in a match thats going to be broadcast on the telly, so it'll be interesting to see how the stand can handle all that testosterone and also what impact, if any it will have on the Wateworks park itself considering home fans must now enter through the Waterworks Cliftonville Road entrance.
New parts for the children's play park on the lower Cavehill Road side arrived this week which is great to see meanwhile the fishermen have been fishing like mad men with a whole host of competitions. And of course coming up soon is a winter-themed country fair organised by the Friends of the Waterworks team... so in all, quite a bit has been going on.
I still walk through the park most days and despite its familiarity and being right on my doorstep I never tire of it.

Rest in peace Archie Girvan

It was with deep regret that I learned Friends of the Waterworks treasurer Archie Girvan (pictured on the right along with Mark McCutcheon and Joanie McGuinness) died this week.

I met Archie some years ago through the Waterworks and for me he was a great man, always friendly, courteous and kind.

Archie has played an invaluable role in North Belfast. 

In today's Belfast Telegraph there are heartfelt messages of sympathy expressed from a range of community organisations including the North Belfast Employment Centre; Westland Community Group; North Belfast Partnership Board; Friends of the Waterworks; North Belfast Community Support Group (NBCSG) and the North Belfast Play Forum.

Archie was a member of all these groups at one stage or another in his lifetime and he achieved great results along with his team members in getting the job done, building up partnerships and promoting North Belfast.

I've included a great photo of Archie taken as far back as 2001, if computer date records are to be trusted, and it features Archie, in his role as member of the North Belfast Play Forum, on the unfinished site of the Waterworks multi-sports arena. 

The pitch has turned out to be one of the biggest success stories of this city and is used by sporting enthusiasts of all ages, from all communities. Midnight Soccer tournaments are even hosted regularly its that popular.

Brian Mullan who is secretary of the NBCSG and chairman of the Waterworks group said he was devastated by Archie's death.

He paid tribute to Archie and his unwavering cross-community efforts saying he will be missed by many. 

It's very true. The gap left in this community by this gentle soul will be hard to replace.

water lily action

As everyone knows the top pond of the Waterworks is being choked with water lily so it was good news to finally hear that Belfast City Council (BCC) are finally going to get the finger out and spray the plants with some sort of eco-friendly but not fish-friendly herbicide.

It's going to take several years to complete as the work will be carried out in stages because "there is a risk of small scale loss of fish" the council said.

This week BCC's elected representatives held their monthly meeting and during that emotionally charged meeting where incinerators and a civic reception for soldiers coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan was debated, DUP councillor Ian Crozier demanded that the council foot the bill for any dead fish and replace them instead of the Fishing Waterworks club.

stuck in the middle with you

This swan and her cygnets find it hard going making their way through the Waterworks top pond 

Support return of children's festival

I've been informed that Young At Art, who helped to bring this year's hugely successful Children's Festival back to the Waterworks need encouragement letters from all you punters out there.

For me this is a no-brainer and it should absolutely return. 

Everyone I have spoken to about the event which ran for two days at the end of May said they thought it was a brilliant event, which provided tons of family fun events, never before seen in the park. Over 11,000 people turned up and they came from miles around to see the viking boat glide through the waters, shop, eat or watch movies in the open air.

So get on the computer or write a letter to Young At Art, and address it to Ali FitzGibbon, 15 Church Street, Belfast BT1 1PG or email her at ali@youngatart.co.uk

You'll be helping a fabulous event return to our shores so get to it!

Top pond needs deflowered

The amount of weed in the top pond is incredible at the moment and for those fishing it's proving to be incredibly difficult to fish as well as reel in.

At a Friends of the Waterworks meeting in Belfast Castle the group was informed that in July action would be taken.

Apparently the best time to kill the plants is when they are in bloom and thats just about now.

In recent weeks I've noticed more and more experienced fishermen out in their waders trying to catch some fish.

Casting their lines I'm told is much too problematic close to the pathways. 

So lets see if Belfast City Council take the action they've promised. At the moment it looks like almost 50 per cent of the water is now covered with this plant life. As much as it may look pretty to the passerby, it needs cut back drastically in order to preserve the eco-system that thrives beneath its ever-increasing stretch.

New signs

My earlier post suggested that new signs with park rules for the Waterworks could be on their way, have to point out that in fact the new signs which I spotted yesterday at the Cavehill/Westland Fire Service entrance are in fact a map of the park. I would say this signage will be extremely useful for wheelchair users, indicating where the steep slopes run.
I'm pretty sure ties into health and safety legislation and new laws that require public spaces and businesses have appropriate disabled access points and information.
I'm still wondering if those signs designed by local school children will indeed be erected, they too would be another asset to the park.

Kids rule

A story in the North Belfast News recently with Claire Kelly indicated that a list of park rules designed by kids from local primary schools could be erected permanently if council officials agree, and it looks like they have.

Shiny new posts have been put up at several entrances ready for some sign or another, so we'll just have to wait and see what goes on them.

Diggers ahoy

I spotted a digger doing its stuff opposite the Cavehill Road entrance to the park last week, sitting in the small stream and pulling out truckloads of muck. There must be some scientific reason for it I'm sure, but all I do know is that it's got the water moving again.

The stream which starts from the Westland Fire Brigade boundary had been pretty stagnant for several months and now it's running down the weir again and looking much healthier!

Cygnet joy not spotted

As far as I know the baby swan that everyone's been waiting on has hatched. Probably about 2 weeks ago I'm thinking, but I haven't seen the cygnet yet.

I have seen the other family of swans however that are hanging around in the top pond beside the spit, they're so cute!

But back to the best beside the Cliftonville Road entrance. I know that there were four eggs in the nest originally, but in the end fishermen tell me only one survived.

This is the same batch of eggs which were tampered with earlier in the year and quite clearly this must have had an effect. 

Both humans and mother nature haven't been kind to this beleaguered swan. Fingers crossed next time round she'll build a nest and incubate her eggs  far from the madding crowd.

Biking it

There's a part of water in the Waterworks that always looks as if it needs a good clean out. It's the bit at the bottom of the waterfall where the water then takes a bend and goes under the bridge close to the Antrim Road.

North Belfast News photographer Thomas McMullan took this snap last week of a bike lying on its side, and for me and I'm sure many others it's not the first time we've seen bikes and trolleys, bottles of alcopops and beers floating around in this stretch of the water.

Littering is an offence in the park as everyone knows, it's just a mystery why things like this and many others go unnoticed. 

There's no doubt that the person who did this would think twice about dumping goods in the water if they were slapped with a heavy fine.

Enforcement issues are hotly debated amongst park users and it's astounding that park rangers do not have the capacity to issue fines for litter louts. Only Litter Wardens can do this. 

And then there's underage drinking. If a minor has booze its the job of the police to confiscate it, but if a person is over 18 it's the job of the council. But the booze has to be opened for it to be an offence is what I'm told. Even then it would be extremely intimidating for a member of the hard-working parks staff to approach and remove the alcohol if a gang was hanging around.

The council's Anti Social Behaviour Co-ordinator Laura Hamill said they and the police are working together much more effectively towards tackling these issues. Changes aimed at making our parks safer places such as this are long overdue.

Belfast Council launches probe into swan decline

Following on from an earlier post of mine at the start of June it turns that Belfast City Council are indeed worried about the decline of swans in the Waterworks and they have now launched their own investigations.

The park normally has around 120 to 150 swans in its waters but over the past year that number has dwindled to around 30.

Terry Goldsmith of the North Down Ringing Group who first alerted me to the problem said he was extremely worried and that research into the drop should be a top priority for the council.

The council have indicated that they are carrying out some "initial internal investigations" and are working with Terry and his colleagues to establish the extent of the problem, its cause and what can be done about it.

Let's hope the answers are found sooner rather than later.

11,000 reasons to bring Children's Festival back to Park

The Children's Festival at the weekend in the Waterworks was a huge success and our appreciation has to go to each and every single person who helped make that happen.

At a lengthy meeting of the Friends of the Waterworks last night in Belfast Castle Claire Kelly from Young At Art revealed that 11,000 people happily spent time in the park over the May 31/ June 1 weekend enjoying the fabulous events in the glorious sunshine.

I walked round the park three times on Saturday and it was clear that all parts of the park were being utilised to its fullest.

There was a marquee at the lower part of the park, the viking story boat was elegantly gliding its way through the water in the lower pond, which was made bright blue specially for the event while up in the top end of the park fishermen and their fly fishing techniques had kids swarming for a look. The EHS stall was pretty busy, not sure whether it was down to the free bags they were handing out or not, while a jazz band, under the shade of a tree, filled the air with relaxing rhythms. 

The outdoor cinema in the Westland part of the park was crammed all day long. According to Claire there were kids wearing NI footie tops, and Celtic and Rangers jerseys sitting side by side and not a bother on them they were so engrossed in the wonders of Finding Nemo, James and the Giant Peach, the Wizard of Oz and Charlotte's Web.

And the white windmills planted close to houses in the Westland estate, designed by artist Tomas Finnegan and the wind tunnels by Clare Lawlor at the Antrim Road entrance were just fabulous.

There was tons of security in the park I noticed, city council staff and PSNI vehicles. And from what I understand they were able to stamp out any ugly incidents that arose, of which there was a few.

But, all in all, the festival organisers, which includes local group New Lodge Arts,  performed a magic job and I sincerely hope they bring it back next year. 

Funding supplied from the Arts Council and North Belfast's Community Empowerment Partnerships must also be acknowledged.

It's clear to see people love this park and they will flock to it's pathways if any organisation makes an effort to stage family orientated events.  

That's why the people like Claire and New Lodge Arts, Friends of the Waterworks and the Families at the Waterworks fishing group continue to volunteer their time and spent hours devoted towards making this park a better place. 

They do it, quite simply, because it's North Belfast's jewel in the crown.

Call for probe into swan numbers drop

At the Friends of the Waterworks meeting this week Terry Goldsmith of the North Down Ringing Group which promotes the well-being of geese and the swans in the Waterworks Park called on Belfast City Council to launch an immediate probe into falling swan numbers.

The Waterworks normally has around 120 to 150 swans in its waters but in recent days that number has dropped to around 30 he claimed.

An wildlife investigation is needed into both the Waterworks and Victoria Park in East Belfast.

Traditionally the lower pond represents a haven for non-breeding swans, who flock to the water to escape the wrath of the alpha male, who mates up in the top pond. He's killed three rival swans already this year the meeting was told.

Terry explained that despite this breeding trend, numbers were drastically down. Ricky Rice and Helen Hurrell of Belfast's park committee were both at that meeting. 

It will be interesting to see if they do anything about this possibly worrying development.

Local Belfast actor Paddy Scully getting into character for the Children's Festival along with organisers Joanna Black, Gavin O'Connor and Ali FitzGibbon.

Children's Festival extravaganza

This weekend the Waterworks is going to be totally and utterly transformed and I for one can't wait.
The Children's Festival (http://www.belfastchildrensfestival.com) is coming to our side of town for the first time in its history from what I understand and it's going to be brilliant.
All the events take place this Saturday (May 31) and Sunday (June 1) and with open air cinemas on the go, a viking boat, story tellers, and windchimes workshops this children's festival is going to be fabulous.
Tons of credit for promoting this side of town has to go North Belfast community stalwarts Claire Kelly from the Festival office and Katrina Newell from New Lodge Arts. Even more praise must rest with organisers, Young At Art who decided this part of the city deserves to be included in fun events, just as much as the city centre, South Belfast and Cathedral Quarter zones.
So a big good luck to all the organisers, performers and punters, I've no doubt the two days will fly in and the whole event will be a success!

Sticks and stones will hurt me

Another leisurely stroll through the Wats today and because I'm really keen to see if there's any baby swans freshly hatched, my dander takes me up the park along the Cliftonville/Westland path. This afternoon there was kids, and I mean kids, at their lark.
I didn't walk on by. I stopped and spoke to one kid who threw a rock, narrowly missing me. Now I'm hoping he didn't mean for it to hit me, but when I said to this wee boy what's your game, he pointed to a group of kids a few metres away and said "I'm throwing rocks at the Prods". (He was only nine or ten for crying out loud - where is he learning this stuff more to the point!!!!)
A group of kids were indeed knocking about the trees that the legendary green giant David Bellamy helped to plant last year, but they didn't seem to doing anything.
However looking around it was clear to see some sort of clash had kicked off before I had arrived, the path was strewn with rocks and bits of brick. In the end I told this lad to wise up and walked on.
I noticed a fair rake of tourists about the park today. I really hope none of them got caught in the cross fire.

Any sign of cygnet life?

Maybe it's just me, but I'm getting kinda worried about the swan whose nest was targeted earlier this month...the mother swan was off the nest entirely last Friday and ever since then it seems that another swan has taken up the lonely post of keeping the eggs, (think there's four there), warm. The mother swan is still keeping a close eye on things though, she's hovering about in the lily weed which is taking over the water these days.
Anyways if anyone can enlighten me that this is normal bird fashion, drop me a line!

CCTVS and fence at Westland

This week PSNI Chief Inspector Simon Ball told the North Belfast News that the answer to stopping violent behaviour in the Waterworks will come only if CCTV cameras are installed and more fences are built. 

To quote him verbatim, "it is hoped that by restricting unauthorised access to the park through structural changes and installation of CCTV camera these problems may be reduced in the future".

If you cut through the double-dutch, I am assuming Simon Ball means building a fence at the rear of homes at Westland here. 

It's the only part of the park which isn't secure and where youths, intent on causing mayhem, can enter and exit at will.

I would imagine this top cop won't say this publicly, but privately I'm hearing that PSNI officers have told community bigwigs and residents that this is the only answer.

However the idea of a fence is meeting fierce resistance from Westland residents, and I can empathise. 

A string of houses in the estate have an unparalleled view of the park. It must be absolutely fantastic to open the curtains and have such a fabulous vista, and to have this obscured would cause anyone consternation. 

However there must be some level of compromise about this fence. 

Every other part of the park is fenced in, except this section. Surely the fact that youths are getting into the park and stoning cars, houses and people and making a clean getaway takes precedence? 

Young people are regularly clashing in this park, both during the day and at night. 

They muscle up to eachother at the bridge close to Westland Fire Station and hurl abuse or rocks at eachother. 

Then when the park closes and its dark, Catholic youths gather along the Cavehill Road and Protestant youths gather in the Waterworks to antagonise eachother all over again. Homes and families get caught in the cross fire and residents on both sides are fed up to the back teeth with it.

I have attended meetings with residents from both Westland and Cavehill Road and it emerged that children from the area aren't only to blame.  Youngsters are being bussed in from all parts of the city - Ballysillan, Tigers Bay, New Lodge and Ardoyne.  The Waterworks is where you get the craic nowadays don't you know?

On a more serious note, there has to be a meeting of minds here about this trouble. The fence and camera issues need further exploration and dialogue between the two sides there's no doubt, but what I believe everyone wants, is to try and prevent the park from becoming an all-out flashpoint. 

Another interface in North Belfast, and in a park too, how very depressing.

Park Rangers get Award

A very well done to our park rangers in North Belfast who picked up an award recently from the Making A Difference judges.

These guys work in testing and challenging circumstances and the award, which recognises all their hard work in our parks, is richly deserved. 

Pictured are Paul O'Neil, David Harkley, Krzysztof Wolynski, Andy Ross and Stephen Wells

Hatchets and 8 year olds

It turns out that residents complaining about anti-social behaviour in the Waterworks have every right to be scared witless. This week Belfast City Council revealed that a mallet, a metal bar and a a hatchet had been snatched from youths (as young as 8 years old I might add!!!!) in the park as well as from Alexandra down the road...worrying times indeed.

Swan egg fiasco was man-made

Folks this is just a clarification on an earlier post about a swan's egg being taken from her nest...I have just been informed that no animal had any part to play in this particular incident.

The fact that a human being was responsible was taking the egg, allegedly home for the 'enjoyment' of his youngster is completely bonkers.

This reminds me of the character of Verucca Salt in Roal Dahl's classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory who wanted everything under the moon and stars, including an Ooompa Loompa for herself, quicker than quick. I want it NOW! she screams in the movie if I remember correctly.

But anyways, moving on apparently this swan's eggs still haven't hatched so it remains to be seen if taking the egg away from the warmth of the nest will have an impact on its chances of survival in the hardy world of the Waterworks. Time will tell.

Unleash The Muzzles and Leads

This post concerns an attack on a swan's nest up in the upper pond, close to the Cliftonville Road entrance to the Waterworks.

I'm sure everyone's seen this swan sitting on her nest, incubating her eggs. She's been there for quite some time and it appears that she has borne quite a hard station because not only has this pen been attacked with footballs but most recently a dog.

An egg was taken from the nest by the animal but due to the help of park users, the council and Our Lady's Deanby Primary School the egg has since been returned to the nest. Success all round! Let's wait and see when they hatch!

But this good news story leads me onto another leading matter - keeping dogs on leads and muzzled if necessary.

Why is it dog owners see fit to let a dog they wouldn't let off a lead in their own street, go unfettered in the Waterworks? Do they believe people, children or wildlife in the park are any less important or vulnerable to attack?

Does the familiar line: "Agh, he'll not do you any harm" before the aforementioned animal rips into your leg, child or your own dog ring a bell?

For me it does.  Last year the North Belfast News (http://www.belfastmedia.com) carried the sad story of a batch of goslings in the Waterworks, who had their necks and heads ripped off by a pit-bull-type dog, who was off its lead.

And I'm sure there are many other horror stories. 

So what I'm saying is, let's all try and abide by park rules. They are there for a reason and to ensure everyone has an enjoyable and safe time in the park would you not agree? 

Or is that too much of a leading question?

Thuggery and animal cruelty in the Wats

Last Thursday walking around the Waterworks I decided I would begin a diary. 

There is so much going on in this park and the residential areas it borders, that I could fill a whole newspaper!

So it's no surprise to learn that over the course of the last seven days, there's been quite a bit going on.

My first entry unfortunately concerns an attack on our dedicated park staff.

Belfast City Council has confirmed that a ranger who was locking up gates last Thursday night was verbally and physically abused by a large group of people. They stoned his van and he had to leave the park as quickly as possible.

What a truly horrendous experience for this man who was just doing his job.

Meanwhile earlier that day some mindless yob decided to shoot a beautiful swan through the neck with a crossbow bolt.

A picture of the swan with the metal tube in its neck featured the very next day in the Irish News (http://www.irishnews.com).

Although hopes were high the swan would survive the USPCA has revealed the nature of the bird's internal injuries were just too severe and it died.

I wonder is the culprit proud of their handiwork because to all right-thinking people this represents animal cruelty at it's very worst.

Getting worked up about the Waterworks

Hello everyone and welcome to this blog which I've set up to chronicle the ups and downs of one of North Belfast's most widely used public parks - the Waterworks.

As Northies will know already, the park is a fabulous asset used by thousands of people every year.

In the winter and autumn months there isn't a bother. Spring and summer, now that's a different matter entirely and local residents and businesses dread it.

So with the sunny weather upon us, it's all kicking off again, and by that I mean drinkers, hooligans from both communities using the park at night to go mental and attacks/nuisance caused to homes.

I'm going to use this blog to record both positive and negative developments in the Waterworks and I'm hoping that park users will add their views on its everyday goings-on.

So that's what this blog is all about. My message to you - it's your park, get involved.