Geraldine Hughes - Belfast City Council

Park profile
Musgrave
Park
• Musgrave Park was presented to
Belfast Corporation (now Belfast City
Council) in 1921 by Henry Musgrave,
who lived nearby.
• Before the park opened, 250
labourers landscaped it as part of a
local unemployment scheme.
• Lady Edith Dixon (who later gave Lady
Dixon Park to Belfast) officially opened
Musgrave Park in 1924.
• Henry Musgrave’s house became
part of Victoria College School and
his garden (off the Lisburn Road) was
opened as Drumglass Playcentre.
• The bowling green and putting green
opened in 1926.
• During World War II, allotments were
established and the iron railings were
removed and melted down as scrap
metal for the war effort.
• In the 1970s, the eastern corner of
Musgrave Park was sectioned off for
horticultural apprentices. This area,
known as Grovelands, is renowned for
its attractive gardens.
• Today, Musgrave Park has new playing
fields which St Brigid’s Gaelic Athletic
Club helps to manage. The park also
contains a ‘Highway to Health’ walk to
encourage visitors to improve their
health through enjoyable exercise.
For further information, visit
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/parks
12 CityMatters
April 2009
Invasive
species
When we introduce plants and
animals from other parts of the world,
sometimes we can create unexpected
problems.
Without their natural predators, these
species can spread unchecked and can
damage local biodiversity. Biodiversity
is the total variety of life on Earth. It
includes everything from people and
animals to plants and micro-organisms. It
also covers genetic variation and habitats.
One such plant is Japanese knotweed,
which was introduced into Ireland in
1902 as an ornamental plant. It has spread
rapidly and is now widespread in Belfast.
Characteristics of Japanese knotweed:
• bamboo-like stems ,
• grows up to 3m high,
• often forms dense thickets,
• leaves grow in a distinctive zigzag
pattern up the stems,
• blossoms into clusters of creamy
white flowers during late summer
and early autumn.
This plant grows very quickly, displacing
other plants in the process. It can
also cause damage to buildings and
structures and can even grow through
asphalt and some other surfaces.
Another downside is that it dies back
in winter, leaving bare earth. This can
contribute to river bank erosion and
increases the risk of flooding.
For advice on how to deal with Japanese knotweed in your garden, contact Invasive
Species Ireland (ISI) on 9097 2265 or download the Best Practice Management Guide at
www.invasivespeciesireland.com/downloads
Don’t miss our 1,000 Mile Walk in the Park on 6 June, from 12 - 2pm. Take part
in one of 12 one mile walks in our parks to help us meet a target of 1,000 miles.
Call 9091 8768 or visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/parks for more information
Peace III update
We have developed a local action plan
along with key organisations and sectors
across the city to promote peace and
reconciliation.
The focus of this is to create shared space
which is both welcoming and open to
everyone. It will also focus on building
positive relations within the city.
So far, we’ve awarded funding to 22
organisations under the plan. This money is
for projects which demonstrate innovative
and creative approaches to tackling
sectarianism and racism in our society.
Work is continuing on other projects
within the plan such as major sporting
and youth programmes.
The Belfast Peace and Reconciliation Action
Plan forms part of the Peace III Programme
and is supported by the European Regional
Development Fund.
You can get more information from:
The Good Relations Unit, Chief Executive’s
Department, Belfast City Council, 24-26
Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8GD.
Telephone: 9027 0663.
Textphone: 9027 0405
Fax: 9027 0573
Email: goodrelations@belfastcity.gov.uk
Web: www.belfastcity.gov.uk/goodrelations