Finding fascinating facts about trees in Ballyclare
Outdoor Detectives: Fairview Primary School
Fairview Primary School in Ballyclare analyse the ages of trees in Six Mile Water Park
Ballyclare is a town in County Antrim, 13 miles from Belfast. It sits on the river Six Mile Water.
The Six Mile Water is actually around 30km in length. There are numerous legends as to how it got its name. One such story is that many years ago, the Roman soldiers while defending their land, walked from Carrickfergus Castle and after six miles they came to this river.
The Six Mile Water Park was built around the river in Ballyclare, so that houses in the local area would not be affected by the river’s regular floods.
The park is surrounded by trees and a woodland area, features a variety of wildlife, and is also a popular spot for bird watching and for people out walking / running.
For two centuries Ballyclare was the home of papermaking in Ireland, with the large Paper Mill situated near the river. The mill employed 800 people at its peak, before it closed in 1951.
That era of Ballyclare’s industrial history was raised to the ground in smoke in June 1989, when a large crowd gathered to watch the demolition of the mill, including its iconic 157 foot high chimney.
The operation was mastered by Fred Dibnah, from Bolton, England, who had become a well-known TV figure, demolishing chimneys and church spires for over 30 years. Fred apparently autographed bricks from the debris!
Ballyclare chimney
Fred Dibnah oversees the destruction of the Paper Mill’s chimney on 12 June 1989.
Measuring the height and age of trees
With such a wide variety of trees in the Six Mile Water park – it makes it an ideal spot for some tree investigation by Outdoor Detectives!
Calculating the height and age of trees is an excellent activity to help pupils learn to recognise and be able to use instruments for measuring length. It also gives them the opportunity to work as part of a team, and to gain a greater respect for and understanding of their local environment.
It will require some preparation in advance in terms of outlining the boundaries that will be investigated and having the required equipment. This will include tree identifier and recording sheets, tape measures, rulers, metre sticks, a clinometer, clipboards and pencils.
This fun activity will help pupils learn not just how old and big some trees are, but why tree observation and protecting woodlands and their local environment is so important.
