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A Jewel In Saintfield’s Crown

Many of us in Saintfield know Rowallane Garden very well, and delight in the wonderful woods and gardens a short walk from the Main Street. Some of us perhaps forget what is on our doorstep – or we are so familiar with it that we don’t think about it! It is timely however to remind ourselves how lucky we are to have such an important National Trust property in our village. Bushmills may have the Giant’s Causeway pretty close, but Rowallane is only a short walk from Main Street!

SDA and the National Trust, working together

Saintfield village and Rowallane have a lot in common. Saintfield is an historic village, playing an important role in the events of 1798, and well-known for its Georgian buildings and the Main Street with its conservation area status. Rowallane Gardens boasts a Victorian walled garden, courtyard and bell-tower which form popular wedding venues, and unique features such as a bandstand and a water pump! Oh, an a unique collection of plants from around the world from the 19th century period of discovery!
Meeting recently with the SDA, NT Greater Belfast Area Manager Mike Dobson and Head Gardener Averil Milligan made clear their on-going commitment to working with the local community for the mutual benefit of the village and the NT. We look forward to continued engagement with our colleagues in the Garden.

A rich and diverse location

Famous in its own right for the gardens – featured in season one of the Game of Throne TV series as the “Godswood” – Rowallane regularly hosts a wide range of events for the family. The Halloween events have just taken place and staff are now preparing for the “Festive Family Film Fun” events on the 21st, 22nd 28th and 29th of November – and of course the annual Christmas Yuletide Market on the 12th and 13th of December.

See something new….every time

The Garden changes continually, and there is always much to see as the trees and borders shift through the seasons. Head Gardener Averil Milligan points to the new paths through the estate, and the funky new pieces of sculpture and art installations in the area between the lake and the bandstand – look out for the Leaf Chair, designed by local students.
All in all, worth seeing, and worth going to see!

This is a selection of photographs taken in Rowallane.

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The third annual Harfest Music Festival will take place at numerous venues around Saintfield over the weekend of Friday 23rd – Sun 25th October.

There will be something to suit every taste in Music!

Download the Harfest flyer HERE.  Choose an event or two, or three!  And come along!

The Saintfield In Bloom 365 Committee of Saintfield Development Association would like to thank the businesses, traders and individuals who participated in this year’s Translink Ulster in Bloom initiative.  Their support enabled us to produce a display which earned Saintfield joint second place in the large village category of the competiton.

The judges thought that “the colour-scheme was beautiful” and that “the place looked lovely”.

Saintfield also won first prize in the large village category of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s Cleaner and Greener Rural Community Awards. This competition is aimed at rural communities and the prize is awarded to the town or village which can demonstrate an on-going commitment to keeping their area clean and tidy and protecting the rural landscape.

We appreciate the contribution that everyone has made to Saintfield’s success in these two prestigious province-wide competitions.  Thank you again for your continued support.

Here is a selection of photographs of the beautiful floral displays on view in Saintfield this year.

As the temperature and leaves fall Rowallane Garden, Saintfield takes on a different eerie feel. Head along and enjoy some Hallowe’en fun with your ‘little spooks’ as they have a perfectly petrifying Hallowe’en planned.

Their spooktacular Ghosts and Gourds event takes place on 17 & 18 October. Prepare to be spooked. The Garden is alive this Hallowe’en with a terrifying ghost trail, spooky stories, sinister characters from the Premiere Circus and watch your little ones be transformed with fearsome face painting. To top off the day why not behead, scoop out and carve your very own pumpkin to take home with you and ward away the evil spirit this Hallowe’en.

The event takes place between 12 noon and 5pm on both Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 October. Normal Admission charges apply. [National Trust Members Free]

For further details, please contact Rowallane Garden on 028 9751 0131.

A video of the cyclists leaving Downpatrick Street car park in Saintfield can be viewed HERE.

Photographs taken at various locations on the route can be seen HERE.

Saintfield Development Association would like to thank the following people:

Stephen Dugan (Masseys of Saintfield)
Tonia McDonald
Maxol Garage
Rowallane Inn
White Horse Inn
Saintfield Parish Church
1st Saintfield Presbyterian Church
all the people who provided the delicious tray bakes, choc bars etc.
and of course all the SDA volunteers who gave up their time to make Pedal The Peninsula 2015 such a success!

The Cancer Research UK Saintfield Group would like to thank the local community for their continued support over the past year raising £8836.79 through fund raising events, generous donations, street and house to house collections.