Mayor Visits Friends of Ecos to Launch new “Nectar and Nurture” project.

Tuesday 22 September 2026

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, celebrated the launch of a new "Nectar and Nurture" project when he visited the Friends of Ecos on Wednesday.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, celebrated the launch of a new "Nectar and Nurture" project when he visited the Friends of Ecos on Wednesday.

The Friends of Ecos, is a dedicated volunteer community group that helps maintain, protect, and enhance the Ecos Nature Park and Ecos Hub in Ballymena. Volunteers have been hard at work planting native bulbs and woodland plants in the area across from the entrance to the Hub, to welcome visitors and boost cross-pollination for local bees and insects.

During his visit, Mayor Alderman Thomas Gordon toured the site and met with the volunteers who cleared and prepared the area for planting.

Speaking about the project, Mayor Gordan said:

"I was delighted to visit the Friends of Ecos to mark the beginning of the planting stage for the Nectar and Nurture project. It was fantastic to see the hard work and dedication of the volunteers who have prepared the site for planting native bulbs and flowers.

"Learning about how these spring flowers and pollinators depend on each other really highlights how vital this project is for local biodiversity. The project plays a crucial role in supporting our local pollinators and enhancing the Ecos Nature Park for both wildlife and visitors."

Throughout September, the Friends of ECOS will hold a series of planting sessions to plant native bluebells, snowdrops, and primroses - for the benefit of people and local pollinators. The group is encouraging members of all ages to join in, foster local pride, and help support this invaluable natural asset.