For Another Path – June 2025 News
The summer is here, the school holidays are less than a month away and, with the longer daylight hours, many more of us are venturing out to enjoy the coastal path at every available opportunity.
We have both sad and happy news to report since our last bulletin in January.
Some of you may not be aware that our committee member and friend, Vivienne Beck, died of cancer on 5 April. We will miss her determined enthusiasm and her ability to find a positive in every situation, among her many other qualities.
Viv was an enthusiastic environmentalist, nature lover and superb photographer, especially of wildlife and insects – her photos would regularly feature in publications like the Ulster Wildlife calendar. She was inspired by the North Down Coastal Path, and early in the campaign against the greenway, Viv approached the group eager in her support. In particular, as a wheelchair user, she was fiercely against the greenway being constructed “in her name” and did not want the path to be drastically widened and to lose its natural features simply so it could become wheelchair-friendly along its whole length. She agreed that some parts could be improved but wished that planners would consider camber and surface more sympathetically. She also regularly argued that able-bodied people involved in construction should find out for themselves how uncomfortable some tarmac can be when you’re wheeling. Viv never let her disability hold her back and loved sailing her boat on the Belfast Lough, a passion she shared with her late husband, Gil. Viv also had a law degree and worked in the medical profession, and we will miss her keen intelligence as well as her friendship and creativity. Her inspiration stays with us, however, and Viv would have been absolutely delighted with our second piece of news.
Some weeks ago, after storm damage to trees along the path, and the removal of the pines at Thalassa, members of our group approached the Council for permission to engage in planting schemes along the route. It has taken time and much discussion, but we are delighted that the Council has now approved a native planting scheme at a wide area near the access point to Stricklands Glen. The ground was cleared when NI Water built the pumping station, so it is ready and waiting for sympathetic planting. Many hands make light work and we will be looking for volunteers one day in early 2026 to carry out this planting, as well as inviting other local groups to join us.
We wish to thank Ards and North Down Borough Council for acceding to this request, and for providing the support and plants to enable it to happen. We have a shared vision for improving biodiversity within the Borough and schemes such as this are a great start.
Alison McQueen, who represents us at the quarterly working group meetings, has been keeping us informed about the issues discussed. These include drainage along the coastal path, and we will provide more information on this in a separate news item as soon as we can.
In the meantime, we extend our sincere thanks to you for your continued support of our group.