National Trust Mid Ulster - The Argory, Springhill, Ardress & Wellbrook

Celebrating our Volunteers this week: ‘Last year we remember the smiles of visitors and staff give us a sense of pride and satisfaction of bringing the walled garden back to life’ ‘I think it is a wonderful privilege to be allowed to sell books for the NT! I do it to meet people and learn skills in support of conservation and the environment’ ‘The atmosphere – always feel better when I come in volunteering!’ And here’s what we think:... “Having our first Business Support volunteer has been fantastic, Darja is an exceptional asset to our team. Having an extra set of willing hands in the office supports our people and properties in valuable and unseen ways” Catherine (Business Support – Argory) ‘Their dedication, hard work, creativity and ideas never cease to amaze me!’ Sophie (Outdoor Team – Springhill) ‘I love working alongside our volunteers – each one of them brings their own unique set of skills and experiences and we always have a laugh, and learn from each other, no matter what project we are working on’ Rosemary (Ranger – Derrymore)
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We’ve still availability left for our Mill Walks and Talks taking place this Thursday evening at Wellbrook Beetling Mill. Looking forward to welcoming back Sebastian from Mills of Northern Ireland. Booking is essential - please call 028 8674 8210 (option 3) or email wellbrook@nationaltrust.org.uk

The Mid Ulster team would like to say a huge thank you to all our fantastic volunteers! We have 150 volunteers who support us on a daily basis and make all our properties such special places.
Our volunteers come in with smiles on their faces and are always full of enthusiasm. Our volunteers are happy to dress up as elves at Christmas, carve pumpkins at Halloween to potting plants in our walled garden come rain or shine; they support us with everything we do and we really appreciate all their hard work and dedication.

Pop over to the Lurgan Show today and say hello to Bryan and Molly from The Argory. We’ve got a fantastic membership offer and a little planting station for the kids.

Want to learn more about Wellbrook Beetling Mill? The series of Mill walks and talks in association with Mills of Northern Ireland will teach you everything you need to know about flax and the linen process. The first talk is taking place on Thursday 6 June. Booking is essential - please call 028 8674 8210 (option 3) or email wellbrook@nationaltrust.org.uk

Thank you so much Billy Austin for sharing your 'quick little watercolour of The Argory' with us today. We love it! 🎨🖌

🦋 Thanks to all the staff and volunteers who attended the butterfly survey training day at Springhill last week. Rachael and Stephen from Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland helped us set up our tansect and trained us in survey skills.

Discovery of the Month #made at Springhill. Whilst looking through books in the attic at Springhill House our House Steward Stephen discovered pressed flowers which may be 100 years old or more! We just wonder which family member chose and picked these flowers and kept them in the book. Fantastic and quite beautiful find don't you think 🌱📖

Our bay trees at Springhill are very overgrown and need some tlc. To help them out we are hard pruning them to reduce their size and improve their shape, this will also encourage lots of new growth keeping the bay trees happy and healthy. Check out their progress on your next visit!

We need YOU to help our pollinators! Springhill is looking for volunteer surveyors to take part in regular Butterfly Transect around the estate. Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland will be running training on Friday 24 May from 10am-1pm, so whether you are a butterfly boffin or a complete beginner please come and join in. Training is free and no need to book. See you there 🦋

Come see Bryan at the Bee Curious event at Oxford Island today! Plant a mini meadow and hear about the fabulous experiences on offer when you become a member. Lots of families here a leafy enjoying all the activites Bee Curious

Here's your Sunday quality family time sorted 🙂🌸 Hope to see you there

This little singing bird was found by our Rangers at Wellbrook and she'd like to go home. She is being looked after by the staff at Wellbrook, which is open Saturdays and Sundays ☺️🐤

Love roses? June is 🌹Rose Month🌹 at Springhill. Come and speak to Springhill's Gardener Warren Marten, between 2-3pm every Thursday during June and he will share his knowledge of these magnificent blooms, plus their history within The Dutch Garden. For more details visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/…/the- dutch-garden---take-…

Keep looking at the little square hole in the arched brickwork. ....our little blue tits don't only build their nests in the trees and hedgerows

Conservation in action tomorrow at The Argory. Sign up to a guided tour before 2pm and observe textile conservator Rosamund carrying out some minor repairs to our amazing textiles.