Try falconry, archery and wood-turning on 16th C Londonderry estate

MEMBERS of the public are invited to come along and try their hands at archery, falconry, basket-weaving and wood-turning on the historic 16th century Ashbrook estate on April 21.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Apr 2013, 16:16 BST
Mayor Kevin Campbell and Agnès Beresford-Ash with some of the characters members of the public are invited to meet at Ashbrook House on April 21.Mayor Kevin Campbell and Agnès Beresford-Ash with some of the characters members of the public are invited to meet at Ashbrook House on April 21.
Mayor Kevin Campbell and Agnès Beresford-Ash with some of the characters members of the public are invited to meet at Ashbrook House on April 21.

The Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership and the Ashbrook Estate have come together for ‘A Country Estate Forage Day,’ which is scheduled for between 1pm and 6pm on Sunday, April 21.

The partnership says the event will have something for everybody and will offer the public a chance to learn more about Ashbrook’s historic house, estate and family that helped shape the Faughan Valley area in the 1600s.

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To help the public explore the estate, expert foragers Dermot Hughes and Gareth Austin will be on hand to assist the public recognise food for free from the estate woodland enjoy the sights, smells and tastes at the cookery demonstrations with chefs using foraged and home grown produce.

Children can enjoy nature and environmental activities on offer from organisations such as RSPB, Loughs Agency and the Playtrail to name a few.

Guided tours of the historic Ashbrook House will be led by Melanie Cunningham Ash, who said: “We are looking forward to sharing the stories from our families past and guiding visitors around the Ash family home which was built around 1610 by my ancestor General Sir Thomas Ash.

“It will also be exciting to see plantation characters in dress roaming the woodlands again.”

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Mayor Kevin Campbell said: “This is an exciting event and a first for the Faughan Valley and Derry City Council area. With so many activities on offer it will be a great day out while learning about the history of the area in the plantation times.”

For more information on the event or Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership contact Annie Mullan, Tel: 028 71337498. Email: [email protected] or visit www.faughanvalley.com

Related topics:Kevin Campbell