Monkstown Wood

The term oasis is often used to describe a green space amid built-up areas, and in this context it is something of a cliché. In the case of Monkstown Wood, however, there is simply no better word. Nestling between the industrial Nortel site off the Doagh Road and Monkstown housing estate, this wooded river valley forms the perfect contrast to the surrounding urban environment.
The clamour of the traffic and industry is held back by the trees, allowing visitors to relish the soothing sounds of birdsong, the leaves rustling in the breeze and the gentle bubbling of the Six Mile Water.

The small car park off the Monkstown Road is marked by two wooden sculptures in the form of leaf outlines, and one of the Woodland Trust's characteristic information boards. Stepping out of my car I am welcomed by a vociferous song thrush stationed among the treetops. In characteristic manner, he repeats every phrase, as if to reinforce his greeting. The main path into the woodland tempts me to explore further. Crowds of meadow buttercups line the verges, forming a guard of honour. Lurking among the yellow heads are two wooden seats that have been sponsored by Hospice Care, and are covered with plaques bearing the names of those whom I assume loved this place.

Had I walked here ten years ago I would have crossed open, grazed fields. Now, I pass dense thickets of wild cherry, rowan, willow, birch and ash trees. When the land was made available by the NI Housing Executive and Newtownabbey Borough Council in 2000, the Woodland Trust set about creating a woodland with around 8000 trees made up of over 15 different species. I shall try and spot them all on my way through.

Farther into the site, the buttercup ranks are interrupted by cow parsley, germander speedwell and bush vetch. Speckled wood and small white butterflies dance among the blooms, while overhead, the skies are busy with house martins and swifts – a reminder that buildings are not far away, for in urban areas both species use artificial structures for nesting.

I come across a rather incongruous metal bridge that spans the Six Mile Water. While I am taking some photographs of the nearby figure sculpted from wood, two local children appear as if by magic at my side. I ask them if they know if there are sticklebacks in the river but they look blankly at me. They are, however, able to tell me (having addressed me as Mister) that the path over the bridge leads to Monkstown, while the path to the right would lead me to more wooden sculptures. It turns out that the bridge is part of the Newtownabbey Way which links the shore of Belfast Lough to Mossley Mill. It is also part of the National Cycle Network, route 93, which runs along the southern boundary of Monkstown Wood. I head in the other direction – towards the promised sculptures.

The children had been trying to retrieve a cat from under the bridge without much success. As I walk past, the cat suddenly darts out from under the metalwork and along the path ahead of me. This means that I am treated to a collection of bird alarm calls. Two robins tut loudly from the branches beside me, while higher up a great tit admonishes the intruder in agitated fashion. Then, a male blackbird flies low and fast across the clearing delivering that distinctive chattering call that warns other birds of a threat. It is not me they are worried about, I reassure myself, but my feline companion. Fortunately it wanders off somewhere and the local birdlife settles down again. A short distance further on the dunnocks, chaffinches, willow warblers, wrens and blackbirds are singing unperturbed.

There isn’t a circular route through this wood – I have to follow the path that runs along the spine. There are paths that lead off on either side to alternative entrances, and I explore one or two of these. From one junction I can see Carnmoney Hill over the maturing trees to the south, and turning 180 degrees I see Knockagh Hill and its monument to the north. I am also able to add alder, field maple, oak and hazel to my tree list, but I remain a few short of fifteen.

I discover another bridge over the river, but sadly not the dippers, kingfishers or otters that have been recorded along this stretch. The trees closest to the river are mature and not from the recent planting, and there are remnants of hawthorn hedges, presumably former field boundaries. Both increase the habitat range within the site and greatly enhance its biodiversity value. Because of this, and the fact that it is frequented by children for exploring and by locals for walking, Monkstown Wood was designated as a Local Nature Reserve in 2007. And I am impressed that there is very little evidence of litter or vandalism – this ‘oasis’ is clearly valued by those who use it to escape the surrounding urban sprawl.