By Joe McCann
A DERELICT historic landmark that lay hidden for generations has been transformed into a £1.4m heritage park and nature haven, giving Saintfield its first public parkland and breathing new life into one of the village’s most iconic sites.
The much anticipated Windmill Park opened last Thursday as a unique and transformed community heritage space on the site of Saintfield’s iconic Glasdrumman windmill.
The project was made possible through the generous contributions of US businessman David Moffett, whose ancestors hail from the village, Saintfield Community Association and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The park is located at the site of the old windmill which was destroyed in the ‘Night of the Big Wind’ in January 1839 after being built by the McBurney family in 1805.
The remains of the windmill’s tower and the miller’s cottage form the main attractions at the site which has also been thoroughly rewilded with native grasses, trees and flowers with the aim of making the park a nature hotspot.
Gravel paths throughout the park bring visitors around the site, with interesting signposts telling the history of, the area and the many people who lived and made their livelihoods there.
The £1.4m cost of the park, was provided by The National Lottery Heritage Fund along with Mr Moffett, who bought the site and supported its development.
Speaking at the official opening, Martyn Todd, a Trustee of Saintfield Community Association said Windmill Park is a hugely significant project for Saintfield.
“From the very beginning, our aim was to protect this important site and create a space that the whole community could enjoy,” he said.
“We are incredibly proud to have taken this project from idea through to completion, and deeply grateful to David Moffett and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for making it possible.”
David Moffett said although his family left Saintfield many generations ago, the connection has always remained important.
“Supporting this project has been a meaningful way to honour that history and give something back to the place where our story began,” said Mr Moffett, who travelled to Saintfield for the occasion.
In his speech, Mr Moffett further described the project as a ‘dream that became true’ and urged the young people of Saintfield to get involved in their local community and preserve it for the future.
Olive Hill of the The National Lottery Heritage Fund said ‘it’s brilliant’ to see the free-to-access green space open up to the community and visitors to Saintfield.
“Thanks to National Lottery players, the project has preserved Glasdrumman windmill and its historic buildings, recreated a section of the former Belfast and County Down Railway and shared the industrial and natural heritage of the area with interpretation throughout the park,” she said.
“It has also boosted biodiversity with the creation of wildlife ponds, planting for pollinators using native species as well as the installation of bat boxes and swift boxes.”
Rowallane councillor Callum Bowsie said he was ‘delighted to see this amazing new park and heritage trail open in Saintfield’.
“I’ve been an avid supporter of this project since it’s inception, creating the first public parkland in Saintfield,” he said.
“It was a pleasure to meet David Moffett, from USA, whose ancestors once farmed in Saintfield. Thanks to his generosity this old landmark and the adjacent cottages have been restored in collaboration with the National Heritage Lottery to create a heritage walking trail.
“Well done to Saintfield Community Association, in particular Martin Todd, for their vision and determination to achieve this fantastic open space for Saintfield.”
SDLP Leader and MP for Belfast South and Mid Down Claire Hanna said the park will provide much-needed green space for people in Saintfield and the surrounding area while also celebrating the rich history and heritage of the local community and teaching new generations about the work of the old mill.
“The park contains areas for leisure and exercise alongside spaces for education and wildlife and biodiversity conservation,” she said.
“Following the opening I would encourage people to come down and visit the park and see everything it has to offer for themselves. It is a fantastic addition that I’m sure the whole community will enjoy.”
The park is now officially open to the public seven days a week from 9am to 8pm (April – September) and 9am to 3pm (October – March).
