54°32′28″N 5°58′48″W / 54.541°N 5.980°W The Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park is a park in South Belfast, Northern Ireland, covering almost 130 acres (0.53 km2) and is accessible from the Upper Malone Road.[1] It includes meadows, woodland, riverside fields, formal rose gardens, a walled garden and a Japanese garden, as well as a children's playground, coffee shop, an orienteering course and many walks.[2] It is owned and maintained by Belfast City Council's Parks and Cemeteries Services Section.[3] On 14 July 2010, the park hosted annual International Rose Trials, the highlight of Rose Week, involving judges from around the world.
History
editThe park was bequeathed to the people of Belfast in 1959 by Lady Edith Stewart Dixon and was dedicated to the memory of her husband, the late Sir Thomas Dixon.[1] The first roses were planted in 1964 and the Trial roses were judged for the first time in summer 1965. A permanent panel of judges is provided by the Rose Society of Northern Ireland, formed by Craig Wallace in 1964.[3]
Gallery
edit-
Japanese garden, 2002 -
Shady pond, 2006 -
Rose Garden, 2006 -
Meadow and woodland, 2006 -
Rose in International Rose Week 2006
References
edit- ^ a b "Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park". Belfast City Council. Archived from the original on 25 September 2010. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
- ^ "Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park". Discover Northern Ireland. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
- ^ a b "The City of Belfast International Rose Garden, Sir Thomas & Lady Dixon Park". World Federation of Rose Societies. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
Further reading
edit- Scott, Robert 2004. Wild Belfast on safari in the city. The Blackstaff Press Belfast. ISBN 0-85640-762-3