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A pupil from St Michael’s Primary School in Newtownhamilton has been named as one of the lucky winners in the recent NI Water Silent Valley Christmas colouring competition.
Katya’s winning entry beat off stiff competition from many others to seal the prize to win one of 14 Silent Valley passes for 2025.
The special colouring competition showed Santa driving his magnificent sleigh with his magical reindeers high in the sky above the landmark reservoir.
NI Water Education Officer Anna Killen explains: “Congratulations to Katya on her fantastic entry which really impressed the judges. Her submission captured the essence of Silent Valley beautifully while also reflecting elements of the reservoir itself.
“There were so many beautiful entries, all of them showing a high level of creativity and interest in art and design. It’s been so heartening to see the breadth of entries that were created for the competition, so we want to say a big thank you to all the entrants for all their hard work, and congratulations to Katya again. We hope she’s already enjoying her free Silent Valley pass!”
Ringed by mountains, Silent Valley is located within the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Its site includes beautiful parkland, lakes and a pond and a number of walking trails for all abilities. It’s a stunning site open for visitors to explore and enjoy, while also operating as a key strategic reservoir providing drinking water for a large part of County Down and the Greater Belfast area. It attracts around 50,000 visitors every year, most of whom come to enjoy the peace and solitude of its unique mountain landscapes and the varied wildlife.
There are a number of on-site visitor facilities for visitors to enjoy including a visitors centre and heritage ‘Water Town’ house, located within historic bungalows that overlook the parkland’s wonderful views. A traditional tea-room is also open daily throughout the year, exactly what you need after a walk through this beautiful part of the country.
