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Date: 11 September 2026
Category: City regeneration and development
An evaluation of The BUG (Belfast’s Urban Garden), carried out in partnership with Belfast Healthy Cities, has clearly demonstrated the benefits of investing in urban growing projects.
Delivered by Belfast City Council and The Conservation Volunteers as a ‘Demonstrator’ Project from spring 2024 until summer 2025 with funding from the Department for Infrastructure’s Blue~Green Infrastructure fund and Public Health Agency, The BUG was designed to test how a temporarily vacant or “meanwhile” space could be converted into an urban social garden in Belfast city centre and generate shared learning for future greening initiatives.
The project engaged almost 3,000 visitors, created hundreds of volunteering opportunities and supported some of the city’s most vulnerable individuals and groups.
Identified as a key action arising through the Belfast Healthy Cities’ Greening the City Advisory Group, the ‘Grey to Green’ programme emerged from a recognised lack of green space in the city centre, and sought to help meet the city’s ambition to make Belfast greener, more attractive, and more people-friendly as set out in A Bolder Vision for Belfast.
Councillor Joe Duffy, Chair of Belfast City Council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee explains: “Our ambition was for a city-centre project that could combine urban growing, community engagement, and education and learning, linked to health and wellbeing and transforming our land on a temporary basis at the Belfast Stories site on Kent Street.
“The BUG far exceeded our expectations as a ‘proof of concept’ for city centre greening. The BUG proved to be a powerful social connector across ages and backgrounds – and particularly with those at the greatest risk of health inequalities. It offered an inclusive, safe shared space where, regardless of social or cultural differences, friendships grew alongside the fruit and veg.
“Along with The Conservation Volunteers, Belfast Healthy Cities and the Public Health Agency, we’ve shown how a city centre development site can be successfully used for community benefit in the interim – and hope that we can share our learnings to inspire our city partners to open up further opportunities.”
Jacqueline O’Hagan, Healthy City Coordinator at Belfast Healthy Cities who were project partners, said: “The Belfast Urban Garden demonstrated in a really practical way how reimagining underused urban spaces can deliver tangible benefits for health and wellbeing. Through our Greening the City Advisory Group, we have long advocated for integrating nature-based solutions into urban planning, particularly in areas where access to green space is limited.
“The BUG showed that even temporary interventions can reduce isolation, build on a sense of community, and support mental and physical health. Importantly, it highlighted how greening initiatives can contribute to tackling health inequalities by creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels very welcome. We hope the learning from this project will inform future regeneration and city centre planning, ensuring that health equity and access to nature remain central to Belfast’s development.”
Siobhan Donald, Assistant Director of Strategic Public Health at the Public Health Agency, said: "The Belfast Urban Garden project has shown how the use of a temporary green space can have a lasting impact on people and communities. By engaging almost 3,000 visitors, creating hundreds of volunteering opportunities and supporting some of the most vulnerable individuals and groups in our communities, the project has helped improve wellbeing, reduce social isolation and strengthen community connections, while demonstrating the potential of urban gardening and food growing projects in the heart of a city setting.”
Participants described The BUG as an “oasis” in a grey, concrete area, which they valued as warm, welcoming, and interactive, distinct from a conventional park because people could “do” things, meet others, and take part in a positive activity.
Those taking part in The BUG’s Saturday Green Gym sessions reported their pride in seeing a meanwhile space used for nature-based activity rather than remaining derelict or becoming a car park, with the site encouraging conversations about improvements to the city centre and how it is used and enjoyed. As well gaining practical experience in growing food, herbs and flowers, participants learned about biodiversity, shared produce and engaged in building practical infrastructure, including a polytunnel.
The focus group described consistent mental wellbeing benefits: feeling happier, with a sense of lightness after spending time in the garden. One participant shared: “Even if I was having the worst day, I always left The BUG feeling like a weight had been lifted.”
The Conservation Volunteers are reusing materials from The BUG and are keen to explore further opportunities for city centre greening.
To request a copy of The BUG evaluation report, or to find out more about how your organisation could set up an urban garden, email [email protected]