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Regeneration in Belfast
The Conservation Volunteers (link opens in new window) have used our Grey to Green funding (through the Department for Infrastructure Blue Green Infrastructure fund) to transform a section of the Belfast Stories (link opens in new window) site on Royal Avenue and Kent Street into ‘The BUG’ – Belfast’s Urban Garden, incorporating polytunnels, raised planters and vegetable beds. They’re engaging with diverse minority groups, including individuals facing mental health challenges.
The BUG aims to enhance biodiversity, combat pollution and improve the city centre’s overall appeal and liveability. We also anticipate positive and enduring mental health and wellbeing outcomes for those who participate. The Conservation Volunteers will be scheduling up to four closed gardening groups weekly, either for one-off workshops or for an eight-week programme on a weekly basis throughout the summer to teach people horticulture and conservation skills.
Pop into The BUG every Saturday from 10am to 3pm, and join our open volunteering group. Help to tend The BUG garden, learn new skills and meet new friends! Contact Adam Dickson by emailing adam.dickson@tcv.org.uk for more information.
From 12 noon to 1pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, The BUG is open to the public. Pop in and join us during your lunch break, enjoy the fresh air, explore the garden, and maybe plant some seeds!
The BUG hosts closed gardening programmes from 10am to 11.30am and 1.30pm to 3pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so during these times it is not open to the public. To find out more, or if your community group is interested in joining us, contact Sian Doherty by emailing sian.doherty@tcv.org.uk.
The BUG is one of the key actions to come out of the Belfast Healthy Cities ‘Greening the City’ workshop in August 2022 and is part of the ‘Greening the City’ Advisory Group’s ongoing work.
A Bolder Vision for Belfast identifies the importance of transforming critical parts of Belfast to create a safer, greener, and more accessible city.
We invited City Centre Greening Fund expressions of interest from businesses and organisations to deliver greening projects in the city centre.
We supported the Queen’s Quay Greening Project, transforming a tarmacked vacant area of land on Queen’s Quay into an attractive public seating space through planting. It’s also contributing to the Maritime Belfast Trust’s Maritime Mile Connectivity Project, improving connectivity and wayfinding.
We’ve funded the transformation of this derelict site on the corner of Sandy Row and Wellwood Street into a temporary community garden. The site has been cleared of rubble and weeds and landscaped with a glade of trees and native species and pollinator shrubs, interspersed with ornamental sand and gravel areas. A living green wall will also be created with climbing plants.
A green wall on 32-38 Linenhall Street is currently under construction and due for completion this summer.
We’ve funded BID One (link opens in new window) to install two giant bee structures to signify our shared commitment to creating ‘lively, safe, and green streets’ – a core principle of ‘A Bolder Vision for Belfast.’
For more information on our Grey to Green initiative, email belfasti@belfastcity.gov.uk
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