Belfast to Receive Over £850K in National Lottery Funding to Help Connect People With Nature

Belfast will receive £850,514 in funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a new project designed to help connect more people with nature across the city. The initiative will support greener streets, pocket parks, wildflower planting and improved green spaces while working directly with local communities.

Major investment for nature and green spaces in Belfast

Belfast is set to benefit from £850,514 in funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a significant new project aimed at helping people connect with nature across the city.

The project, titled “Breaking Through Barriers to Connect People and Nature,” has been developed by Belfast City Council in partnership with Ulster Wildlife. It is one of 19 projects across the UK selected through the Nature Towns and Cities programme.

The funding was awarded through a highly competitive UK-wide process. A total of 276 applications were submitted requesting more than £170 million, with Belfast being one of 37 projects shortlisted and one of only three in Northern Ireland to receive support.

A UK-wide initiative to bring nature closer to people

The Nature Towns and Cities programme is designed to ensure that more people can enjoy the benefits of nature and green spaces close to home.

Over the next decade, the programme aims to:

• Help five million more people access green and blue spaces
• Enable one million more children to play in nature on their doorstep
• Improve biodiversity and urban nature recovery
• Support healthier and more resilient communities

In Belfast, the project will help develop a shared vision for nature recovery across the city and surrounding areas.

Plans to transform everyday spaces

The initiative will explore practical ways to bring more nature into everyday spaces across Belfast.

Some of the ideas being considered include:

• Greening streets and alleyways
• Creating pocket parks in urban areas
• Planting more trees and wildflowers
• Improving existing parks and open spaces
• Expanding access to nature for communities with limited green areas

Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Paul Doherty, said the funding would build on work already underway to make the city greener.

He said the project would help Belfast become healthier, more resilient and more connected to nature, while also addressing the fact that access to green spaces is not equal across all communities.

Tackling environmental inequality in Belfast

A key part of the project will involve mapping exercises and data analysis to better understand where green space improvements are needed most.

This work will help:

• Identify gaps in access to nature
• Target investment more effectively
• Support better decision-making for future projects

The project will also build on other initiatives already underway in Belfast, including the Bolder Vision for Belfast city centre, which aims to transform grey urban spaces into greener, more vibrant areas.

Communities will play a key role

A dedicated Engagement Officer will work directly with residents, community groups and local organisations across Belfast.

Their role will include:

• Gathering ideas from local communities
• Identifying barriers preventing people from accessing nature
• Supporting community-led solutions
• Providing training and support to help groups deliver local projects

This approach aims to ensure the project reflects the needs and ideas of the people who live in the city.

Ulster Wildlife welcomes the initiative

Dawn Miskelly, CEO of Ulster Wildlife, said the success of the project will depend on collaboration between communities and stakeholders.

She highlighted that lasting nature recovery only happens when people feel empowered and involved in shaping the future of their local environment.

She added that the Belfast project could help create a blueprint for urban nature recovery across Northern Ireland, linking the city with surrounding areas such as the Lagan Valley and Belfast Hills.

How to get involved

Residents, community groups and organisations interested in getting involved in the project can find more information on Belfast City Council’s website.

More details are available here:
https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/naturetownsandcities