Belfast Urban Garden hailed a success after attracting almost 3,000 visitors

The success of Belfast Urban Garden has highlighted the potential for vacant city-centre land to be temporarily transformed into green community spaces.

An evaluation of The BUG, carried out in partnership with Belfast Healthy Cities, found that the initiative supported health and wellbeing while encouraging volunteering, food growing and community interaction.

The project was delivered by Belfast City Council and The Conservation Volunteers from spring 2024 until summer 2025.

It received funding through the Department for Infrastructure’s Blue-Green Infrastructure Fund and the Public Health Agency.

Almost 3,000 people visited Belfast Urban Garden

The BUG was established on part of the Belfast Stories site at Kent Street and Royal Avenue.

The temporary development transformed an unused section of city-centre land into a community garden featuring raised beds, vegetable-growing areas and a polytunnel.

Almost 3,000 visitors engaged with the project during its operation.

Hundreds of volunteering opportunities were also provided, while organisers worked with individuals and groups experiencing social isolation, poor mental health and other inequalities.

The project formed part of wider efforts to make central Belfast greener and more people-friendly.

Belfast City Council’s Grey to Green initiative aims to introduce more nature and greenery into areas of the city dominated by buildings, roads and hard surfaces.

Belfast garden became a ‘powerful social connector’

Councillor Joe Duffy, Chair of Belfast City Council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee, said the original ambition was to combine urban growing with education, community engagement and improved health and wellbeing.

He said:

“The BUG far exceeded our expectations as a ‘proof of concept’ for city centre greening.”

Councillor Duffy described the garden as a “powerful social connector across ages and backgrounds”, particularly for people at greater risk of experiencing health inequalities.

He added that the initiative demonstrated how a development site awaiting construction could still provide meaningful benefits to the public.

The council now hopes the learning gathered through the project can encourage other organisations and landowners to consider similar temporary uses for vacant sites.

Belfast Urban Garden showed health benefits

Jacqueline O’Hagan, Healthy City Coordinator at Belfast Healthy Cities, said the initiative demonstrated how underused urban spaces could improve health and wellbeing.

She said temporary greening projects could reduce isolation, create stronger communities and support both physical and mental health.

The initiative also supported the aims of Belfast Healthy Cities’ Greening the City Advisory Group, which has promoted greater access to green spaces across Belfast.

Belfast Healthy Cities previously described The BUG as an example of how urban green areas can support inclusion, mental health and environmental sustainability.

Participants described garden as an ‘oasis’

People who used The BUG described the garden as an “oasis” within an otherwise grey and built-up part of the city centre.

Unlike a traditional park, visitors could actively participate in activities including:

• growing fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers
• learning about biodiversity
• taking part in community gardening
• sharing produce
• building garden infrastructure
• meeting and socialising with other participants
• attending Green Gym sessions

Participants also said they were proud to see vacant land used for nature and community activity rather than remaining derelict or becoming a car park.

Several reported improvements in their mental wellbeing after spending time at the garden.

One participant said:

“Even if I was having the worst day, I always left The BUG feeling like a weight had been lifted.”

Public Health Agency welcomes findings

Siobhan Donald, Assistant Director of Strategic Public Health at the Public Health Agency, said the Belfast Urban Garden demonstrated how temporary green spaces could produce longer-term benefits.

She highlighted the project’s role in reducing social isolation, improving wellbeing and strengthening connections between people.

The project also demonstrated the potential for urban gardening and food-growing schemes within heavily developed city-centre locations.

What happens next?

The Conservation Volunteers are now reusing materials originally installed at The BUG.

The organisation is also interested in exploring further opportunities for city-centre greening.

Belfast City Council already supports a number of other greening initiatives through its Grey to Green programme, including temporary gardens, planting schemes and biodiversity projects. Read more about Belfast’s Grey to Green programme.

Organisations interested in obtaining a copy of The BUG evaluation or finding out how they could establish an urban garden can contact:

Email: belfasti@belfastcity.gov.uk