Belfast City Council will receive £850,514 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a project to connect residents with nature. The initiative, developed with Ulster Wildlife, forms part of the UK-wide Nature Towns and Cities programme. It stands as one of three projects in Northern Ireland to gain support from 276 applications across the UK.

The project aims to create a vision for nature recovery in Belfast and nearby areas. It includes greening streets and alleyways, forming pocket parks, planting wildflowers, and enhancing parks and open spaces. Councillor Paul Doherty, Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, stated the funding will advance efforts to make the city greener and address unequal access to nature across communities.

A dedicated Engagement Officer will collaborate with residents, community groups, and stakeholders to pinpoint barriers to nature access and develop solutions. The effort will also map data gaps to guide investments and improvements. Dr Paul Mullan, Northern Ireland Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, noted the project will support communities lacking urban green spaces over three years.

Dawn Miskelly, CEO of Ulster Wildlife, indicated that stakeholder and community involvement will drive the work. The project seeks to empower groups through training and support for local changes.