Belfast City Council and Ulster Wildlife will receive £850,514 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The funding supports the Breaking Through Barriers to Connect People and Nature project. This forms part of the UK-wide Nature Towns and Cities programme.

The programme chose 19 projects from 276 applications across the UK. It seeks to give five million more people access to green and blue spaces. It also aims to enable one million children to engage with nature near their homes over 10 years.

In Belfast, the funds will develop a strategic vision for nature recovery. Activities include greening streets and alleyways, building pocket parks, planting wildflowers and trees, and improving parks and open spaces.

Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Paul Doherty, stated the funding extends current efforts to green the city and increase resilience. He pointed out unequal access to nature across communities. The project will engage residents to pinpoint local needs like street greening and park upgrades.

Dr Paul Mullan, Northern Ireland Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, noted Belfast's entry into the programme targets daily nature access for all. He anticipates involvement from communities short on green spaces in activities over the next three years.

An Engagement Officer will assist residents and groups to spot access barriers and offer training for local improvements. Dawn Miskelly, CEO of Ulster Wildlife, said collaboration with communities and stakeholders will empower people to guide nature recovery efforts.

The initiative involves mapping for improved data on investments. It connects to plans replacing urban grey areas with green ones. The project will yield a blueprint for nature recovery usable across Northern Ireland, linking the city centre to the Belfast Hills and Lagan Valley.