Belfast City Council is supporting community groups to plant fruit trees and native species across the city this spring. The projects follow a November 2025 council motion to develop community orchards and an edible landscape as part of the city's Tree Strategy.

Woodland Officers assist groups in selecting sites and providing expertise. In Ardoyne, where tree cover stands at 4.6 percent, the Flax older people's group planted fruit trees at Ardoyne Community Centre. Plans include orchard management training and healthy food workshops when trees produce fruit.

At Holy Cross Nursery School, pupils planted fruit trees and 150 native trees forming a hedge. The hedge creates a wildlife habitat and screens the school from a nearby car park.

Malone Tornadoes, Ulster's first mixed-ability rugby team, planted 14 apple, pear and plum trees at Shaw's Bridge. The group also installed new fencing and cleaned up the surrounding car park area with council Parks Outreach and Park Warden teams.

Councillor Fred Cobain, Chair of the People and Communities Committee, stated that the projects target neighbourhoods with the lowest tree canopy cover to create sustainable green spaces. He noted that the initiatives improve the environment, biodiversity and public health while fostering community connections.

The council offers free guided walks in south Belfast parks such as Lagan Lands East, Lower Crescent Parks and Lagan Meadows. Communities can contact the Woodland and Recreation Unit at WRU@belfastcity.gov.uk for tree planting or orchard projects.