Belfast – Northern Ireland

Belfast is a rising star, emerging from years of political unease to take its place among the UK’s must-see destinations. It is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom and the second-largest on the island of Ireland with around 344.000 inhabitants.

The city has historic landmarks such as Belfast Castle and Belfast City Hall, plus a unique blend of traditional and modern culture. A colorful and dynamic port city with a troubled past, Belfast is a vibrant cultural hub on northern Ireland’s eastern coast. Packed with lively pubs, an eclectic food scene, iconic buildings, boutique shopping and a myriad of museums, you can delve into history, science, literature and more.

The birthplace of the Titanic, Belfast’s industrial heritage has shaped a richly cultural city. Belfast offers the buzz and vibrancy of a British capital city whilst being a gateway to the rural retreats of Northern Ireland.

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Belfast-City-Hall

Demo area before NBS installation

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Demo area before NBS installation

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Belfast demonstration will enable urban agroecology and re-carbonisation of soil

Nature Based Solutions to be implemented

Development of an urban agroecologic area. Sustainable agricultural practices and investing in sustainable soil management (centered on the maintenance of current Soil Organic Carbon stocks and further sequestration) entail multiple benefits in terms of food security and nutrition, poverty reduction, provision of ecosystem services, climate change mitigation and sustainable development.

Demo site characteristics and challenges

Many Belfast neighborhoods are disconnected due to a number of “peace walls”, which were erected to prevent violence between communities during conflicts, that continue to separate local areas. To support the ongoing peace-building process, Belfast has developed a strategic framework for the city known as “The Belfast Agenda” that is delivered through city community planning structures.
The area of the demo site consists of an unused, derelict site within Belfast Botanic Gardens, in close proximity to university facilities, local schools, a local theatre, and several local neighborhoods.

Foreseen outcome of the NBS implementation

The area surrounding the demo site provides a rich and diverse ecosystem for the project to engage with, alongside opportunities to build social cohesion, learning and neighborhood approaches to sustainable urban agroecology.

  • Applying tailor-made urban soil encouraging organic urban agriculture and recarbonization of soil.
  • Deployment of community gardens using recycled materials that are bioreceptive and can support plant growth.
  • Repurposing and regenerating of an unused part of the urban area with community agroecology gardens, green spaces and gardens.
  • Implementing participatory co-creative process as a basis for successful agroecology community establishment.
  • Educational and mentoring activities for communities, citizens, schools and undergraduate students.