The Rowan’s rewilding project in Newtownards has been granted £2,690 through Live here Love here small grants scheme.
Ards Canal Path Community Group will use the investment to create a small wooded area of native trees, shrubs and climbers on a largely underused area close to the centre of Newtownards.
Lara Curry, Group Coordinator said they plan to use the money to rewild a huge grassy patch in the town, which is currently a biodiversity desert. “We aim to make this a flagship example of how unused green areas can be managed to benefit the community and the environment,” said Lara. “By working with the local community and council, we will bring everyone together to create a space that is a common source of pride.”
Feeling that Ards was losing too many green spaces due to planned development and that nature was slowly being squeezed out of the area, the community group decided to bring their grant idea to the local council for approval. Strangford MLA Nick Mathison has welcomed the scheme: “I’m delighted to see the Rowan’s Rewilding Project has been successful in their application for the small grants scheme through the Live Here Love Here programme. “Newtownards does not have many green spaces and I look forward to seeing how this piece of land will be utilised and reinvented by the project.
It has been a privilege to support the Canal Path Community Group in their endeavours and I look forward to offering any additional support I can moving forward.”
