A Newtownards community group has unveiled plans to turn a large patch of ground into an urban green glade.
Going Wild NI is the new project from the people behind the successful revamp of Newtownards Canal Path, and was set up to overhaul ground next to Castle Gardens Primary School on Bowtown Road.
Currently an unused urban clearing in the south-east of the town, the group wants to plant a small native woodland as well as wildflowers on the site.
They’ve already received a £500 grant from the provincewide Live Here Love Here scheme to cover costs of the project, and this week won the enthusiastic backing of local politicians as they publicly unveiled their plans.
Lara Curry from the group says that the Bowtown Road initiative will both enrich the habitat and create space for nature to thrive – creating a new green space for locals to enjoy while also benefiting wildlife in the area.
“Through practical environmental work and educational and monitoring events, we hope to enable the community to appreciate and enjoy the wonderful wildlife we have on our doorstep and to contribute to the conservation of this important habitat,” she said.
“We hope that we can continue to work towards increasing local biodiversity and preserve a shared green space for the benefit of our wildlife and pollinators, which are increasingly under threat.
“We thank Live Here Love Here and the grant funders for their generous support.”
Live Here Love Here’s senior grants officer, Orla McGrady, said the organisation is excited to support volunteer groups such as Going Wild NI in their journey to improve communities across the province.
“It’s been a great pleasure to deliver the Small Grants Scheme for another hugely successful year,” she said.
“With support from the grant partners, we are delighted to provide funding to 116 projects [provincewide], in a year when we received a record number of applications.
“The Small Grants Scheme is a fantastic opportunity for grassroots organisations to access the funding they need to create and develop green spaces that forward solutions to our pollution, nature and climate crises.”
When Going Wild NI unveiled their plans at the Bowtown Road site on Tuesday afternoon, they were backed by Ards and North Down mayor Jennifer Gilmour, councillor Richard Smart and Strangford MLA Nick Mathison.
