NWP Supports the Belfast Hills Partnership in Creating a Tree Nursery for the Future

Natural World Products (NWP) has joined The Belfast Hills Partnership to provide compost to aid the creation of a native tree and wildflower nursery off the Glen Road on the edge of the Belfast Hills.

NWP’s compost will play a vital role in assisting reforestation in Northern Ireland, while supporting the target of planting one million trees in Belfast over the next 15 years, and 18 million across the province in the next decade.

Reforestation will support local biodiversity, improve Northern Ireland’s woodland cover and store carbon aiding the fight against climate change.

The native tree and wildflower nursey was completed at the beginning of the lockdown period, and now has an abundance of oaks, hazel and alder saplings.

The firm’s general manager Patrick Kelly said:

“Everyone at NWP is passionate about climate change and thus, we are honoured to have donated our organic, peat-free, multi-purpose compost to help with the creation of a carbon sink aiding Northern Ireland’s fight against the crisis.

“We are rooted in the community and it’s truly satisfying to know that our compost will assist with the 2,000 trees to be grown each year. We believe our compost combined with reforestation will act as the perfect carbon store helping improve our environmental credentials and create a greener future here in Northern Ireland.”

Judy Meharg Belfast Hill’s Project Officer said:

“Trees not only generate oxygen and store carbon but provide homes to a huge range of wildlife with a native Irish oak able to support up to 500 species, including red squirrels, barn owls, pipistrelle bats and tree sparrows.”

Laura Shiels Belfast Hill’s Environmental Engagement Officer said:

“We are really excited about getting local people involved in this project. The native wildflower and tree nursey has an education area built into it which will enable children and adults alike to come along and learn about how plants grow. Currently a team of local volunteers join us every Tuesday to help develop our nursery, we couldn’t do it without them.”