A NEW community project to enable people to enjoy the benefits of working with animals and growing their own food is being launched in west Belfast.
The initiative at Bog Meadows Nature Reserve and St James Community Farm offers the community the chance to get outdoors, reconnect with nature and improve their health and wellbeing.
The 'Our People Our Places’ project, which has been supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, will allow people to grow their own food at St James' Community Farm, as well as exploring, learning and relaxing in the wild, green space offered by Bog Meadows Nature Reserve.
The four-year project aims to strengthen social networks, develop new skills and build community capacity by offering traineeships and a range of events and programmes based around nature, conservation, animal husbandry and gardening.
Deborah McLaughlin, Bog Meadows Community engagement officer, said: "This project provides a fantastic opportunity, especially during these challenging times, for people to get outdoors, to reconnect with nature and to improve their health and wellbeing.
"We have a whole range of activities and programmes that people can get involved in, including our NatureFit volunteering programme, a new Wildlife Watch group for children and families, a Nature Tots programme for pre-school children, educational visits for school groups, and a whole range of public events and activities for community groups.
"There really is something for everyone."
The project will see both Ulster Wildlife and St James' Community Farm working together to provide a range of benefits to the local community and visitors of the nature reserve and farm.
Damien Lindsay from St James' Farm Community Farm added: "This partnership will be a brilliant opportunity to bring animal care and wildlife initiatives into the heart of the west Belfast community, highlighting the beauty on our doorstep".
Séamus McCann of the National Lottery Community Fund, said the project "puts local people and their health and wellbeing at the forefront of its work".
"This work will be greatly enhanced by the strong relationship and collaborative working of the three organisations involved," he said.
For further information, please visit ulsterwildlife.org/bog-meadows-our-people-our-places
