THE Woodland Trust is appealing for the public's help in naming its new site in the Belfast Hills.
The 98 hectare woodland will be developed over the next five years with open tree areas, hedgerows, upland wet heath and species rich grassland.
It is located in Collinward and borders Cave Hill Country Park, which attracts more than 270,000 visitors every year. It will link existing pathways through Divis and the Belfast Hills.
The first of more than 150,000 native trees will be planted later this year with hopes to open up the new site to the public for free towards the end of the year.
The site was purchased with funding from Biffa Award, as part of the Landfill Communities Fund, NIEA and private donations.
It is hoped it will become a vital piece of the jigsaw linking current Woodland Trust sites at Carnmoney Hill, Monkstown Wood and Throne Wood.
As it is a blank canvas, the Woodland Trust wants to encourage local residents to get involved and help them develop a destination that is fit for the purpose of its visitors.
The charity has launched a community consultation to gain input on the types of events the public would like to get involved in, volunteering opportunities, access points and pathways, and even help to choose the name.
To get the conversation started, the Woodland Trust has pre-selected a choice of names reflecting the geography, history and location of the new woodland including, Bellevue Wood, Collinwood, Glas-na-bradan and Hazel Hill.
Members of the public are invited to vote on their favourite or submit a wild card choice of their own.
Gregor Fulton from the Woodland Trust NI said: "We really want the local community to get involved in their new woodland and we value the ideas and comments from our new neighbours and from everyone who wants to visit our new site."
For further information on the consultation, which runs until July 16, please visit www.woodlandtru.st/zIKcw
