1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Belfast
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Bog Meadows Enhancement Project
Short description of the intervention
Bog Meadows is the last surviving remnants of the river Blackstaff's floodplain, which originally extended over 1,000 acres (Ref 3). This is an urban oasis composed of a mosaic of wetland, meadows, ponds, woodland, shrubs, and stream (Ref 1). It situated at the heart of Belfast City and is the last large area of the Blackstaff floodplain that has not been developed. The area is an important site for both breeding and overwintering birds(Ref 3). The Bog Meadows Enhancement Project aimed to improve the access, grazing infrastructure, and overall appearance of the site. It was hoped that cattle grazing will encourage wildflowers to attract insects, birds etc. (Ref 2).
Address

Signposted off the A501 Falls Road in Belfast
between St. Louise's School and Milltown
Belfast
United Kingdom

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary
POINT (5.967884 54.583348)
POINT (5.967219 54.584629)
POINT (5.970287 54.585014)
POINT (5.967841 54.585027)
POINT (5.967004 54.587078)
POINT (5.963056 54.586009)
POINT (5.96076 54.5877)
POINT (5.965245 54.583149)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.5845666,-5.9694504,1007m/data=!3m1!1e3
Total area
65099.00m²
NBS area
65099.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Natural Heritage Area/Untouched nature
Website of the intervention
https://www.ulsterwildlife.org/nature-reserves/bog-meadows
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
unknown
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2014
End date of the intervention
2014
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
The goals of the project include:
1. Rejuvenation of wetland with its improved public access;
2. Improvement in the grazing infrastructure;
3. The overall appearance of the site to be enhanced;
4. Increase the native species of flora and fauna (Ref 3).
Quantitative targets
Unknown
Monitoring indicators defined
Unknown
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Regulation of built environment
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Preservation of natural heritage
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Social cohesion
Social justice and equity
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
Ecosystem-focused
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
Restore native species
Restore valued species
Implementation activities
The Bog Meadows Enhancement Project improved the access, grazing infrastructure and overall appearance of the site.
Cattle will return to traditionally graze the meadows, encouraging the growth of wildflowers which will attract a wide range of insects, birds and mammals.
Other works include :-
1. Demolitions and alterations, Excavations and filling
2. New concrete and gravel paths
3. New non-slip decking to existing bridge
4. Grassing and planting
5. New signage and new water supply
(ref 6)

Type of NBS project
Maintenance and management of urban nature
Ecological restoration of ecosystems
Protection of natural ecosystems
Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Blue infrastructure
Lakes/ponds
Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
Other
Parks and urban forests
Large urban parks or forests
Please specify "other blue area"
Floodplain (Ref 3)
Vegetation Type
Grass
Shrubs
Flower beds
Other
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
Bog Meadow Greenway is a cycling path built to to create a 2.7 mile traffic-free corridor. (Ref 8)
Amenities offered by the NBS
Educational or biodiversity trails
Other
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Water (surface and ground water for drinking and non-drinking purposes)
Genetic materials from all biota
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Social and community interactions
Please specify "other regulating service"

Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Non-government organisation/Civil Society
Citizens or community groups
Other
Please specify "other primary beneficiary"
insects, birds etc. (Ref 2); native species of flora and fauna (Ref 3)
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Non-government actors
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Citizens or community groups
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
1. The Bog Meadows preservation has in large been due to the efforts of a local pressure group 'The Friends of Bog Meadow (Ref 5).
2. Ulster Wildlife is a local charity for native wildlife in Northern Ireland heading the project. (Ref 1)
3. The Alpha Programme is managed by Groundwork NI which has provided financial support (Ref 6)
Key actors - initiating organization
Private foundation/trust
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Non-government organisation/civil society
Citizens or community group
Private foundation/trust
Land owners
No information found
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Citizen monitoring and review
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Unknown
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) and Wildlife Refuges under the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. (Ref 7)
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
City specific green space strategy or plan
Biodiversity strategy or plan
Municipal / city level environmental plan or programme
Please specify other vegetation type
Grazing meadows and wildflowers (Ref 6)
floodplain, urban oasis; mosaic of wetland, meadows, ponds, woodland, shrubs and stream (Ref 1)
wildflowers (Ref 2)
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Groundwork NI's Alpha Programme for funding biodiversity and community based projects (Ref 7)
Co-finance for NBS
Unknown
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€50,000 - €100,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
55000 EUR (Ref 7)
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
£50,000 awarded from the Alpha Programme (Ref 7)
Source(s) of funding
Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
Type of fund(s) used
Donations
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Urban offsetting model (biodiversity or water)
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)
Citizens / local communities
Type of innovation
Social
Governance innovation
Please specify social innovation
collective community action is a key factor - The Bog Meadows preservation has in large been due to the efforts of a local pressure group 'The Friends of Bog Meadows', formed in 1989, when the site was under further threat of deterioration, development and misuse (ref4)
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Green space and habitat
Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
Increased green space area
Increased number of protection areas
Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Reduced biodiversity loss
Increased number of species present
Increased protection of threatened species
Description of environmental benefits
There is an increase in the healthy insect population such as dragonfly and amphibians such as frogs and newts. Enhance the native species of flora and fauna. (Ref 3)
Economic impacts
Unknown
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved social cohesion
Health and wellbeing
Improved physical health
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Description of social and cultural benefits
Bog Meadow Greenway is a cycling path built to create a 2.7 mile traffic-free corridor. (Ref 8)
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
1. Rejuvenation of wetland with its improved access
2. Improvement in the grazing infrastructure
3. overall appearance of the site to be enhanced
4. Bog Meadows is an important site for both breeding and overwintering birds (ref 3)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Regulation of built environment
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Improving physical health
Preservation of natural heritage
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Positive distribution of NBS benefits
Improved access to green and/or blue spaces
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of 21 September 2020
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Not applicable
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Ulster Wildlife
Quinn Automatic Ltd
Documents relevant to the intervention
Attachment Size
Local Development Plans 2020-2035. (2.58 MB) 2.58 MB
List of references
Ref 1. Ulster Wildlife. (nd.) Bog Meadows. Source: http://www.ulsterwildlife.org/reserves/bog-meadows [Accessed 21 September 2020]
Ref 2. Belfast Telegraph (2014) Cows come home to graze at Belfast's Bog Meadows. Source: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/cows-come-home-to-graze-at-belfasts-bog-meadows-29963813.html [Accessed 21 September 2020]
Ref. 3. Discover Northern Ireland.(n.d.)Bog Meadow Nature Reserve Source: https://discovernorthernireland.com/Bog-Meadows-Nature-Reserve-Belfast-P9101/ [Accessed 21 September 2020]
Ref. 4. Belfast Telegraph (2010) Reserve’s £180,000 makeover to ease flooding, Source: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/environment/reserves-180000-makeover-to-ease-flooding-28573990.html [Accessed 21 September 2020]
Ref. 5. UK Urban Forum. (n.d.) Bog Meadows Local Nature Reserve. Source: http://www.ukmaburbanforum.co.uk/awards/sites/bogmeadows/ [Accessed 21 September 2020]
Ref. 6. Quinn Automatic Ltd.(nd.) Bog Meadows Belfast. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 7. Belfast City Council (2016) Local Development Plans 2020-2035. Natural Heritage Topic Paper. (Page 37) Source: https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/getmedia/db827c45-1535-40ca-a55a-8f060cec9292/POP015_TP-NH.pdf [Accessed 21 September 2020]
Ref. 8. Northern Ireland Greenways (2018). bog Meadow Greenways. Source: https://nigreenways.com/bog-meadows-greenway/
Comments and notes
Public Images
Bog Meadow
https://bikefast.org/2016/09/26/bog-meadows-greenway-restitching-belfast-2/