Glas-na-Bradan Wood: a new beginning
We're transforming the site in the Belfast Hills into new native woodland, with help from the community in Northern Ireland.
The Woodland Trust Northern Ireland recently secured the future of 98 hectares in the Belfast Hills.
The site, which has been named via public vote as Glas-na-Bradan Wood, will be transformed into a new native woodland and for the first time in the Woodland Trust’s history in Northern Ireland, will be planted completely by the public.
Our vision for Glas-na-Bradan Wood
To be able to create woodlands on this scale means more for nature, more for climate change and more for people. We now have the rare opportunity to transform this land by conserving and restoring it to a beautiful habitat for people and nature, all with the help of local communities. Our vision is for every tree on the site to be planted by the local community.
Our plan
We will be reaching out to all our new neighbours including schools, youth groups, scouts, community groups and members of the public to help us plant 150,000 trees at Glas-na-Bradan Wood.
Planting began in 2021 and will run as a five-year programme involving the community and partners who neighbour the site. We'll give local people the opportunity to get involved and experience hands-on tree planting.
What we've achieved so far
In its first year, we improved access to the site and helped transform the Belfast horizon with the planting of over 45,000 trees with the help of 1300 volunteers.
Northern Ireland Environment Agency funding has been allocated to complete a programme of works that includes the upgrade of an existing 2km walking track and the creation of a ford to cross the ‘Stream of the Salmon’ - the Glas-na-Bradan River. Other works include the installation of management gates with traditional stone pillars, kissing gates to enable public access on foot, and fencing around the boundary of the site.
Who we're working with
The first 45,000 trees in the ground at Glas-na-Bradan Wood will be planted later this year by local communities, the public and Halifax, who, as part of their 10-year partnership with the Woodland Trust, are supporting the creation of 10 new woodlands across the UK through funding and colleague volunteering.
Volunteer at Glas-na-Bradan
We are looking for someone to be our eyes and ears on the ground at Glas-na-Bradan Wood and in greater Belfast. Your role would be to support the site manager; monitoring the condition of the wood, reporting any damage, maintenance issues, incidents, and also noting interesting wildlife.
Support our work in Northern Ireland
Glas-na-Bradan Wood is just one of the Woodland Trust sites within Northern Ireland; it is an exemplar site to showcase one of the many aspects to our work, woodland creation. With your help we can continue to acquire new sites here in Northern Ireland, creating even more green spaces for local communities to enjoy.
We have ambitious plans for more land acquisitions during 2022/23. Every penny donated is guaranteed to be spent within Northern Ireland to help acquire land for woodland creation.