Last updated: October 2021
The Woodland Trust’s Throne Wood, with its centuries-old woodland and recent planting, is a green oasis on the doorstep of the city of Belfast. The Trust adopted the woodland under their Community Woods Programme. Throne Wood is a haven for wildlife and home to a number of native animal species and is an is an asset to North Belfast. (ref3). Future plans for Throne Wood include tree and wildflower planting to improve biodiversity and the removal of invasive species that hinder natural regeneration of the trees. (ref 1)
Throne Wood (2016)
Photographer: Michael Cooper, retrieved 08/18/2018 from Kaye Coates
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental and climate justice
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Tourism support
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Protection of natural ecosystems, Knowledge creation and awareness raising
Project objectives
Throne fulfils the Woodland Trust's key outcomes in its provision for public enjoyment by access, conserving/ increasing native woodland and in its biodiversity by increasing the habitat diversity, with deadwood, ponds and planting
The key aims are to
• Protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future
• Work with others to create more native woodlands and places rich in trees
• Inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees (ref 2)
• Work with local people to create the woods as part of its community tree pack scheme (ref 5).
Implementation activities
Environmental improvement projects in the area, including upgrading the path network and tree planting in the wood (ref 3)
In 2016, "Throne Wood, at the foot of Cave Hill will see improved pathways, interpretation panels and pond enhancements as part of the £48,000 funding boost from the Alpha Programme, with works due for completion in the spring." "Planted in the early 1800s Throne Wood is owned by the Woodland Trust and it is hoped the work will encourage more members of the public to visit the beauty spot" (Ref 7)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Control and clean invasive alien species
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
- Capacity building
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Clear and control invasive alien species
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
- Other
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Private foundation/trust
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
- Other
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
As part of the Woods On Your Doorstep project, The Woodland Trust is looking for local people to create their own woods as part of its community tree pack scheme (ref 5). The support group, Friends of Throne Woods, will be supported by @myurbangreen, a campaign which an initiative from Marks & Spencer and environmental charity organization Groundwork. - (ref 4)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(1. Belfast Hills plan (ref 2)
2. Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan or BMAP (ref 2))
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Private Foundation/Trust
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
- Increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Economic impacts
- More sustainable tourism
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Protection of natural heritage
- Increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
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
References
Ref 1. Woodland Trust. nd. Throne Wood. Source: Source link [Accessed 23 September 2020]
Ref 2. Woodland Trust. nd. Throne Wood Management Plan. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref 3. Newtown Abbey Today. (2012). Public meeting to rally support for Throne Wood. Source: Source link [Accessed 23 September 2020]
Ref 4. Hughes K. nd. Residents urged to join Throne Woods Source link Source link [[Accessed 23 September 2020]
Ref 5. Briton W. (2014). Woodlands are there for exploring and fun, so get out there and enjoy them [Website unavailable in 2020]
Ref 6. Woodland trust Facebook page. (2018) Source: Source link [Accessed 23 September 2020]
Ref 7. The Irish News (2016) Historic north Belfast wood to get £50,000 facelift. Source: Source link [Accessed 23 September 2020]
Ref. 8. Newtonabbey Times (2016) Historic north Belfast wood receives boost Source: Source link [Accessed 23 September 2020]
Ref 2. Woodland Trust. nd. Throne Wood Management Plan. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref 3. Newtown Abbey Today. (2012). Public meeting to rally support for Throne Wood. Source: Source link [Accessed 23 September 2020]
Ref 4. Hughes K. nd. Residents urged to join Throne Woods Source link Source link [[Accessed 23 September 2020]
Ref 5. Briton W. (2014). Woodlands are there for exploring and fun, so get out there and enjoy them [Website unavailable in 2020]
Ref 6. Woodland trust Facebook page. (2018) Source: Source link [Accessed 23 September 2020]
Ref 7. The Irish News (2016) Historic north Belfast wood to get £50,000 facelift. Source: Source link [Accessed 23 September 2020]
Ref. 8. Newtonabbey Times (2016) Historic north Belfast wood receives boost Source: Source link [Accessed 23 September 2020]