Thank you again for signing and sharing the petition. It is wonderful to see such support from across the diverse community of south Belfast! 

In return, we have created a website to celebrate the meadow and share its fascinating story: https://botanicmeadow.com

Latest from BCC

No one in Belfast City Council has yet been able to explain exactly when, how or on what basis the decision to give the go-ahead to the sports pitch was made. The murkiness deepens given the claim is that the decision is merely implementing the Council's 'Pitches Strategy' - a document which remains unpublished...

One update from a Councillor is that a report be submitted to the Council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on 'whether the UPSURGE project and a GAA pitch can co-exist on the site'. We will watch out for this report (if it is made public).

We remain unconvinced that co-existence is possible. UPSURGE did more than build the gardens; it supported the sowing of native wildflowers and creation of the natural flood alleviation ponds. A wildflower meadow across which anyone (including wildlife) can roam is incompatible with an enclosed 3G pitch.

Opposition

There is growing opposition to our opposition! A petition to build the sports pitch has been started by the Chairman of Bredagh GAC, the club which uses the Cherryvale pitches. And, as one would expect of a petition with the benefit of organisational networks, it is doing well. Speaking to the Irish News, he stated, "The club’s senior team currently travels 11 miles from their usual home of Cherryvale to Mallusk for training, such is the demand for facilities among its own youth teams, as well as from other clubs in the area." Which not only indicates a certain amount of inconvenience for a couple of dozen men, but also that they are looking for all-weather training pitches, i.e. 3G not grass. 

That Irish News article was published today, and this Save Botanic Meadow petition (and the sentiments behind it) are referenced in it.

Time to grow

We remain determined and full of hope - as one should be as Spring arrives (look at the blossoming daffodils in the meadow's woodland)! 

What you can do to help: Please share the petition and our website, and please consider writing to Belfast City Councillors. If you'd like to be more involved, we'd be grateful! Please email: BotanicMeadow@proton.me

Thank you!