Meigh Residents’ Planting Scheme Sews Seeds for Greener Future

A recent community planting session at Meigh Community Centre brought residents together to support biodiversity and enhance their local environment as part of the ongoing Bloom and Branch initiative.

The project is part of Newry Mourne and Down Districts Council’s Local Action Plan’s Thriving Together initiative, which is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). 

Projects in the co-designed plan enables and empowers local community partnerships to identify and deliver priority projects on a cross-community basis, with the recent event bringing together Meigh Men’s Shed members and wider community volunteers. 

They worked side-by-side to create pollinator-friendly planting areas and also took part in hands-on activities designed to support local wildlife, while improving green spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Delivered by The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), the Bloom and Branch initiative focuses on increasing biodiversity, expanding native tree cover and raising awareness of the important role pollinators play in ecosystems and food production.

The programme also promotes community collaboration, encouraging participation from people of different backgrounds and traditions to work together on shared environmental goals. 

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Glyn Hanna said, “Supporting biodiversity and the environment has never been more important. As part of the Council’s Local Action Plan’s Thriving Together initiative, supported by PEACEPLUS, the Meigh Bloom and Branch project is one of many across our district that will make a difference.

“Local people are coming together to deliver projects on a cross-community basis to make a difference in their respective areas and are to be commended for their excellent work.”

Further sessions and opportunities to get involved in Bloom and Branch will continue to be rolled out across the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area. If you would like to get involved, e-mail bloomandbranch@tcv.org.uk
 
A PEACEPLUS newsletter is published every two months, highlighting the wide range of projects being delivered throughout the district as part of the Co-Designed Action Plan, providing residents with news on upcoming initiatives and opportunities they may wish to get involved in.

To receive future newsletters email peace@nmandd.org and ask to be placed on the PEACEPLUS database, while for information on the (SEUPB) visit https://seupb.eu/PEACEPLUS