Blackie Community Groups Association, Belfast
Date: 20 March 2008
No. of trees planted: 5
No. of people involved: 15
Blackie Community Centre is based in the Beechmount area of West Belfast and is used by the local community. The centre provides crèche facilities, after school clubs and youth projects for the people in the area.
The community leaders felt that planting the trees would enhance the area around the centre and give the young people a sense of ownership and pride in the area planted. The trees were planted at the rear of the premises behind the colourful Play Park.
The small grassed area included a steep bank and could only be accessed by climbing over a fence! The children were keen to clamber over the fence, although it was not so easy for some of the less-youthful members of the team – community leaders and volunteers – but all made it over safely.
Five large trees, two rowan, two downy birch and a beech tree (in keeping with the area’s name) were planted at the top of the bank. The ground was overgrown, full of stones and rubble making the digging difficult but the children pretended they were digging for treasure, including dinosaur bones, and, with perseverance, large holes were made for the planting. The trees were successfully planted and staked.
Lots of photographs were taken and it was hoped that an article would appear in the local paper. The leaders talked about what they had planned for the grassed area and how the tree planting was a start of what they hoped would be a number of schemes to enhance the area.