A year-long research project exploring the untapped potential of Belfast’s urban alleyways has culminated in a series of recommendations, which set out how citizens could reclaim and repurpose up to 76 football pitches worth of vital public space.
Mapping the alleys’ potential, the 9ft in Common project team calculated that there are at least 202km (126 miles) of alleyways crisscrossing the city; the approximate distance from Belfast to the Wicklow Mountains. If used effectively, we could gain green space equivalent to 544,044m2 – an area equivalent to over 76 football pitches, more than four Botanic Gardens, or pathways stretching more than 18 times the length of the Comber Greenway.
Calling on people to ‘share; take action; experiment; cross boundaries; name; grow; thrive; protect and connect’ in Belfast’s alleyways’, the 9ft in Common Manifesto, an accompanying film, premieres at the Ulster Museum this Friday (6 December) at 2pm.
The Manifesto – which will be presented in a ceremonial ‘gift to the alleys’ at nearby Wildflower alley following the launch event – is a rallying call to the people of Belfast to inspire new thinking, inviting people to reconsider how these forgotten spaces could be used in the future.
“Reclaiming this much needed public realm space could greatly benefit the city’s biodiversity, growing potential and residents’ mental health,” explains project co-founder, Amberlea Neely. “If we take the growing potential alone, our collaborative project with Laurelbank Farm found that if just 10% of the area occupied by the city’s alleys were converted into edible growing spaces, the productivity of Belfast’s alleys could be transformative.”
Based on experiments in three test alleyway sites, alongside production data from Laurelbank Farm’s organic vegetable farm in Saintfield – and taking a conservative 50% reduction to account for shading and urban growing challenges – it’s estimated that Belfast’s alleyways could yield significant crops annually, amounting to 1.4 million carrots; 1 million beetroots; 600,000 bunches of parsley; 350,000 garlic bulbs; 250,000 turnips; or 110,000 cabbages.*
The 9ft in Common project was commissioned by Belfast City Council’s Belfast 2024 celebration of culture and creativity, celebrating our city in new and exciting ways. The project is also supported by funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Speaking ahead of the Manifesto Launch, Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, said: “Through Belfast 2024-funded projects like 9ft in Common, our council is keen to spark meaningful discussion and community collaboration, right across the city. It’s been inspiring to watch people come together, through multiple events, projects and workshops this year, to imagine how Belfast might look like in the future with continued creative thinking and a strong commitment to working together.”
Dr Paul Mullan, Northern Ireland director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund said, “We’re pleased to support ten exciting Belfast 2024 Our Future Heritage projects which are using £250,000 of heritage funding made possible by National Lottery players to explore Belfast’s heritage.
The 9ft in Common project is connecting people to the possibilities of nature in urban settings and is a wonderful example of uncovering forgotten or overlooked sites and stories, sharing skills and bringing people together.”
For further information visit 9ftincommon.com or connect with the project on Instagram, at @9ftincommon.
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