Children from two Belfast primaries were first to get an environment lesson at a new outdoor classroom at Belfast Castle.
The Our Lady Of Lourdes Primary and Cavehill Primary Schools pupils learned all about the importance of water and flood prevention as Nichola Mallon launched a new natural flood scheme, forest trail and classroom in the grounds.
Minister Mallon told Belfast Live: “This is part of my department’s living with water programme.
“It’s about using our natural environment to protect against flooding... teaching about the preciousness of water and bringing all of those strands together.
“We have ponds here to capture running water but it’s also about creating forest trails so more people are engaged in the future and then we have this wonderful outdoor classroom.
“This demonstration project in Cave Hill Country Park shows how we can use our open green spaces to naturally manage water to reduce flooding whilst also protecting our environment.
“I very much enjoyed joining the children today in the new outdoor classroom and forest trails where nature itself provides the ideal surroundings for school groups to learn about the effects of flooding, the water cycle and the environment.”
“I hope other schools will also find this new resource helpful when educating our future generations about the importance of water and drainage.”
The Infrastructure Minister was joined by Belfast City Council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee chair Áine Groogan and NI Water for the launch of the pilot project.
Councillor Áine Groogan added: “There is unfortunately significant pressure on the city’s drainage and wastewater infrastructure, which has serious implications for our citizens and the economy.
“This project and the wider Living With Water programme are crucial to help protect the city from flooding and provide a cleaner and greener environment.
“This supports Belfast’s Resilience Strategy - the city’s first climate plan, and the Net Zero Carbon Roadmap for Belfast, which were both launched in December 2020.
“Our ambition is to transition Belfast to an inclusive, zero-emissions, climate-resilient economy within a generation.”
It is hoped the natural flood defence pilot scheme will help reduce flooding naturally by slowing the flow of water in the existing watercourse and helping remove surface water from the drainage system, while helping DfI develop new ways of managing water flow in already under pressure drainage systems.
