There are numerous quarries and old industrial sites across the Belfast Hills. Many of these sites have naturally regenerated and are rich in biodiversity. However others are overgrown with scrub, have grasslands that are rank due to lack of cutting or grazing, have invasive species, illegal dumping or draining problems.

Other active industrial sites also exist in the Belfast Hills. These sites provide an opportunity to work with site managers in order to initiate improvements for landscape and biodiversity alike.

Working in the quarries

To date, work has been undertaken on numerous industrial sites: Black Mountain quarry, Aughrim Quarry, Mullaghglass quarry, MacWills quarry and the Limestone quarry, Cave Hill.

Staff from the Black Mountain, Aughrim, MacWills and Mullaghglass quarries have embraced the opportunity to work with BHP staff and volunteers on a number of biodiversity improvements to the sites. This has included survey work, wildflower planting, training courses on wildflowers and tree and hedge planting. These improvements have been spread across the four sites which are a mix of active and inactive quarries as well as landfills, both inert and household.

The Limestone Quarry is an inactive/historic quarry. Work was undertaken with Belfast City Council staff and volunteers to remove invasive species and some scrub. Earth has been turned over for wildflower seeds to be sown as a first step to enhancing the site’s biodiversity. Volunteers have also been improving the habitat in the Limestone Quarry for common lizards, Northern Ireland’s only native reptile, by removing scrub to expose open areas for the lizards to bask in the sun. Additionally, the volunteers have working hard to keep vegetation at bay in the pond.

The Belfast Hills sit adjacent to the large populations of Belfast, Lisburn and Newtownabbey. This places high pressure on the landscape particularly in relation to illegal behaviour such as arson.  Most years a number of fires are deliberately started on the hills by young people, generally corresponding to the Easter and summer school holidays. Although fire can be a useful tool for upland management to help regenerate the heathland, theses uncontrolled wildfires can cause huge damage to nesting birds, hares and other wildlife in these summer months. If fires burn for too long they can burn the top layer of soil, destroying the seed bank, preventing any regeneration from occurring.

It is planned that all major wildfire sites mapped, surveyed and where possible compared to baseline data. This will be associated with liaison with the NIFRS, site managers and training. Analysis and interpretation will lead to land management recommendations. The potential for small controlled burns to create fire breaks, reduce fuel load and create a better mosaic of habitats for wildlife will be investigated.

This will tie in with schools landscape and environment project where school children will be educated about the impact of fires on wildlife.

Large parts of the Belfast Hills are made up of privately owned agricultural land (approx 65%). Farming is essential to maintain this landscape and conserve the biodiversity of the Belfast Hills. Despite difficult times for agriculture, we need farmers and landowners to maintain the correct levels of grazing and management to preserve our species-rich grasslands. Grasslands are associated with iconic species such as the Irish hare, Marsh Fritillary butterfly and skylarks which are all NI priority species.

Due to the general decline in farming in the current economic climate, compounded by the difficulties of farming in the urban fringe and uplands, there is a reduction in the number of farm businesses in the wards that make up the Belfast Hills (Belfast Hills baseline study 2009). Consequently some farmland has been left in an abandoned state, while farmyards become a neglected eyesore and hedges are overgrown or gappy. These all have a negative impact upon the Belfast Hills landscape.

We are offering a grant scheme for local farmers/landowners to provide both the motivation and financial assistance needed to transform farms, both aesthetically and for the benefit of biodiversity. To date a number of hedging projects have been undertaken, plantation of a small woodland, along with the creation of a wildflower meadow.

Unfortunately there are known to be high levels of invasive species in the Belfast Hills. This may in part be due to fly-tipping and also the number of landfill sites dotted across the hills, both legal and illegal. Such sites often have associated invasive species due to cutting/vegetation present in the dumped material. River corridors can provide the perfect habitat for invasive species to spread. Within the Belfast Hills, Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam are prevalent. Invasive species such as these are the second greatest threat to biodiversity worldwide after habitat destruction. They can negatively impact on native species and threaten whole ecosystems causing serious problems to the environment and the economy.

Himalayan Balsam is removed by pulling the plant up by its roots in May and June before it forms seed heads. The plants are then placed in bags and left to decompose, so preventing them from spreading further. This removal needs to be repeated for at least a couple of years until the seed bank has been exhausted.  Himalayan Balsam plants which are easily accessible are best tackled simply by pulling up the plant, however places which may pose health and safety issues can be chemically treated by a contractor.

Japanese Knotweed has a very extensive root system so cannot be pulled by hand. Instead, control must be via systematic spraying by qualified contractors. The size of the root system also means that spraying needs to happen for at least three years to totally destroy the plant. Subsequent monitoring is advisable.

Control of invasive species has been happening along the Colin River, within Ligoniel park and Glencairn park in partnership with Colin Glen Trust and Belfast City Council, and with the help of lots of volunteers.

The Belfast Hills have a rich history, the evidence of which may be seen by the remains left in the landscape. Much of this history is as yet undiscovered. When the National Trust bought the Divis and Black Mountain site in 2004 only one historic monument/feature was identified. To date 223 have now been uncovered. This provides a taster for what else must be out there in similar surrounding hill sites.

QUB’s Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork was commissioned to undertake surveys of 12 different heritage features/sites in the Belfast Hills. The aim of this was to create a baseline survey and management recommendations to influence future care through LPS projects and provide landowners with the information needed to help preserve and conserve these historic features.

Belfast Hills Heritage Survey report 

Community archaeology digs have been undertaken at Cave Hill, Black Mountain, Carnmoney Hill and Slievenacloy through the support of NIEA Built Heritage Team, in partnership with the various landowners. They included schools visits, community group visits, public open days and training sessions.

Feedback was obtained via official evaluation sheets, a comments book, comments posted online, emails received etc.  All feedback forms are being kept on file, some of the comments are quoted below, giving you a taster of peoples thoughts on their dig experience:

School Visits

“I think it’s better learning here instead of school because you can see it up close. Thank you.” Jodi

“I think archaeology is awesome.” Kasay

“I had a great time, I loved it and found out loads.”  Amy

“Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to be an archaeologist for the day. We had a great time.” Nathan

“A fantastic opportunity for local children to experience a real archaeology dig and to learn more about their own past.” Ballymacward PS

“I will use my new knowledge to educate children in school. One of our topics is Early Stone Age Man which links in brilliantly with the dig.” Holy Child Primary School

Survey Training Course

All the participants rated the course as excellent and said that they would recommend it to others.

Participants were particularly interested in learning about local archaeology. As a result of the course people were keen to read more about local history, join the UAS, get out walking more and volunteer more.

One local couple commented that it was a subject that always interested them, but had rarely seen locally advertised. “Such events are usually out of reach to many. Thank you to the organisers for the opportunity to do this and I hope further such events will continue.” David & Marie

Public Open Days

“Thoroughly enjoyed the dig today, great alternative activity for the community for people of all age groups.” Eileen

“Fantastic experience taking part in a dig for the first time. Thank you for the opportunity.” Sheila

“Absolutely fabulous experience. I have learned so much today. Thank you all so much.” Ann

“Really had a very interesting time at the Dig Divis today. I had come along last weekend too and loved every minute! Would love to do it all again.” Amy

“Fantastic time on our mountain!!!” Fra

“One very good & interesting day for young and old.” William, Alex & Caleb

“We had lots of fun digging.” Eoghan

Community Groups

“It has been inspirational and I shall be checking out the websites for more info.” Margaret

“Thank you very much for making my mountain, which I view every morning, an exciting as well as beautiful place.” Maureen

“My view of local history has changed, lived nearby for 40 years and wasn’t even aware of it.”

“I will now look at what appears to me to be random stones in a different light.” Liz