Call made for Belfast parks to donate their healthy uprooted plants, rather than send them to compost

Some plants going to compost are perennials that could be used by communities

A call has been made for healthy flowers and other plants that are regularly uprooted in Belfast parks to be donated to communities and residents, rather than be thrown into the compost bin.

Uprooted plants in Belfast parks are typically sent for green waste composting to be repurposed as soil conditioner. In tourist-heavy parks like Botanic Gardens, beautiful, in-season flowers are often uprooted at their peak, as wilting plants are seen by many as unsightly.

Not only dead annuals are ending up as compost, but it appears some perennials, including bulb plants, are being disposed of when they could be maintained elsewhere in the city.

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After an elected member decision was ratified this week at City Hall, officials at Belfast City Council have been tasked to look at how to establish formal redistribution schemes that allow healthy plants and bulbs to be donated directly to community gardens and residents.

SDLP Councillor Gary Mckeown, who made the proposal, said at the last meeting of the People and Communities Committee: “A number of constituents have raised with me their observation that the occasions when plants are being removed from the parks, from the flower beds, that they appear to be on their way to disposal.

“They have opportunistically been able to avail of (some plants) for various projects. It seems unfortunate that it is the case, because often it is plants that can grow from bulbs, and can come back every year, or even rose bushes.”

He requested officials provide a paper outlining the process for transfer and disposal of plants taken from parks.

He said: “Is there an opportunity here to provide a facility for people who may be able to make use of them, in their gardens, or in entries or other projects, to give them new life, rather than just being disposed of?

“With all the work going on by the council, reimaging the city, and especially in the entries, anything that can help that, certainly if it is free, will be a positive for communities. This is a request to see what the situation is in terms of the disposal.

“I want to see if we can put in place a formal process for members of the public to avail of any plants on their way to disposal, for a new lease of life.”

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