The Environment Minister is backing Alpha Housing’s calls for the social housing industry in Northern Ireland to make nature a priority with all current, and future, developments. Andrew Muir MLA was one of several high-profile guests to speak about the importance of biodiversity and nature recovery at Alpha’s ‘Greening Social Housing’ event in Belfast.
He has already seen first-hand the work that is being undertaken by some tenants, with the support of Alpha, during a special visit to Montgomery Manor in Bangor last October. Tenants have set aside no mow areas, created raised beds for wildflowers, planted native hedging, strategically erected bird boxes and bug hotels, and reduced herbicide usage.
Similar work’s been led by staff and tenants at Belfast’s Alexander Court, with the gardens ensuring nature can thrive while offering residents a place to meet friends and family. “It was great to be able to attend Alpha Housing’s conference, to see the importance of nature recovery, and biodiversity being showcased, because it is important not only to Alpha, but also to my department and the people of Northern Ireland,” said the Minister.
“We need to do more to support nature recovery, and my department is working to bring forward a strategy in relation to that, but the action we can take on the ground is really tangible, and there are so many examples Alpha has across their estate which I am proud to be associated with. I even saw this work when I visited Montgomery Manor last year.”
Held in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations and AICO – the European market leader in the sale of home life safety equipment – other guest speakers included Grainia Long, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive Chief Executive, recently-appointed Ulster Wildlife Chief Executive Officer Dawn Miskelly, Apex Housing’s Director of Development Barry Kerr, Choice Housing’s Sustainability and Energy Manager Brian Rankin, and Niche Environmental Services’ found and director, Dominic Knower.
The underlying message was that time is running out if landlords, tenants, and industry stakeholders are to reverse the biodiversity crisis that is unfolding in Northern Ireland. And by creating beautiful spaces and tranquil places, this can also benefit the health and well-being of residents, said Cameron Watt, the Chief Executive of Alpha Housing.
Cameron Watt, the Chief Executive of Alpha Housing, said: “Social housing providers like Alpha have a crucial role to play in not only addressing the needs of local communities, but also fostering nature’s recovery in those communities and areas where we operate.
“This recovery can be delivered through thoughtful design and sustainable practices and integrating green spaces into future builds, and also current housing schemes. Research shows that by doing this, we can create homes that nurture both people and the planet.
“If we all place a renewed focus on the environment, social housing providers can create spaces that offer healthier, greener homes that enhance the quality of life for tenants, while also giving the ecosystems that surround us, and sustain us all, a helping hand.
“The Greening Social Housing conference is not just a meeting of minds, but a gathering of influential people who can make real – and lasting – change. By discussing the need to protect local eco systems, we can cultivate solutions that can grow,” added Cameron.
As a sign of the significance Alpha Housing places on its environmental responsibilities, it has made supporting nature a priority in their current four-year Strategic Plan (2022-25), with this warmly welcomed by Seamus Leheny, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations. “Social housing providers have a remit to provide homes for people, to create a community that is healthy and enjoyable to live,” he said.
“I have visited several Alpha Housing sites and the one thing you notice is the amount of green space, the number of trees, and the use of indigenous plants that not only tie in with the landscape but help create a home for insects and wildlife as well,” he added.
Several Alpha Housing partners had displays at the Greening Social Housing conference to show how wildlife can be encouraged to make the space and environment at social housing schemes their new home, including Woodland Trust, the RSPB, and Wild Belfast.
Ulster Wildlife CEO, Dawn Miskelly, said: “Nature is so important to our health and well-being as a society, and we can do so much more by taking small steps to integrate it more into social housing. We welcome the opportunity to work more closely with Alpha on all of these nature friendly initiatives and they have shown by holding events like a Greening Social Housing conference, they are leading the way in this space. It is fantastic to see.
“Going forward, I think the one thing developers can do is take account of the nature that is already around them and also look at how can they work with the existing landscape and identify the different ways they can enhance that,” added Dawn.
