Putting Down Roots: How the ABC Area Is Getting Serious About Going Green

Putting Down Roots: How the ABC Area Is Getting Serious About Going Green

Spades in the ground at Corcrain Woodland. Volunteers logging their 1,500th hour in Dromore. A Lurgan lough shore newly lined with oak, rowan and willow. If you've been paying attention, something is quietly taking shape across the ABC area — and it's growing.

Environmental action has a tendency to feel distant, filtered through government targets and global summits. But in Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon and the towns and villages in between, some of the most meaningful green work is happening at a very local level — led by councils, community groups, schools, and ordinary people with a pair of gardening gloves and a bit of determination.

Trees, Trees, and More Trees

Corcrain Woodland in Portadown recently gained around 600 new native trees, planted by volunteers from ABC Borough Council, NIE Networks, and The Conservation Volunteers, adding to an established woodland that was originally planted as a Millennium Wood back in 2000. The species list reads like a roll call of the Irish countryside — Alder, Downey Birch, Cherry, Aspen, Rowan, Oak and Willow — chosen to enhance the habitat for local bird species and other wildlife. Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough CouncilArmagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

And that's not all. Hundreds of native trees have also been planted at Lough Road in Lurgan, on council-owned land adjacent to the golf course, as part of an ongoing collaboration between the council's Conservation Team and partner organisations. ABC Council already has more sites identified for planting in the coming years as part of this joint work. NorthernIrelandWorldArmagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

The wider context matters here too. NIE Networks is working with The Conservation Volunteers to plant around 14,000 young trees across Northern Ireland during the 2025–2026 winter planting season — with the ABC area featuring prominently in those plans. Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

Community Groups Leading the Way

Perhaps the most encouraging story isn't happening at a council level at all. Across the borough, community groups have been quietly transforming neglected corners into places worth caring about.

Dromore's Higher Ground Community Gardening Group were crowned the ABC Borough Regional Champions at the 2025 Live Here Love Here Community Awards, held at Belfast City Hall in February. The group, which has over 70 volunteers, used its grant funding to sow seeds, nurture plants, run litter picks, and create a vibrant community area — a project that surpassed 1,500 hours of volunteer time.

armaghbanbridgecraigavonBusiness Eye

They're not alone. A total of 17 community groups across the ABC Borough were awarded grants of between £500 and £5,000 through the Live Here Love Here Small Grants scheme, with projects spanning sensory gardens, litter picks, tree planting, and new pollinator spaces. Among them: the recently formed Tidy Banbridge, the Markethill District Enterprises Community Garden, Bleary Community Group, and the wonderfully named First Portadown Presbyterian Church Creation Carers Group. Projects range from community gardens and green spaces to workshops and other sustainable initiatives designed to enhance biodiversity, reduce emissions, and improve wellbeing for local residents. Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough CouncilArmagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

Growing Skills, Growing People

Green initiatives here aren't just about the environment — they're about people too. ABC Borough Council's Green Gym and Growing Skills Projects have helped 30 local residents learn practical horticulture skills, with training taking place at the Palace Stables in Armagh and Tannaghmore Gardens in Craigavon. Participants have achieved qualifications in practical and amenity horticulture, first aid and manual handling — with some going on to secure employment as a result. Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

It's an approach that recognises something important: that the best environmental initiatives do double duty, improving both the land and the lives of the people who work it.

The Bigger Picture

Total CO2 emissions for the ABC area currently stand at around 2,071,700 tonnes — equivalent to 9.3 tonnes per person. That figure underlines why local action matters. National targets are set in Westminster and Stormont; the actual work of reducing emissions, protecting green corridors, and rebuilding biodiversity happens here, in our parks and loughsides and school gardens. Carbon Copy

The council's €7.7m PEACEPLUS Action Plan includes an outdoor and environment programme featuring forest schools and community growing projects — part of a wider commitment to making the ABC area a place where environmental ambition is matched by real, visible action on the ground. Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

What You Can Do

The Live Here Love Here Small Grants Scheme reopens for applications annually — community groups, schools, and not-for-profit organisations can apply for grants of up to £3,000 to fund local environmental projects. Visit liveherelovehere.org to find out when the next round opens.

If tree planting is more your thing, keep an eye on ABC Council's social media channels and website — volunteer planting events at sites across the borough are announced throughout the season, and they're genuinely open to anyone who wants to get involved.

And if you're simply looking to make a difference closer to home, organisations like The Conservation Volunteers run community events across Northern Ireland year-round. A few hours on a Saturday morning, a pair of wellies, and a willingness to get muddy is all it takes.

The ABC area's green story is still being written — and right now, there's plenty of room for new contributors.

Have you been involved in a local eco project or noticed green changes in your town or village recently? We'd love to hear about it in the comments below.