The Shaping Healthier Neighbourhoods project has now concluded its practical phase. To mark this, trees are being planted in each of the participating schools with the children who contributed their views. Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile, Mayor of Belfast, took part in the tree planting at St Oliver Plunkett Primary School in June 2011.

This project worked with 9-11 year old children in the Lenadoon and Suffolk areas of west Belfast, to give them an opportunity to think about how their environment affects them. The children took photos of the environment around their school, to show what they see and think about it, in particular about the streets, green spaces and play opportunities.

The photos were used to develop scrapbooks, collages and electronic presentations that gave the children an opportunity to express and show what a good environment would look like to them. Photos and findings will be collated into a report that will be published in the autumn, with a view to highlighting children’s views and seeking ways in which children can be more effectively heard in planning and decision making around the built environment.