Local communities across Northern Ireland are being called to create their own green space under a new grant scheme.

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has launched a Living Places and Spaces grant scheme, using her Blue Green Infrastructure fund.

The fund will allow local communities to create their own green space in the form of living walls, allotments, rain gardens, pocket parks and forest trails. 

It will open for applications in November and is being administered in partnership with the National Lottery Community Fund. 

Launching the Fund, Minister Mallon said: "Since becoming Minister, I have made it my priority to build cleaner, greener, healthier communities for our citizens. I have also been clear that if we are to truly transform our society, we must work in partnership, working with communities to deliver what they need not just what government thinks they need. One of the requests I regularly get when out meeting people is for more support to transform localities into greener, cleaner, more attractive and healthier environments. I am delighted that today I am launching the first ever Living Places and Spaces Grant scheme to make this change happen within our communities.

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"Everyone is acutely aware of the climate crisis and it is the responsibility of all of us to work together to save our environment. To empower communities to help make that change on the ground, we need to give local people the tools and the support to make real change a reality. From tree planting, to managing water, to growing vegetables and creating areas for active travel, local communities can play an active part in fighting the climate crisis. My fund will open to applications in November and I am encouraging local communities to play their part and apply to this fund to transform their local spaces for the benefit of the environment right across the North."

Kate Beggs, The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland Director added: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Department for Infrastructure to deliver this programme which will support communities across Northern Ireland to create greener, safer and more sustainable local spaces."