Belfast Harbour has officially launched a vibrant new green urban garden at City Quays Gardens, marked by a traditional maritime bottle-smashing ceremony.

The £3.5 million investment has transformed a former car park—located between the historic Belfast Harbour Offices and the City Quays office buildings along the River Lagan—into a two-acre green public space.

Built to 'One Planet Living' sustainability standards, the garden represents a key addition to the ongoing development of the Maritime Mile.

Marked out by a distinctive nest sculpture at its entrance, the gardens feature richly planted green spaces with seating, extensive tree planting, events lawns with amphitheatre seating and outdoor workspace.

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The space incorporates an eco-conscious design that will create new habitats for wildlife and enhance biodiversity.

Chair of Belfast Harbour Dr Theresa Donaldson and Councillor Ruth Brooks, Chair of Belfast Council's People and Communities Committee, declared the gardens open at a gathering of Belfast Harbour stakeholders, including port tenants, government, contractors, residents, community groups and businesses.

Dr Theresa Donaldson, Chair of Belfast Harbour, said: "The vision for City Quays Gardens is that it would be a vibrant and attractive public green space for people who live here, work here and also those who are visiting the city – blending the rich industrial and maritime heritage of the port with innovative and sustainable design and environmental excellence.

"This first phase of City Quays Gardens delivers on all fronts and I’m delighted it is already being enjoyed by people from communities in and around the Harbour Estate."

Cllr Ruth Brooks, added: "Belfast Harbour is a key partner for Belfast City Council and we work very closely on many aspects of the development, improvement and evolution of our city for the good of all of our citizens.

"City Quays Gardens is a perfect example of that collaborative approach and marks a really meaningful contribution to council's objectives of creating new green space in Belfast and promoting active and sustainable transport."