Skip to content

Belfast alleys' 'untapped potential' to grow crops

9ft in Common Aisling is smiling at the camera and has shoulder length brown hair with a fringe. She is wearing a grey and yellow scarf.9ft in Common
Aisling Rusk said that many alleyways were "forgotten spaces"

Belfast's alleyways could be used to grow crops like carrots, turnips, and cabbages.

That is according to a "manifesto" calling for over 200km of alleyways in the city to be reclaimed and used by local communities.

The recommendations come from the 9ft in Common project, which takes its name from the typical width of an alley in Belfast.

They have calculated that there are at least 202km (126 miles) of alleyways in Belfast, an area equivalent to over 76 football pitches.

9ft in Common An alleyway that has overgrown weeds, bins and rubbish along the sides. The walls are traditional red brick.9ft in Common
There are at least 202km (126 miles) of alleyways in Belfast

Residents in some areas of Belfast have turned alleyways behind their houses into community gardens or play spaces for children.

But, 9ft in Common, headed by Belfast women Amberlea Neely and Aisling Rusk, said that many alleyways were "forgotten spaces" with "untapped potential".

They have created a digital map of Belfast's alleys on their website and walked many of them, collecting stories from residents and leading walking groups.

That has led to their Manifesto for the Alleys, which has a series of recommendations for how Belfast's alleyways could be more widely used.

Malachy McCrudden Amberlea is standing in front of a red brick wall. She is looking straight at the camera and is wearing a brown hat. She has short blonde hair and an orange jumper with a navy overcoat. Malachy McCrudden
Amberlea Neely said alleyways were "untapped potential."

It said that the alleyways represented over 500,000 square metres of unused "green space", an area equivalent to over 76 football pitches, more than four Botanic Gardens, or pathways stretching more than 18 times the length of the Comber Greenway.

"Reclaiming this much needed public realm space could greatly benefit the city's biodiversity, growing potential and residents' mental health," Ms Neely said.

"If just 10% of the area occupied by the city's alleys were converted into edible growing spaces, the productivity of Belfast's alleys could be transformative."

9ft in Common An alleyway that has been turned into a garden. People can be seen in the distance at a picnic style table. Trees and plants are along the side.9ft in Common
Alleyways represent over 500,000 square meters of unused "green space"

The women have been working with Laurelbank Farm, an organic farm outside Saintfield in County Down.

As a result, their manifesto - which was commissioned as part of the Belfast 2024 project and received funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund - said that Belfast's alleyways "could yield significant crops".

They estimated that the alleyways could be used to grow around 1.4 million carrots; one million beetroots; 600,000 bunches of parsley, 350,000 garlic bulbs, 250,000 turnips or 110,000 cabbages.

The Manifesto for the Alleys has been welcomed by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Alliance councillor Micky Murray.