A MAJOR tree-planting drive in north Down is already putting down roots for a greener future, with hundreds of new trees transforming a Bangor housing scheme into a thriving environmental asset.
A total of 300 trees have been planted at Choice Housing’s Killaire Wood Lane development as part of a large-scale initiative delivered in partnership with Ards and North Down Council and landscape specialists Idverde.
Once established, the trees will capture and store carbon to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support wildlife by creating new habitats, improve air quality and enhance biodiversity across the area. An additional area has also been set aside for wildflowers, due to be planted this spring.
The scheme will create dense habitats providing food, shelter and breeding grounds for birds, insects and small mammals, while also forming ecological corridors that allow wildlife to move more safely through the landscape.
Dylan Freeburn, development officer for the council, said the collaboration forms part of the local authority’s STAND4TREES initiative, which aims to plant one tree for every resident.
“Working closely with housing providers such as Choice is essential to increasing tree cover on both public and private land, helping us create greener, healthier and more climate resilient neighbourhoods for future generations,” added Dylan.
The Killaire Wood project forms part of a broader shared commitment across the province to tackling climate change by enhancing biodiversity and improving green spaces.
Choice Housing’s Biodiversity Action Plan (2025–2028) sets out a strategic framework to protect and improve habitats, embed biodiversity into planning and management practices, and work with trusted partners to create and restore ecological networks on and around housing land.
