“Divis and the Black Mountain are iconic Belfast landmarks that need our protection”
An innovative scheme of outdoor interpretation
Divis and the Black Mountain lie at the heart of the Belfast Hills. These mountains, ever present as a backdrop to Belfast’s cityscape, are iconic landmarks and valuable outdoor green spaces.
We developed an Interpretation Plan as part of the National Trust’s Divis — A View to the Future project. Our ambition was to co-create interpretation that enhances and restores the valuable natural asset and celebrates the heritage of the site.
Following our site visits to the mountains and a period of desk-top research, we attended community consultation workshops to hear from the locals who live in the foothills of the mountains.
These workshops helped us understand local peoples’ experiences, stories and ambitions for the mountains, and create a vision for what this important green space could be.
Our vision proposes an innovative scheme of interpretation that protects the wildness and beauty of the mountain landscape, while promoting meaningful and experiential connections with the surrounding environment. It is an ambitious and future-facing plan, that keeps the people and place at the centre of the story of the mountains.