The Centre for Democracy and Peace Fellowship Programme has marked its fifth anniversary with a tree-planting initiative at the Connswater Community Greenway, creating a lasting environmental and community legacy to celebrate the milestone.
Established in 2021, the Fellowship Programme brings together political, business and civic leaders from across Northern Ireland, providing a space to reimagine leadership through innovation, collaboration and capacity-building.
Over the past five years, the programme has fostered connections across sectors and supported leaders to work collectively to address shared challenges.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, Fellows and partners came together to plant trees, which were supplied by Belfast City Council, along the Connswater Community Greenway.
The Centre said the tree-planting project represents an important way to mark five years of the Fellowship, an initiative that reflects the Fellowship’s commitment to practical community action and sustainability, while symbolising growth, collaboration and long-term impact that benefits communities across Northern Ireland.
While the programme has expanded and evolved since its launch, its core purpose remains unchanged: nurturing leadership, strengthening connections and creating opportunities for lasting, shared progress.
Speaking at the event, Gillian Hamilton, EastSide Partnership and CDP Fellow said:
As a 2026 Fellow, I was delighted to partner with Belfast City Council to host this tree planting event on the Connswater Community Greenway. When the call went out for Fellows to get involved, we were keen to offer the Greenway as a location that reflects our shared commitment to climate action and community engagement.At EastSide Greenways, we are passionate about increasing biodiversity married with our responsibility to animate and activate this important civic space. Bringing Fellows together to plant trees not only enhances the natural environment, it demonstrates the leadership role we can all play in shaping a greener, healthier future for Belfast.
Peter McReynolds MLA for East Belfast and Fellowship Alumnus said:
I am delighted to see the Fellowship celebrating their fifth anniversary with a 200 tree planting initiative.It is a fantastic way to show their commitment to the community and the local environment. This work resonates with my own efforts to strengthen legal tree protection through my Members’ Bill in the Northern Ireland Assembly, recognising the vital role trees play in our communities and in tackling climate change.Congratulations to everyone involved in the Fellowship’s milestone and their ongoing efforts to create a dynamic, engaged and resistant politics here in Northern Ireland.
The Fellowship Programme is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Northern Ireland Office’s Connect Fund, alongside leading employers including Camlin Group, FinTrU, Fujitsu NI, NIE Networks, Ulster Carpets, Allstate NI and the Irish American Partnership.
Photo Caption: (L-R) Gillian Hamilton, EastSide Partnership and CDP Fellow; Peter McReynolds, MLA for East Belfast and Fellowship Alumnus; and Eva Grosman, Centre for Democracy and Peace.
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