April 2025
Introduction
Larne Town Park is an 8.3 hectare green space running along the coast of Larne Town, widely used by the community.
It contains 3 tennis courts, a basketball court, skate park, playpark, public toilets, bandstand, mature trees and tree lined walks, woodland, ornamental shrubs, and several areas of amenity grass. In May 2025 a new 4G football pitch was completed. Due to its size, facilities and expansive green areas the park hosts several events throughout the year.
The park contains an allotment site containing 8 plots. This is a convivial hub where local gardeners grow their own food and a variety of plants throughout the year. One of the plots is specifically managed for biodiversity.
What is a Nature Recovery Plan
This plan provides a framework for nature recovery in Larne Town Park to guide future management. It is a flexible, evolving document, and feedback from park users, community groups, elected representatives, and stakeholders will continue to develop the plan and ongoing reviews.
The 3 –30 -300 rule. What is the 3-30-300 rule?
This rule of thumb provides clear criteria for the minimum provision of trees in our urban communities. It is straightforward to implement and monitor – and easy to remember.
1. You should be able to see 3 trees from your window
2. There should be 30% tree cover in every neighbourhood
3. You should only be 300m or less from your nearest park / quality green space
There are over 700 properties within 300m of Larne Town Park, allowing residents to avail of the benefits of living close to quality green space.
The Promenade is a coastal walkway accessible to the public from Town Park via a pedestrian link known as The Snake Path, which gives access around the coastline passing the leisure centre and leading to Chaine Memorial Tower, and beyond to the harbour.
Town Park is one of the largest parks in the Larne area and contains a variety of habitats. However, like many urban parks, it faces challenges like habitat degradation, loss of biodiversity, and an abundance of amenity grass.
This nature recovery plan outlines key actions to enhance biodiversity, strengthen ecological resilience, and engage the community in conservation efforts.
Key Objectives
To Enable the recovery of nature in Larne Town Park through:
• Habitat management
• Species management
• Enhancing biodiversity
• Engaging local residents, schools, and community groups in conservation efforts.
• Management of invasive species
Strategic policy framework
Putting People First is the Community Plan for Mid and East Antrim and sets out a number of objectives to enhance the borough from 2017-2032
The Borough’s Parks and Open Spaces contribute to delivering on many of the thematic objectives set out in the Community Plan. The plan can be accessed at:
https://www.midandeastantrim.gov. uk/downloads/Putting_People_ First_-_The_Mid_and_East_Antrim_ Community_Plan.pdf
The themes and how parks help meet strategic objectives under each theme are set out below;
Our Environment
Parks in Mid and East Antrim contribute a great deal to the identity of local towns and villages. Quality parks and green spaces help make our towns and villages places where people want to visit, live and invest in. Parks are home to an abundance of mature, native trees, plants and wildlife.
Sustainable Jobs and Tourism
Economic analyses have found that the value of homes near quality green spaces is 9 to 15 percent higher than homes without. Research shows that shoppers linger longer along a shaded avenue than one barren of trees and are even willing to pay more for goods and services.
Community Safety and Cohesion
While using public spaces such as urban parks, people have more opportunities to connect with nature and their wider community. By facilitating social interactions, urban green spaces contribute to greater social cohesion, fostering a sense of belonging and strengthening bonds among residents. Research also demonstrates that areas with quality green spaces have significantly lower crime rates than areas without
Progress in Education/ Learning for Life
Parks can enhance a community’s sense of pride, and ownership. Active involvement in parks programmes leads to a stronger sense of community and the promotion of environmental responsibility and ethics.
Good Health and Wellbeing
Research demonstrates that exposure to quality parks and open spaces has a relaxing effect on humans, reducing stress and imparting a sense of well-being.
Mid and East Antrim Corporate Plan 20242028
Our Corporate Plan is our statement of intent and describes our aims and ambitions for the Council and how we will achieve our vision - “Mid and East Antrim will be a strong, vibrant, safe and inclusive community where people work together to improve the quality of life for all”.
People
The themes and how parks help meet strategic objectives under each theme are set out below; Place
Geen job creation, reduced stress, tree equity and community involvement in Parks and Open Spaces across the borough
Promotion of the borough as a leading visitor and cultural destination, using our natural and built heritage and assets.
Planet
Supporting local communities to create a environmentally resilient and sustainable borough that is equipped to deal with emergency situations, including climate adaption.
Protect our natural environment, enhance biodiversity, and retain or increase Council’s current levels of carbon capture.
Performance
Continuing to work alongside our partners to progress the delivery of the Community Plan and other Council Strategies, sharing knowledge, skills, and best practice to create synergy and influence decision making to achieve the best outcomes for the borough at an affordable cost.
Mid and East Antrim Tree and Woodland Strategy 2025 - 2035
Council is currently developing a Tree and Woodland Strategy as a commitment to securing more of the benefits of trees and woodlands for the residents of the borough. This strategy sets out how we will meet the challenges of expanding and maintaining our rural and urban tree cover for the benefit of all.
The Tree and Woodland strategy, has been developed using a 3-pronged approach
1. Tree and Woodland structure
Within this section, we are looking at the physical structure of the trees and woodland across Mid and East Antrim, e.g. Percentage canopy cover, species suitability and age diversity. We are currently building a publicly accessible web map of the trees on Council owned land.
2. Community Framework
Here we are considering the various communities that are required for a successful, long term approach to the management of trees and woodland. This includes local residents, community groups, NGO’s and commercial entities.
3. Sustainable management of the woodland resource
This section deals with the practical management of the trees and woodlands on Council owned land, and how Council can seek to engage and influence other landowners.
Examples of key Actions from Tree and Woodland Strategy:
• Work towards a resilient and sustainable tree population, with varied age and species diversity
• Select species well suited to the context of the planting area
• Provide opportunities for communities to connect with trees and woodlands in their areas, through community planting events and workshops.
• Work with other public and private landowners to enhance the treescape across the borough
• Expand accessible green spaces annually and conduct regular visitor satisfaction surveys.
• Publish Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) for Trees and Development
Targets and Actions
Target 1 Management of Trees and Woodlands
Larne Town Park contains areas of mixed woodland and many valued mature trees. The park features a blend of native and non-native plant species, including extensive stands of Griselinia littoralis, a species native to New Zealand. While this plant can be beneficial in certain settings—offering cover and nesting sites for birds—its abundance would benefit from gradual reduction to allow native woodland species to thrive. Although there may be limited scope for extensive new tree planting, the existing woodland would benefit from targeted management to enhance biodiversity.
Actions
4. Coppicing of hazel stands where
to provide structural and age diversity within existing woodland
1. Continuation of tree safety and condition surveys.
2. New areas of native tree planting where possible
3. Reduction of Griselinia littoralis and replanting with native shrubs such as hazel, elder and hawthorn over a 10-year period
overgrown
Target 2
Species Management
In 2019, a Bioblitz was conducted at Larne Town Park, Drumalis Retreat Centre, and the adjoining shoreline. A Bioblitz is a fastpaced survey aimed at identifying and recording as many species of plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms as possible within a set timeframe, typically 24 hours. The event brought together volunteers, scientists, and community members to document the area’s biodiversity. During this event, several Northern Ireland Priority Species were recorded at Larne Town Park, including the common pipistrelle bat, swallow, house martin, and goldfinch. While
many of these species cannot be specifically managed under this plan, efforts to enhance overall biodiversity across the site will benefit all species present.
Habitat quality and diversity are essential for supporting a wide range of species—some thrive in open spaces, while others prefer woodland edges, wetlands, or hedgerows. Species also require year-round resources, especially during breeding or overwintering periods. It is crucial to consider the varying seasonal needs of the species that use the park.
Additionally, mammals, invertebrates, and nesting birds are particularly sensitive to trampling, noise, and the presence of pets. Larne Town Park, like many areas within MEA are popular with local residents and visitors. Therefore, species management improvements should consider the foot traffic in these areas, ensuring that species are not drawn into places where they may be at risk.
Actions
1. Maintain and improve the range of habitats as appropriate to the setting and location, and leave natural features like dead wood where possible.
2. Prioritise native vegetation if appropriate to setting
3. Improve the variety of nectar sources, seeds, insects, and shelter, e.g. protected and correctly sited bird/bat boxes where natural nesting sites are unavailable, develop long grass areas, plant or improve hedgerows through hedgerow management techniques.
4. Connectivity – where possible ensure the park is connected to wider green infrastructure using hedgerows, grassland, woodland etc.
Early Bumblebee on cherry blossom in Larne Town Park, March 2025
Target 3
Enhancing Biodiversity
The park is home to a variety of plant and animal life, with its woodland, grassland, and coastal ecosystems. The trees and woodland provide nesting sites and shelter for birds, while wildflower areas and pollinatorfriendly planting support bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. The park’s green corridors allow small mammals, amphibians, and invertebrates to thrive, contributing to a balanced and resilient local ecosystem. By implementing manageable improvements and through sustainable management practices, the park can increase its function as an essential urban refuge for wildlife while enhancing visitor enjoyment of its natural beauty.
Actions
1. Improvement of the park for pollinators – Creation of pollinator friendly habitat through thoughtful planting choices and bedding.
2. Grassland areas - leaving designated areas of amenity grass uncut to form seed heads and flowers, and planting areas of native wildflowers. These areas will be managed according to meadow management guidelines, including cutting regimes.
3. Deadwood habitat and insect piles – where appropriate deadwood can be allowed to stay in situ providing habitat for invertebrates, this will be contained to areas within existing woodland.
4. Supporting bird – through native tree planting where possible.
populations
5. Engagement of RSPB, Buglife or other interested parties to deliver an annual community event to raise awareness of species present in the park, e.g. dawn chorus walk.
Target 5
Management of Invasive Species
Larne Town Park contains a small number of invasive species, the most common being Griselinia littoralis. This will be managed under the tree and woodland actions.
1. The park will be monitored annually for invasive species, and managed appropriately’. Actions
Larne Town Park Nature Recovery
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