Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIE) has admitted that a woodland in Orangefield Park, east Belfast, was mistakenly cut down due to issues with communication. According to a local councillor, 170 trees and saplings were felled in error, despite instructions to NIE Networks to trim the trees instead. NIE has accepted responsibility for the mistake and pledged to restore the woodland while introducing new procedures. Belfast City Council will be asked to approve NIE’s offer to replant the area at a meeting on Thursday.
NIE has a legal obligation to employ contractors to manage the safety of electrical lines where trees encroach upon them. Power lines run through the woodland in Orangefield Park, and in April 2023, NIE had requested permission from the council to cut back the trees. The council granted a license with specific instructions to “lop the trees, as opposed to felling them,” and to complete the work outside of bird nesting season. However, in May, a NIE contractor began to clear the area, and work was only suspended after residents complained about “excessive tree cutting.”
In response to the incident, NIE said in a statement, “We know that the issue arose due to the effectiveness of the communication between the contractor and NIE Networks.” NIE has requested that the council allow it to finish the work of clearing the area and restoring the woodland. An area of around 1,400 square meters was cleared, and NIE has offered to plant 400 new trees in its place, with hazel trees comprising around 60% of the new plantings. The company has also committed to funding and managing the project and implementing improved procedures for contractors managing trees on council sites.
While Green Party councillor Brian Smyth called the resolution “very positive,” he acknowledged that the incident had “caused anger and upset for those who use the park and live nearby.” Approximately 170 trees of all sizes were cut down, he noted, adding that the focus must also be on preventing similar mistakes in the future. The council’s climate and city resilience committee is set to meet on Thursday evening to discuss NIE’s response to the incident
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