Queen's University Belfast

Open Botanic Research and Festival; Pedestrianisation for a shared multicultural public space

Open Botanic was devised as a response to the need for healthier and more sustainable streets in South Belfast.  It is the product of collaboration between Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and community groups aligned with Forward South Partnership (FSP).

Since 2020, research on mobility showed an increasingly welcoming attitude toward spaces for walking, sitting and cycling in Botanic Avenue, but it also showed that local residents tend to avoid the avenue, as they did not feel safe or welcome. This is why our team at QUB and FSP decided to test radical change to the street by pedestrianising it for one day and building a community led festival.

In 2022 and 2023 we co-designed a festival that attracted over 2000 visitors, over 20 community groups, 10 statutory organisations and many other participants. Open Botanic gets larger and more engaged every year. It has also enabled a closer relationship with the Department for Infrastructure to collaborate for the future of active travel in Belfast.

Top 3 Learnings

1. We learned that when it comes to public participation of many different stakeholders, it is important to listen. We learned that our preconceived ideas about better streets are not shared by everyone and that it is only through co-creation that we can progress for healthier and more sustainable streets.
2. We learned that people can change their minds when they see change happening in front of them. The business owners and workers on Botanic Avenue are testament to this.
3. We learned that people need to own their change, that it cannot be imposed on them, and only when they own it, we can see a difference in use and perception of streets as public spaces.