What Is a National Park City, Anyway?
This panel sets the scene by exploring the big idea behind the National Park City movement. We’ll unpack the original London Charter launched in 2019, look at lessons learned from cities already on the journey, and ask what this bold vision could mean for Belfast. Is this just a branding exercise — or a real opportunity to shape a healthier, greener, fairer future for our city?

Conor McKinney (Ecologist and wildlife conservationist / Chair, Wild Belfast)

What happens when councils, communities, government departments, nature lovers, and local businesses all pull in the same direction? Big things. This panel explores how Belfast could blossom into a National Park City — and what it takes to turn shared ambition into everyday action.

Conor McKinney (Ecologist and wildlife conservationist / Chair, Wild Belfast)
Perla Mansour (Senior Project Manager, Active Travel Routes and Networks, Sustrans, and Creative Officer, Wild Belfast)
Dr Lizzy Pinkerton (Partnership Manager, Belfast Hills Partnership)

What data do we have and what can we do to support a strategy for a natural park city?

Gawain Morrison (Brink!)
James Noakes (Innovation Broker, City Innovation Office, Belfast City Council)
Claire Shortt (Climate Monitoring, Learning & Reporting Officer, Climate Team, Belfast City Council)
Stephen Jones (Acting Climate NI Manager / Resilience Co-ordinator, Climate NI)

A veteran trade unionist, Greg Sachno’s talk explores the connection between our wooded areas and the expression of resistance. Resistance against injustice and oppression, against imperialism and colonialism.

From the Brehon Laws and indigenous Irish life, to Cromwell, to the United Irishmen - this talk is as illuminating as it is inspiring.

His talk is a call to arms to rediscover the power of the woodlands and to use them as places of resistance in our struggles, such as the struggle to Save Lough Neagh from pollution and profiteering.

Greg Sachno (Tutor in industrial relations at Unite the Union)

This panel explores growing as more than just a biological process — it’s a way of working, thinking, and being. From planting seeds to nurturing projects, relationships, and ideas, we’ll look at how growth can guide creative and social practices. What does it mean to make space, be present, and allow something meaningful to emerge? Join artists, thinkers and growers to reflect on growth as metaphor, method, and movement across disciplines and communities.

Bryonie Reid (quarto)
Craig Sands (Grow NI)
Paul Kelly (Co-Founder & Director, Brink!)
Gawain Morrison (Co-Founder & Director, Brink!)

What happens when green goals meet the red, blue, yellow and green of party politics? In this cross-party conversation, Belfast councillors come together to explore how a fairer, greener city can be built — across ward boundaries and political divides. Can climate and community be the common ground? Come find out, and bring your questions (and your optimism)!

Conor McKinney (Ecologist and wildlife conservationist / Chair, Wild Belfast)
Aine Grogan (Green)
Seamus de Faoite (SDLP)
Tara Brooks (Alliance)

From tech giants to environmental orgs, companies hold vast oceans of data — about how we live, move, consume, and how nature responds. But who is this data for? And how can it actually help us tackle the climate crisis?

This panel explores the power and responsibility of data-rich organisations, asking how insights from both nature and technology can be used for public good, climate action, and a fairer future. Bring your curiosity (and your questions for the algorithms).

Native Coffee are about more than just serving coffee, they host a variety of independent businesses and artists from Belfast and across Northern Ireland. They have built their community on coffee, connection and creativity - check out their Climate Cafes & Sober Socials.

They’re going to be serving hot drinks through the day.

Bakari Bakery are a family-run artisan bakery in Belfast, Northern Ireland. 

Inspired by Scandinavian baking traditions, we strive to bring the people of Belfast delicious baked goods using local, organic ingredients where possible and imported organic where necessary.

They’re supplying our beautiful pastries each day.

Rather than bringing food trucks onto our site, we would love if you would support our food neighbours - the local businesses who serve up amazing food from pizzas to bagels, from lebanese to cheese - we’re spoiled, so please support them.

Deerah, The Boxing Hare, Bodega Bagels, Mikes Fancy Cheese .. don’t forget the Watson food hatch!

Our favourite bar in Belfast just happens to be our neighbour too & have been an important part of our events during our time on the Belfast Stories site. During the festival the Sunflower Pub will be our bar partner during the evening events on the site.

http://www.sunflowerbelfast.com/