Charity sets up Facebook page in a bid to help save Belfast Hills

The current proposal is to cut 250,000 which was awarded to the Belfast Hills partnership between 2007 and 2010 to 135,000 in the 2010 to 2013 raft – a cut of 54 per cent.

Dr Jim Bradley of the Partnership warned that if the cuts went ahead it would mean job losses and the collapse of vital services.

He said it was unjust that they were facing such a reduction because their three-yearly core funding happened to be up for renewal in the 'wrong year'.

"To have this happening because we are one of the environmental bodies applying this year is grossly unfair" he said.

The Belfast Hills Partnership has been working improve and protect the Belfast Hills. It was formed in response to ongoing concerns about the exploitation and degeneration of landscapes and habitats in the Hills during the 1980s and 1990s.

Dr Bradley said: "We understand that all sections of the economy must take their hit in these harsh economic times, but cuts of these magnitudes would be a real setback for small bodies such as ours.

"These crippling cuts have not been made because of any poor performance or poor grant application. We are hitting all the targets set for us."

He said that in the past three years new footpaths have been put in place, invasive species control programmes started, upland heath and Irish hare populations surveyed, the health of this city promoted, more visitors and tourists attracted and a whole series of successful events rolled out to raise awareness of the Belfast Hills.

They have also started initiatives on issues ranging from wildfires to development planning.

"Our ability to deliver these is now severely threatened," said Dr Bradley.

"Rebuilding that capacity after such a cut because we have applied in the 'wrong year', will take a very long time."