Aerial shots showing how Orangefield Park has transformed since 2001

Orangefield Park has undergone a gradual transformation over the past couple of years.

Not only has the Belfast park become a new section of the Connswater Community Greenway - which is almost finished - but parts of it have been radically altered and re-landscaped as part of the East Belfast Flood Alleviation Scheme.

These striking satellite images show the startling changes between Orangefield Park in 2001 and last year when the work was almost complete.

The biggest changes are along the east part of the northern area of the park, where the river has been re-aligned into a meandering wetland with the greenway running alongside.

On the right edge of this section, the new Marsh-wiggle Way continues south along the edge of the houses at Clarawood, joining the dual carriageway at the southeast corner.

Above: Orangefield Park in 2001, thanks to The Geoinformation Group

Above: Orangefield Park in 2016, thanks to the Geoinformation Group

The flood alleviation scheme means that hundreds of homes in the area that were once vulnerable to flooding in times of torrential rain are now protected. 

Instead of a straight, narrow channel close to houses, the Knock River now meanders through a wetland basin which is capable of holding huge amounts of water in the event of a flash flood.

That also makes for a beautiful section of peaceful wetland, filled with yellow flag iris, reed mace and marsh marigolds, and which is now occupied by a number of grey herons and at least two little egret, a relative newcomer to Northern Ireland.

The most recent addition came in spring, when a new section of greenway was opened - the part that runs from the north-east to the south-east on the map. 

Marsh-wiggle Way, named after a marsh-dwelling creature from East Belfast writer CS Lewis's The Silver Chair, links Orangefield Park to the Knock dual carriageway, allowing people in Braniel and Clarawood easy access to the park.

It's heartening to see the numbers of people on that new stretch of walkway every evening, walking their dogs, cycling or just taking the air.

Eventually Connswater Community Greenway will stretch from Victoria Park at the mouth of the Connswater River, up through the new CS Lewis Square on the Newtownards Road, over Conn O'Neill's bridge, a haunt of Van Morrison, and via Dixon Park into Orangefield Park.

A separate spur will take users up the Loop River towards Cregagh Glen, one of East Belfast's best kept secrets and a glorious natural beauty spot full of waterfalls and bluebells.