Work has begun on transforming the former site of Forkhill barracks into a wildflower meadow and greenspace.
Earlier this year, Newry, Mourne and Down Council were told they had to use £50,000 before November or face losing the money altogether.
Sinn Féin councillor Mickey Larkin has welcomed the commencement of those works this week.
The Slieve Gullion councillor said: “A number of works will be carried out on the site this week, including the removal of badly overgrown shrubs, bushes and grass from the central area.
“This work is scheduled to take between two and three weeks and parts of the pathway will be closed to facilitate this.
“The completion of these works will allow the next phase of the project to start, delivering on the biodiversity and access plan.
“The continued development of the Forkhill greenspace will help to make it an even greater asset, not only for the village but for the wider community of South Armagh as well.”
This work is expected to be completed by the end of November.
