NEWS

People across Northern Ireland can now report a wide range of environmental incidents more quickly and easily following the launch of a new online reporting system designed to speed up investigations and improve responses from authorities. The new service, introduced by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), creates a single reporting route for environmental concerns ranging from illegal dumping and damage to protected habitats to illegal fishin

Construction of the Silent Valley ‘overflow bell-mouth’ as part of the reservoir scheme built between 1926 and 1932 A magical gateway into one of Northern Ireland’s most treasured landscapes will open this weekend as a packed programme of walks, tours and family events invites visitors to experience the Mournes in a whole new way. From the hidden history of Water Town to the engineering marvel of the Mourne Wall and behind-the-scenes access to vital water infrastructure, from

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir with members of the Glens Red Squirrel Group The volunteers behind one of the Glens of Antrim’s best-known wildlife conservation groups are celebrating more than a decade of investment after receiving over £11,700 in funding to help protect Northern Ireland’s native red squirrel and strengthen community engagement. The milestone was highlighted during a visit by DAERA Minister Andrew Muir to the Glens Red Squirrel Group, where he marked the wider su

A yellow weather warning has been issued for Northern Ireland, with forecasters warning that heavy showers and thunderstorms could bring disruption to parts of the region on Friday morning. The Met Office warning comes into effect from 12:00am until 10:00am on Friday, 26 June 2026, with the potential for intense downpours, hail and frequent lightning where storms develop. While not every area will be affected, the Met Office says some places could experience sudden bursts of

Underwater seagrass meadow. A protected seagrass meadow off the County Antrim coast at Waterfoot has been found to contain more nitrogen than scientists consider healthy, after researchers discovered every seagrass meadow tested across Northern Ireland had exceeded an internationally recognised pollution warning threshold. The Queen’s University Belfast study examined the amount of nitrogen stored inside seagrass leaves — a natural record of the pollution the plants have been

Hot weather may be welcomed by many across Northern Ireland, but health experts are warning that prolonged exposure to heat and sunshine can have serious consequences, with rising numbers of sunburn injuries, heat-related illnesses and deaths linked to excessive temperatures. The Public Health Agency (PHA), alongside the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the Children’s Burns Trust, is urging people to take simple precautions to protect themselves and t

The Dark Hedges, County Antrim in June. (Image: Shirley Carson Photography) Causeway Coast and Glens DUP councillor Darryl Wilson has accused the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and the Department for the Economy (DfE) of a “dereliction of duty” over the future management of the Dark Hedges. June’s meeting of the council’s Leisure and Development Committee received an update report from Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust (CCGHT). The report followed a motion tabled b

Asda Community Champions paid a visit to Ram's Island A team of Asda Community Champions from across Northern Ireland has swapped the shop floor for the shoreline to help safeguard one of Lough Neagh’s most unique and historic locations. Seven Community Champions travelled to Ram’s Island, a community-managed conservation and heritage site on Lough Neagh, where they joined volunteers in a hands-on effort to tackle invasive plant species and support the island’s ongoing preser

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir launches the Northern Ireland Seabird Conservation Strategy with partners at RSPB West Light Seabird Centre on Rathlin Island. (L-R) David Quinney Mee, Rathlin Development Community Association, Erin McKeown, LIFE Raft Programme Manager, Joanne Sherwood, Director of RSPB NI, Andrew Upton, Head of British Trust for Ornithology Northern Ireland, Dr Annika Clements, Queen’s University Belfast, Will Hawkins, National Trust and Dr Mathieu Lundy, Ulster

Past CAFRE student William Burnett, alongside Nicola, Abigail, Matthew and Callum Turner viewed the dairy calves at Greenmount Campus. Thousands of people stepped behind the gates of CAFRE campuses at Enniskillen and Greenmount over the weekend as this year’s Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend combined hands-on learning, family fun and a closer look at Northern Ireland’s farming and food industries. From primary school pupils meeting farm animals for the first time to families

Rea’s Wood at Loughshore Park, Antrim Bathers are being advised to stay out of the water at Rea’s Wood on Lough Neagh this summer after the site was again classified as “poor” for water quality due to faecal contamination and recurring blue-green algae. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has advised against bathing at Rea’s Wood on Lough Neagh in Antrim, councillors have been told. A report presented to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council

Northern Ireland’s main agri-food science organisation is facing growing pressure to redefine its future after an independent review concluded the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) is being “pulled in three directions”, lacks a clear strategic identity and may ultimately require significant structural reform. The wide-ranging review, commissioned by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), examined AFBI’s effectiveness, governance, accoun

Views across Tullygarley bridge toward the proposed housing development site near the River Braid Planning officers have recommended approval for a controversial housing development beside Ballymena’s Braid River Walk despite months of fierce opposition from residents, environmental concerns and a petition backed by hundreds of people. The proposal, which has triggered one of the most emotionally charged local planning disputes in Ballymena in recent years, would see 28 new h

Pictured: South Antrim MP Robin Swann South Antrim MP Robin Swann is set to host a public conservation event in Toome focused on protecting native swifts as concern grows over the future of the birds across Northern Ireland. The free event will take place between 1pm and 2pm on Friday 12 June at the Lock Keeper’s Cottage in Toome as part of the upcoming Great Big Green Week. Mr Swann will be joined by local swift conservationists, including representatives from the RSPB Antri

Cottage Wood just off Ballybrack Road, Cushendall A woodland on the edge of Cushendall known for its red squirrels, winding paths and sea views is set to become an immersive outdoor heritage attraction after councillors approved plans for a new art and storytelling trail at Cottage Wood. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has backed proposals from Cushendall Development Group to transform parts of the 10-acre woodland into a family-focused heritage experience celebratin

Pupils from Armoy Primary School Children at Armoy Primary School have been learning a startling lesson about one of the world’s most essential resources after discovering that just 1% of the planet’s water is drinkable. The eye-opening fact formed part of a visit by NI Water’s education team, which delivered a series of interactive sessions focused on water conservation and the importance of using water responsibly. Pupils took part in games, practical demonstrations and act

Volunteers carried 60 wool logs weighing 8kg onto site at Slievenanee Mountain An ambitious new environmental restoration project in the Antrim Hills is turning one of farming’s most undervalued by-products into a potential weapon against peatland erosion and climate damage. The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), Ulster Wildlife and a group of industry and research partners have launched Northern Ireland’s largest trial to date using locally sourced wool to restore damaged blanket

Doagh Primary School is helping protect local wildlife with the installation of three new swift nest boxes and a caller system. L–R: Cllr Archibald‑Brown, Edward McKee, Esther McKee, Cllr Stewart, the Outgoing Deputy Mayor Cllr Gilmour, Kate McAlister, George Acheson and school principal Mrs Brown. Front row: P5 pupils from Doagh Primary School. Seven new Swift nesting boxes have been installed at sites in Doagh and Ballyclare as part of a growing effort to protect one of the

Ballycastle beach, County Antrim Northern Ireland’s bathing water system could face its biggest overhaul in years under new proposals that may change how swimming sites are identified, monitored and protected across the country. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a 12-week public consultation examining whether current bathing water rules are still fit for purpose as outdoor swimming surges in popularity and more people use coasta

Sea defences at 17 locations along the Belfast to Larne railway line are set to be reinforced under new Translink proposals aimed at protecting the vital transport corridor from coastal erosion and increasingly severe weather conditions. Plans for the East Antrim Sea Defences Project were unveiled during a series of public consultation drop-in sessions, the last of which was held at Glynn Village Hall outside Larne on Wednesday. The consultation events were organised to provi