NEWS

Families and visitors of all ages and abilities have been given the opportunity to explore the wildlife and natural environment of Portrush’s East Strand through an event designed to make the coastline more accessible to everyone. The free Inclusive Biodiversity Day, held on Friday 28 August, brought together accessible outdoor activities, environmental education and adapted equipment at the Blue Flag beach. Organised by the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust (CCGHT) in

Pictured at the Housing Centre’s own beehives in Belfast are the Housing Executive’s (L/R) Robert McClean, Stephen Lowry, Jennifer Hawthorne, Ronnie McCreanor and Conor McCombe. The Housing Executive is changing how it manages some of its green spaces across Northern Ireland, with reduced grass cutting, new wildflower areas and thousands of trees being planted each year as part of efforts to support bees and other pollinators. The organisation has become an official partner o

Sculptor and climate activist Eoghan Daltun, whose journey to rewild an area in Ireland is chronicled in An Irish Atlantic Rainforest A remarkable effort to transform an ecologically damaged West Cork farm into a thriving native rainforest will be explored in a new two-part documentary series beginning this weekend. An Irish Atlantic Rainforest follows sculptor and climate activist Eoghan Daltun, who has spent years rewilding land on the rugged Beara Peninsula and allowing na

Jenni Barkley, Belfast Harbour & Fern Keeney, Live Here Love Here 6 August 2026 Families across Mid and East Antrim are being encouraged to make the most of the region’s coastline this month as a popular environmental campaign returns with a packed programme of free and low-cost activities designed to help people reconnect with the sea while highlighting the growing problem of marine litter. The Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds campaign, organised by Live Here Love Here, is back

Northern Ireland's first floating oyster reef has been launched at Glenarm Marina in partnership with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. The innovative floating reef provides a sheltered home for more than 10,000 young native European oysters, helping to restore a lost marine habitat and support healthier seas. (All images and video © Ulster Wildlife) Northern Ireland’s first floating oyster reef has been launched at Glenarm Marina, creating a new home for thousands of nati

Thousands of eligible farm businesses across Northern Ireland are being given one final opportunity to register for the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme (SNHS) before missing out could result in reduced Farm Sustainability Payments from 2027. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has announced that a final “mop-up” registration phase will open on Wednesday 5 August and close at midnight on Monday 7 September 2026. The deadline is significant because,

Two of the three lion brothers now at home in Belfast Zoo Three endangered Northern lion brothers have arrived at Belfast Zoo, giving visitors the chance to see one of the world’s rarest big cat populations while strengthening an international effort to protect the species from extinction. Kumo, Djibo and Mao arrived at the Cave Hill zoo on 15 July after travelling from Zoo de La Boissière du Doré near Nantes in western France. Their transfer forms part of the European Associ

Guests are pictured at the launch with Gary McErlain, Chair of Lough Neagh Partnership, Dr Paul Mullan, Northern Ireland Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Gerry Darby and Michael Browne of Lough Neagh Partnership. A new 10-year strategy aimed at restoring Lough Neagh’s environment, protecting its heritage and strengthening local communities has been unveiled following a two-year collaboration involving residents, experts, government bodies and environmental org

A major river restoration project that will improve more than 750 metres of local watercourse is getting under way, and volunteers are being invited to play a key role in helping bring it to life. Kells, Connor & Glenwherry Angling Club is appealing for local people to get involved in a series of habitat improvement days as work begins on a significant conservation scheme designed to benefit wild trout, salmon and other wildlife. The first volunteer sessions are planned for 1

The new All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2026-2030 was launched on Thursday at the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, by Andrew Muir, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland and Ireland’s Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD. Pictured with Dr Úna FitzPatrick, Co-founder of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and Chief Scientific Officer, National Biodiversity Data Centre. Northern Ireland is backing an ambitious new

The myEARTH platform has encouraged the planting of 6000 trees, and 1427 habitats to be created for wildlife across Northern Ireland A digital platform designed to help people take practical action for the environment has inspired the planting of more than 6,000 trees across Northern Ireland in just over a year, while also helping to create 1,427 new wildlife habitats. The figures, released by myEARTH, highlight the impact the free platform has had since launching last year,

A planning application has been lodged with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council for a proposed second phase of a solar farm at Dublin Road, outside Antrim, which developers say could generate enough electricity to power more than 5,000 homes. The proposal is for a 20MW solar farm and associated infrastructure, including ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on support frames, two transformer cabins, fencing, CCTV cameras, an internal service road, landscaping, and

Supporters outside Stormont calling for long-term investment in agri-environment schemes to support farmers and restore wildlife, joined by DAERA Minister Andrew Muir New polling commissioned by RSPB NI has revealed strong public support for increased investment in nature-friendly farming, as the organisation called on politicians to provide greater backing for farmers working to protect wildlife and tackle climate change. The survey found that 68 per cent of people support i

The site off the Dans Road being cleared with local residents reporting the removal of ‘several ancient trees’ Opponents of a controversial housing development beside Ballymena’s Braid River Walk say their campaign is far from over after holding a community information night this week following the recent planning decision that approved the scheme in principle. Residents and campaign supporters gathered at the Leighinmohr House Hotel on Thursday evening, June 2, to hear updat

Northern Ireland farmers, rural communities and animal welfare organisations are being invited to help shape one of the most sensitive and controversial issues in agriculture as DAERA launches a public consultation on possible wildlife intervention measures to tackle bovine tuberculosis (bTB). The 12-week consultation seeks views on whether interventions involving badgers should play a role in efforts to eradicate the disease, which continues to have significant consequences

Farmers across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to examine new environmental funding opportunities after applications opened for the 2026 Farming with Nature Transition Scheme, with grants of up to £20,000 available for eligible projects. The scheme, which opened on Monday, offers financial support for a range of environmental measures designed to improve biodiversity, water quality and habitat protection while allowing farms to remain productive businesses. However, the

People of all ages have helped the MEA Outdoors team with beach cleans at Ballygally A community beach clean at Ballygally brought local people together on Monday evening to help care for one of Mid and East Antrim’s most popular coastal beauty spots. The clean-up event, which took place on Monday 29 June, saw volunteers join forces with the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Outdoors team to collect litter from the shoreline and surrounding beach areas. With coastal locatio

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

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

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