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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

LIFE Raft

Protecting NI's most important seabird colony from invasive non-native species. A partnership between RSPB NI; RDCA; CCGHT; and DAERA.

Funded by EU LIFE [LIFE20 NAT/UK/000349], National Lottery Heritage Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation, and DAERA.

28/05/2026

🎉🐾 Happy 4th Birthday, Woody! 🐾🎉

Today we’re celebrating a very special member of the team – our brilliant biosecurity detection dog, Woody, who turns 4! 🦴💛

Woody plays a vital role helping to protect the incredible wildlife of Rathlin Island and Ballycastle Harbour, using his amazing nose to detect risks and keep these special places safe. We’re so lucky to have such a hardworking (and very good!) boy on the team.

A huge shoutout as well to Woody’s dedicated RSPB handlers, Anne Guichard, Fiona Robinson and Rachel Conway whose expertise, patience and teamwork make Woody’s important work possible every day. 👏🐶

Please join us in wishing Woody the happiest of birthdays and thanking him (and his handlers!) for all they do to safeguard our natural heritage.

🎂 Here’s to more adventures, more sniffing success, and plenty of treats! 🎂

26/05/2026

⚓ Rathlin Maritime Festival – This Weekend! 🌊

We’re looking forward to being part of the Rathlin Maritime Festival this weekend and we’d love you to come by and say hello! 👋

Stop in at our stand to learn more about the LIFE Raft, CMAP and ACCLIMATISE projects on Rathlin and chat with the team about the work underway.

Whether you’re a local, visiting for the festival, or just curious about the projects, there’s something for everyone 🌿

📍 Find us at the festival
💬 Come along, ask questions, and see what’s going on

See you there! 🎉

Image by Holly Hartley

RSPB Northern Ireland Rathlin Development & Community Association LIFE Programme The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Garfield Weston Foundation Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust

21/05/2026

Out on the ground on Rathlin Island with Charlie Bosanquet, CMAP Community and Biosecurity Officer and our volunteer Holly, taking a look at the coastal biosecurity monitoring. 🌊🔍

This reel captures a snapshot of the important work happening to protect our shores, spotting risks early and helping safeguard local biodiversity. Take a look 👇

RSPB Northern Ireland Rathlin Development & Community Association LIFE Programme The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Garfield Weston Foundation Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust

18/05/2026

🌊 Rathlin Residents - You’re Invited to a Community Talk!🌊

A friendly and informative evening will take place at McCuaig’s Bar on Wednesday 20th May at 6pm.

The talk will share updates on two exciting projects supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB): CMAP and ACCLIMATISE. From protecting our coastlines and tackling invasive predators, to learning more about our incredible seabirds and marine environment, there’s lots to discover.

🔗 CMAP builds on the biosecurity work started through the LIFE Raft project, with important work already underway to help protect Rathlin.

The evening offers an opportunity to:

✅ Hear what’s happening locally
✅ Share thoughts and ask questions

☕ Refreshments will be provided

11/05/2026

🌿 Biosecurity on Rathlin – How You Can Help 🐾

With the busy visitor season just around the corner, biosecurity is more important than ever for Rathlin Island. Biosecurity helps protect Rathlin from invasive species such as rats and ferrets, which can cause serious harm to the island’s internationally important wildlife. Rathlin is now ferret‑free and keeping it that way depends on everyone playing their part.

✅ Biosecurity monitoring in place
There are now 6 biosecurity monitoring loops operating across Rathlin Island and Ballycastle Harbour. These help detect invasive species early and allow for a rapid response, protecting Rathlin’s wildlife and habitats.

Keeping Rathlin safe from invasive species relies on continued care and vigilance from everyone travelling to and from the island.

📌 See the poster below for practical steps you can take to support Rathlin’s biosecurity before travelling.

Please share to help spread the message.

RSPB Northern Ireland Rathlin Development & Community Association LIFE Programme Garfield Weston Foundation The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust

06/05/2026

Living with LIFE Raft – Share Your Rathlin Story 🌊

Thank you to everyone who took part in our first round of interviews and focus group. Your input is essential in helping us understand what living and working alongside the LIFE Raft project means for the island.

Reminder to Rathlin business owners:
Our second and final focus group is taking place tonight at the Ebb and Flow Café at 7pm.

Thank you again for your continued support.

RSPB Northern Ireland Rathlin Development & Community Association LIFE Programme The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Garfield Weston Foundation Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust

28/04/2026

💙 Huge thank you for recent extended support from our amazing funders💙

We’re incredibly grateful for the additional support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, this additional funding is helping us continue delivering lasting benefits for Rathlin Island and its community.

We’re also delighted to receive additional support from DAERA and the Garfield Weston Foundation. Your continued belief in the LIFE Raft project helps us protect nature, support the community, and create real, lasting change on Rathlin Island.

Thank you for being part of this journey, we truly couldn’t do it without you! 🙌

RSPB Northern Ireland Rathlin Development & Community Association LIFE Programme The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Garfield Weston Foundation Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust

22/04/2026

Living with LIFE Raft – Share Your Rathlin Story 🌊

Just a reminder to Rathlin residents this is happening tonight at the Ebb and Flow Café. A separate focus group for Rathlin business owners will take place on the 6th May.

Thank you – we really appreciate your time and input 💬

RSPB Northern Ireland Rathlin Development & Community Association LIFE Programme The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland Garfield Weston Foundation Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust

20/04/2026

🔍 LIFE Raft Monitoring Phase Underway 🌿

In line with international island restoration best practice, LIFE Raft is monitoring for signs of rats for at least two years after the last confirmed sighting.

A huge thank you to our dedicated monitoring volunteers, Bernadette and Ian, who play a vital role in checking equipment, supporting surveys, and being extra eyes on the ground. Their commitment and local knowledge are invaluable.

🐦 Biodiversity Monitoring
This summer, the project will also continue seabird monitoring, building on data collected in previous years to track the ecological recovery of the island.

👀 Residents – please stay vigilant
If you have any questions about the monitoring programme, or would like to get involved, please contact [email protected]

If you spot anything suspicious or have concerns, report it via the Submit a Sighting form on Rathlin360:
👉 https://rathlin360.com/life-raft/submit-a-sighting/

Your support is vital to Rathlin in protecting its wildlife. Thank you!

RSPB Northern Ireland Rathlin Development & Community Association LIFE Programme The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland Garfield Weston Foundation Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust

14/04/2026

💚 Thank You to All Our Wider Volunteers Involved in the Ferret Eradication Phase 💚

Following on from our recent posts, we want to take the opportunity to recognise the fantastic support behind the ferret eradication work and the many people whose skills, time and generosity made a real difference.

A very special thank you goes to Sarah McCormack for all her help repairing our broken and damaged clothing and bags. Her amazing talent kept vital gear out of landfill and ensured our staff stayed warm and dry throughout the work. Thank you, Sarah! 👏🧵🪡

We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the four Men’s Shed groups who came to the island and worked alongside the community to design and construct humane ferret box covers. Around 80 volunteers generously gave their time, using upcycled materials to create practical, effective solutions.

👏 With appreciation to:
• Cloughmills Men’s Shed
• Be Safe Be Well Men’s Shed (Limavady & Portstewart)
• Armagh Men's Shed

Our thanks also go to Wrightbus for donating wood from battery boxes, and McGowans NI for providing the material used to cover the traps.

We would also like to recognise the wonderful contribution of Kay McBurnie, who knitted rats and ferrets flat out, with all proceeds going to the RNLI. Her creativity, dedication and generosity played an important part in supporting the wider effort. 🧶💙

Your skills, collaboration and commitment made a real difference, thank you all. 🌿💪

RSPB Northern Ireland Rathlin Development & Community Association LIFE Programme The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland Garfield Weston Foundation Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust

Address

Ballycastle
BT546TE

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

https://rathlin360.com/life-raft/

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