Landscapes NI

02/10/2026

Fantastic work by Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark in making our waterways accessible for all
Nature is for every one

We were delighted to support inclusive adventures! 💚

As part of Inclusive Employers Week, we were delighted to work alongside Accessible Adventures Ireland and Blue Green Yonder to support a brilliant day of adventure for the JustUs group for adults with disabilities.

It was a day packed with fun, laughter and new experiences, including canoeing, archery, bushcraft and marshmallow toasting, followed by delicious pizza and a disco with DJ Greig! 🛶🏹🔥🍕🎶

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the day possible.

It is fantastic to see what can be achieved through collaboration, creating opportunities for people of all abilities to get outdoors, try something new and make lasting memories. 🌿

Blue Green Yonder Accessible Adventures Ireland CIC Cowan Fermanagh and Omagh District Council European Geoparks Network Global Geoparks Network

02/10/2026

Fantastic work by Belfast Hills Partnership in opening up the outdoors for all.
Nature is for everyone

Would you like to get outdoors, explore nature and meet new people? We’re looking for adults with learning disabilities who would like to take part in our FREE accessible nature walking programme in and around Belfast.

The walks are a chance to:
- Explore local parks and green spaces
- Discover and enjoy nature
- Meet new people
- Get outdoors in a relaxed and supportive environment

You don’t need to be super fit or walk long distances. The programme is all about enjoying time outdoors, going at a comfortable pace and making sure everyone feels welcome and supported.

If you, or someone you know, might be interested, we’d love to hear from you! Simply send us a message, email [email protected] or call us on 028 9060 3466

30/09/2026

Speaker profile number 1.
We are delighted that Ed Forrest from the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere will be one of our keynote speakers this year at the Landscapes NI Conference. https://www.landscapesni.org/landscapes-ni-conference-2026/

Ed has spent over 35+ years working in countryside and environmental management and is the Director of Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere, having been its first employee and involved with the designation since 2011.
The UNESCO Biosphere ethos of seeing people as an integral part of the ecosystem by incorporating a balanced approach to social, environmental and economic considerations aligns well with his own values and has been a guiding principle throughout the Biospheres development in SW Scotland. The Biosphere is recognised locally as a key conduit able to bridge the gap between rural communities, land managers, farmers and public sector colleagues.

If you haven't yet registered for the conference you can do so at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/landscapes-for-people-nature-and-the-planet-tickets-1997845747411

30/09/2026

An excellent day of training provided by Accessible Adventures Ireland CIC on inclusive trails where we explored how we can better engage everyone and especially people with a disability with nature and our landscapes. A great mixture of practical activities and discussions that challenged and inspired us. What we think may be accessible - may not be but with the right equipment - what we think is inaccessible might be!!
Thanks to Paul for a great day.
Action Renewables, Belfast Hills Partnership, RSPB Northern Ireland, The Woodland Trust, Strangford and Lecale AONB, Ards and North Down Borough Council, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

26/09/2026

Great webinar topic and something we’ll be revisiting in our conference on 20th October
The communities who live and work in these special places are critical for effective management

We are back, with the first talk in the Irish Uplands Forum’s Autumn/Winter Webinar Series this year taking place at 7pm on Tuesday 13th October, delivered by Cathrine Agnew on the topic of Role of Communities in Landscape Management,.
This presentation will look at best practices in community landscape management using examples from case studies in Ireland, the UK and Europe. It will look at how communities who are actively engaged in managing landscapes can play an active, and sustainable role in managing Ireland's heritage-rich landscapes. It will address "whole-of-landscape" approach that treats natural, built, and cultural heritage as interconnected; the impact of genuine community governance backed by clear mandates and sustained technical and financial support; where funding models that reward long-term stewardship rather than short-term projects are in place; and the important of better integration of traditional local knowledge alongside scientific expertise.
Cathrine Agnew is a Project and Programme Manager with over 15 years of experience delivering research, evaluation, and stakeholder-engagement projects across Ireland's heritage, public sector, and tourism industries. As Director of 12Foot Insight, she leads research and evaluation work for organisations including the Heritage Council and the National Museum of Ireland, and co-authored the recently published independent research report Best Practice in Community Management of Heritage Rich Landscapes for the Heritage Council. She holds a BA in Philosophy from Trinity College Dublin and an MA in Film and Television from Dublin City University.
Link to join Webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81850910510
Photo on Bottom left kindly supplied by Wild Ennerdale.
The work of the Irish Uplands Forum is supported by the Heritage Council

26/09/2026

Very much looking forward to our own training session this week for Landscapes NI members and partners

25/09/2026

Tune in this Friday 25th at 7.30pm on BBC One Northern Ireland for the 8th year of Waddell Media's award-winning Chronicles series, and see our tree nursery ladies in action.....popcorn at the ready!🍿

23/09/2026

We had great Landscapes NI members' meetings and site visits based at Silent Valley, Castlewellan and Tyrella over the past two days. The weather was really kind to us and the discussions, engagement and debate was extremely rich. Shared experience, learning , knowledge transfer and collaborative thinking makes for strong resilient and effective landscape management teams and work.

A huge thanks to all involved for continuing to help shape our collaborative work through Landscapes NI. Big thanks to our hosts at Mourne Heritage Trust and Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark.
Action Renewables; Belfast Hills Partnership; @ Lagan Valley Regional Park; Strangford and Lecale AONB; Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark; Mournelive; Ring Of Gullion AONB; Visit Sperrins; Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark; @ Binevenagh & Coastal Lowlands Landscape Partnership Scheme; Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust; Causeway Coast AONB; National Trust; RSPB Northern Ireland; Outscape; Northern Ireland Environment Link

19/09/2026

18/09/2026

A super evening at the farming life awards courtesy of Action Renewables who sponsored the sustainable farm of the year award. Great to see the Rathlin rope project from the Antrim Coast and Glens AONB win an award. Then George Ferguson who has suckler cows at the amazing Fedian farm owned by Ulster Wildlife in the Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark won nature friendly farmer of the year - sponsored by RSPB Northern Ireland.
A great evening to showcase sustainable farm practices across our landscapes.