Environment

Northern Ireland online guide to outdoor trails and places OutmoreNI.com is celebrating a landmark year of growth, having increased its user base by 66% throughout 2024. Pictured is Kerry Kirkpatrick, website manager of OutmoreNI.com and Ethan Loughrey, communications and training executive at Outscape

NI online adventures firm celebrates record growth with 66% surge in users

Fastned, the UK and Europe’s best rated ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging company, has opened its latest state-of-the-art charging hub at The Junction Retail & Leisure Park in Antrim

New drive-thru ultra-rapid EV charging station opens in NI shopping centre

Antrim Crown Court. Photo: Google

North Antrim farmer is fined £6,000 for illegal dump on his land

A5 dual carriageway upgrade campaigners outside the court today to call for the proposed improvements to go ahead

A5 plans breach greenhouse gas emissions goal for Northern Ireland, court told

Nicola Walker and little three year old Ruth Savage pictured enjoying the nice spring weather in Ormeau Park in Belfast on Sunday March 9 2025. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press

Northern Ireland is set to be as hot as Corfu this week

Green entrepreneur Jo Bamford, who rescued Wrightbus pictured with CEO Jean-Marc Gales and Mr Lightwood during a visit to Wrightbus's sister company NewPower last month

Wrightbus bosses meet government officials at UK's first bus manufacturing panel

Showing love for Mother Earth (photo: Adobe)

Going Green: Show Mother Earth love on Mother’s Day

The former Sacred Heart Church. Pic: Google Maps

Landmark Co Antrim building 'in serious structural distress'

The warehouse-type industrial unit will be located beyond the crest of a hill, and it will be barely visible from the public road. Credit: Google

10 jobs being created at recycling equipment manufacturing site

Blue-green algae on the River Bann where it meets Lough Neagh near the village of Toome. The activities announced will include marine protection area climate change action plans, community and citizen participation initiatives and education and awareness training programmes

Cross-border marine and coastal management projects receive £20m in funding

The existing Greenland Cemetery, Craigyhill

Contractor sought for new £2.1m cemetery outside Larne

Belfast-based Green energy supplier, North Channel Wind has announced a major milestone in Northern Ireland’s quest for 100% clean energy, following the Department for the Economy’s publication of the Offshore Renewable Energy Action Plan

Fresh winds blow in the 'right direction' for NI's first offshore windfarm

Blue-green algae on the River Bann where it meets Lough Neagh near the village of Toome. Picture taken in September 2024

Lough Neagh action plan does not just target one sector, MLAs told

The Boatyard Distillery, Northern Ireland’s only B Corp-certified distillery, has been named one of eight UK winners of the Sky Zero Footprint Fund: Local Heroes initiative

NI distillery crowned ‘Local Hero’ at Sky awards scooping £20k TV campaign

A view over Belfast Lough from close to Bangor Pic: Pacemaker Press

BELFAST LOUGH ON 'KNIFE EDGE' AFTER PAUSE TO WASTEWATER UPGRADE INVESTMENT PLAN

Screen grab from the NI Assembly of Paddy Brow from NI Water giving evidence to the Assembly's Committee for Infrastructure

Belfast Lough on ‘knife edge’ after pause to wastewater upgrade investment plan
Belfast Lough is on a "knife edge" with failure to invest in wastewater infrastructure creating a "profound" risk for its ecosystem, MLAs have been warned.
David Young, PA

Alliance Councillors Gillian McCollum And Martin McRandal

Rat numbers on the increase in Holywood as fly-tipping issues are blamed

Glorious February sunshine on the last day of the month, before the first day of meteorological spring, in the centre of Belfast at lunchtime, Friday February 28 2025. But the ancient Irish said that spring began at the start of February. Picture by Ben Lowry, editor of the Belfast News Letter

Ben Lowry: The ancient Irish were right about the joy of February and spring

Eco-friendly housing (photo: Adobe)

Going Green: Climate crisis – is it now time to go green?

Private enforcement could be brought in for dog fouling issues in Lisburn and Castlereagh

Lisburn council could consider private firm to tackle dog fouling problem

Conway Square in Newtownards is increasingly suffering a plague of pigeons, local councillors say. Photo © Gordon Hatton

Co Down town's war on pesky pigeons is far from over says councillor

In 2021 and 2022, around £1m was spent revamping trails through Cairn Wood. Photo: Visit Belfast

Major Belfast route to shut for Cairn Wood storm damage repair

Fastned, the UK and Europe’s best rated ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging company, has today opened a new 400kW charging hub in Banbridge

NI’s rapid charging hub opens with multi-million boost filling 'desperate need'

As a proud Larne entrepreneur, Jonny Barr's mission as the founding director of Share Energy is clear: - share 50% of profits with customers, revolutionize the energy market and give back to the community that shaped his entrepreneurial journey

NI entrepreneur is driving a new 'energy revolution' that gives profits back

New Business Energy Taskforce to facilitate the green transition. Pictured is Alan Campbell, chief executive, SONI and Suzanne Wylie, chief executive, NI Chamber

NI Chamber and SONI establish new Energy Task and Finish Group

North coast community reflect after an iconic corner of Portrush was demolished. Once home to many much-loved businesses, the Main street site has been cleared for new development, prompting a mix of fond memories and concerns over the future of the town’s historic charm. Credit Alan from Portmagic

Community reminisce after historic north coast buildings get flattened

It was windy as well as grey in Belfast on Friday February 21, after many days of barely any sunshine. Picture: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press

Ben Lowry: Grey spell shows that NI is not quite as cloudy as we might think
In a weekly email that I send to online readers last Saturday morning, I said how grey it had been and how we were doing penance for a burst of sunny days the week before.
Ben Lowry

Solar generating community energy (photo: Adobe)

Going Green: Taking control of your energy consumption

Wrightbus takes wraps off new flagship hydrogen double deck bus. Pictured is Dr Lee Roberts, policy, sustainability and funding manager, Ryze Power, Prof Adrian Murphy, Dean of Research, Queen’s University, Matt Hateley, sales director, Grayson Thermal Systems, Philippa Oldham, director of Stakeholder Engagement, Dr Andy Harris, head of research, Wrightbus, Andrew Wilson, technical manager, Translink and Matt Shillito, APC project delivery lead. Also included are some of the Ballymena staff and representatives

NI firm reveals new hydrogen double deck bus that can refuel in eight minutes

File photo of Jacqueline McParland (centre of top table), Senior Commissioner at The Planning and Water Appeals Commission at Strule Arts Centre in Omagh, during the public inquiry into the controversial planning application for the Dalradian Gold Mine project at Greencastle, County Tyrone

Almost half a million spent so far on public inquiry into gold mine

Conway Square in Newtownards is increasingly suffering a plague of pigeons, local councillors say. Photo © Gordon Hatton

Lethal force rejected as council's war on town square pigeons continues

Ara Partners, a global decarbonisation investment firm based in Houston, has acquired a majority interest in Natural World Products (“NWP”), a leading recycler of household organic waste in Northern Ireland. Pictured is NWP, Glenside Road, Dunmurry

Global decarbonisation investment firm acquires NI recycling centre

This February, Solmatix Renewables Ltd. proudly marks 17 years in business—an incredible milestone for a company that started as a homegrown venture and has become one of Northern Ireland’s leading renewable energy providers. Pictured is the Solmatix team

NI firm shines a light on sustainable energy after 17 years in business

Shareholders have backed plans for Tribe Technology to delist from AIM and to re-register as a private company. Credit Tribe Technology

NI AI mining firm to delist from AIM after shareholders back 'private' future

Eating for health (photo: Adobe)

Going Green: Eating a healthy diet to help save the planet

There are apps for IDing plants, birdsong, and even star constellations

8 top apps for learning about nature, from plants to the night sky

CGI image/artist impressions of Cathedral Gardens planning application at day time

Planning yes to transform Cathedral Gardens and enhance Divis and Black Mountain

An artist's impression of the £50m revamp of Queen's Parade, Bangor

NI firm confirms 'hopeful' date to start on-site works of £50m Bangor project

An artist's impression of now-mothballed upgrades to Kinnegar Wastewater Treatment Works outside Holywood.

'Polluted cesspool' Belfast Lough so bad sailors get sick from water spray

The Plaswire Ltd recycling operation at Halfpenny Valley Industrial Estate, Lurgan. Credit: Google

Planning permission approved for major extension to recycling operation

Footballer James Omondi Osowo has been found murdered

Going Green: Football under pressure due to climate change

A map of the control zone published by DAERA.

Magherafelt hit by pet bird lockdown due to avian flu outbreak

An artist's impression of now-mothballed upgrades to Kinnegar Wastewater Treatment Works outside Holywood.

O’Dowd ‘turning his back' on environment as lough pollution revamps mothballed

ERG Group and Amazon join forces for sustainable energy in Northern Ireland

Global tech giant Amazon and ERG Group strike PPA deal for new wind farm in NI

Dr Paul Mullan with Dave Scott at Mourne Park, in Co Down, which is set to reopen following damage from Storms Darragh and Eowyn, with a significant financial windfall from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Issue date Photo: Raphael Mason Photography/Woodland Trust/PA Wire

Park boasting ancient woodland receives £2.5m to enhance attraction

An artist's impression of now-mothballed upgrades to Kinnegar Wastewater Treatment Works outside Holywood.

Stormont cuts scupper vital upgrades to Belfast sewage and storm flood works

Germinal, a sixth-generation family company founded in Belfast in 1825 and a pioneer in the development of grass and forage seed solutions, today launches a new range of Climate Smart products that will make it easier for farmers to select seed mixtures to meet key environmental challenges facing grassland farming while protecting grass and forage output

NI sixth generation firm helps sustainable farming by developing new 'roots'

Oscar Woolley, a founder of the multi-award-winning Suki Tea Makers in Lisburn with Anne Irwin, celebrating achieving B Corp status with a cup of tea

Eco business boost for Lisburn’s visionary tea makers

Proposed location for the kiosk. Photos: Google/Carma Coffee

Automated coffee kiosk to be installed on Larne's Main Street

Making global warming palatable to children (phorto: Adobe)

Going Green: Making going green more child friendly

Pioneering zero-emission transport manufacturer Wrightbus is planning to recruit 60 new apprentices as the business continues to expand in the UK and Europe. Pictured are apprentices Pearse McGill, Ciaran O’Kane and Éirinn Lavelle

NI transport firm looking for 60 apprentices as business continues to grow

Fermanagh cattle farmer Gordon Elliott and son Freddy.

Fermanagh farmer still stuck in power blackout a week after Storm Eowyn

Glastry College in Ballyhalbert.

Evacuated Glastry College declared safe after ammonia spill

Rowallane Gardens lost 150 trees to winds of up to 90mph.

Mount Stewart loses 10,000 trees as National Trust counts cost of Storm Eowyn

Around 10,000 trees were lost at the 900-acre site at Mount Stewart, County Down, as it blew through the formal gardens, estate and woodland

National Trust seeks help after losing more than 10,000 trees in Storm Eowyn

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