Many thanks to those who came along to the beach clean this morning in Ballyhornan. Although we didn't have a huge number of volunteers, those that did come were not lacking in enthusiasm and we managed to remove loads of litter from the beach, which included a large mass of tangled fishing net and line, a bicycle wheel and a duvet! The things you find on the beach!!

We also filled 6 sacks with smaller litter from the top of the beach. It is just as important to lift the smaller bits of plastic etc., as it is these that are breaking down, harming wildlife and getting into our...

Restoring the beauty of the Sheepland Coast, from Ballyhornan to Ardglass, is the mission for the Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership (SLLP) Coastal Guardian Coast Care Project. Made possible by a grant from the Live Here Love Here small grant scheme a series of beach cleaning activities have been taking place to tackle dangerous and unsightly coastal litter that mars the beauty of one of the loveliest stretches of coast in Northern Ireland. On Saturday 22nd September, volunteers on land and at sea worked together to tackle the unsightly plastic bottles, cans, buckets and other...

Join us for the next phase of the "extreme" clean-up of the coastline between Ballyhornan and Ardglass, funded by Live Here Love Here. On this occasion the focus of our clean-up will be the bays of the inner harbour at Ardglass. Clean-ups will be carried out by volunteers on foot and in kayak. Beginning at the outermost bays of Ardglass harbour, Phennick Point, volunteers will work their way back towards the Strangford Road. Litter collected will be transferred across the harbour by volunteers in kayaks for collection and...

On Tuesday 12th June 2018 SLLP staff took part in a bird nest survey with Strangford Lough National Trust rangers.

Cormorant, Tern and Gull nests were all surveyed throughout the lough. Landing on the island with cormorant breeding colony was a bit like landing on a different planet. With large nests spread out all along the top of the shore made from seaweed, grasses and twigs. We observed some nests with eggs and others with chicks of all sizes and stages of development, almost prehistoric looking in appearance! An amazing sight!

The highlight of the day was the special...

🦋 Volunteers needed! 🦋

Would you be interested in helping to monitor butterflies at Killard Nature Reserve, situated to the south of Strangford near to the mouth of Strangford Lough.

2 beaches and a 3km walk in a stunning location - what's not to like?

Full training can be given, previous experience not esssential!

For further information please contact Killard Nature Reserve - butterfly walking group FB page Killard Nature Reserve - butterfly walking group

As part of Clean Coast Week 1 -10th June 2018

Local conservation and wildlife expert David Thompson gave a wild foraging demonstration. A really informative and enjoyable way to spend an afternoon!#liveherelovehere #wildfood #strangfordlough

As part of Clean Coasts Week 2018 , Down Cruising Club partnered with Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership to clean up not only the shoreline around their club but also neighbouring Rainey Island. We had a fantastic number of club members volunteered on the day to make this clean up a huge success. Collecting over 25 bags full and various larger items of marine litter.

Many thanks to Down Cruising Club for the warm welcome and for doing their bit to keep Strangford Lough clean.

#liveherelovehere #CleanCoasts #StrangfordLough #DownCruisingClub #dogoodfeelgood

Wednesday 2nd May 2018

Kirkistown Cub Scouts took part in a beach clean to clean up Knockinelder Beach, Portaferry. They worked extremely hard and managed to fill 12 black bags full of litter. They also collected and removed various lengths of rope, 1 jerry can, 1 fish box and a sheet of chip board. Fantastic effort in just one hour! Well done everyone!

Local people play a huge role in looking after the fabulous coastline of the Strangford Lough and Lecale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Sadly, even here, as well as being unsightly, litter poses a threat to wildlife and people. The Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership (SLLP) is delighted that SeaChangers has helped them and teams of local Scouts to take direct action to tackle this along beautiful Ballyhornan Beach.

The Scout Centre is just 200 metres from the beach in County Down, on the East Coast of Northern Ireland. Given its location, the centre is ideally located...

TACKLING ‘AVOIDABLE PLASTICS’ FROM SOURCE TO SEA

In the last decade, the Big Spring Beach Clean has grown into one of the biggest gatherings of environmental volunteers in the world, visiting over 1,200 beaches and removing millions of pieces of plastic from the marine environment. An incredible 20,000 of you donate your time to help us tackle plastic pollution each spring and this year we’ll also be asking you to document and report the ‘avoidable plastics’ that you find in a mass ‘citizen science’ action.