Strangford and Lecale AONB

12/10/2026

🌳 Help shape the future of Delamont Country Park!

📅 Saturday 17 October
⏰ 11am–4pm
📍 Delamont Country

Drop in to meet the project team, explore ideas for improving the visitor experience and tell us what matters most to you about the park. Ask questions, share your views and help shape what happens next.

Delamont Country Park is part of the Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark. Subject to approval, Belfast Region City Deal investment could support new and enhanced visitor experiences while protecting and celebrating what makes the park special.

The funding has not yet been approved and the proposals are still being developed—so your feedback really matters.

Can’t join us on the day? You can still have your say online from 12 October to 6 November 2026.

👉 Find out more and take part: www.newrymournedown.org/brcd-tourism-project

𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡-𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬. 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭.

Subject to approvals, up to £29.2 million from the Belfast Region City Deal could be invested in new and improved visitor experiences at Kilbroney Park, Slieve Gullion Forest Park and Delamont Country Park.

Set within the extraordinary Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark, each park has its own landscape, character and stories. Together, they could give visitors even more reasons to explore the wider destination, discover more and stay longer.

Ideas are being developed for all three parks - and now we want to know what you think.

Funding is not yet approved and the proposals are not final. Your feedback will help shape what comes next. Explore the proposals.

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬:
Public engagement: 12 October - 6 November 2026

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬:
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:
📅 Sunday 25 October, 11am-4pm - Cloughmore Centre, Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor
📅 Monday 26 October, 2pm-7pm - Warrenpoint Town Hall

𝐏𝐨𝐩- 𝐔𝐩𝐬:
📅 Saturday 17 October, 11am-4pm - Delamont Country Park
📅 Saturday 24 October, 11am-4pm - Slieve Gullion Forest Park

Find out more and take part 👉: www.newrymournedown.org/public-invited-to-help-shape-major-tourism-investment-proposals-for-newry-mourne-and-down

12/10/2026

Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to experience the spectacular sight of overwintering Brent Geese on Strangford Lough, guided by the expert knowledge of the Strangford Lough & Ards Peninsula - National Trust ranger team.

See post below for more details.

Wings Over Strangford: Brent Watch Day

Just one month to go!

Join National Trust rangers on Saturday 7 November for a drop-in birdwatching session at Greyabbey and witness the arrival of Brent geese, waders, ducks and other winter migrants to Strangford Lough.

📍 National Trust Car Park, Greyabbey
🕤 9:30am to 2:30pm
✅ No booking required

Come along and discover one of nature's great seasonal spectacles!

12/10/2026

📣 Save the date!

Join the BTO British Trust for Ornithology NI Annual Conference 2026 on Saturday 7 November at the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, Oxford Island.

This one-day conference is with filled with bird-related talks, birdwatching, and socialising at Lough Neagh Discovery Centre. Join in to hear about bird research, monitoring, and conservation work happening in Northern Ireland and beyond.

⏰ Registration opens: 8.30am
🎤 Conference begins: 9.15am

Book your place now: bit.ly/BTONIConference26

07/10/2026

How to help the Red Squirrel 👇

✅ report your sightings
✅ support your local red squirrel group and the conservation work they are doing. For more details see below.

Red Squirrel Awareness Week (5-11th October)

Red Squirrel Awareness Week is dedicated to increasing awareness of and action for the UK’s endangered red squirrels and their conservation.

The red squirrel is an iconic woodland mammal with a reddish-brown coat and pale underside. It has a characteristically bushy tail.

It is distinguished from the grey squirrel by its smaller size, red fur and distinctive large ear tufts.

Its numbers have been in decline rapidly since the 1950s from a population in the UK of around 3.5 million to just 140,000.

Want to give red squirrels a helping hand in your area? Get involved with your local Red Squirrel Group, who are working to protect reds through supplementary feeding and raising awareness of their plight.

Follow them on Facebook to find out more:

👉 Heart of Down Red Squirrels (Heart of Down Red Squirrel Group)
👉 North Down Red Squirrel and Pine Marten Group (North Down Red Squirrel and Pine Marten Group)

07/10/2026

Red squirrels are one of our most iconic mammals but unfortunately these special animals need our help. Invasive non-native grey squirrels compete with them for food and shelter and can spread the deadly Squirrelpox virus, while habitat loss and fragmentation put further pressure on their populations.

Have you spotted a red squirrel recently?

Please report your squirrel and pine marten sightings here https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6c3b8123f1e748e296753dc162d8be06/

07/10/2026

HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD! 📢 📢

The NI Assembly's AERA Committee are seeking views on the implementation of a closed season for winklepicking in Strangford Lough.

We welcome better protections for ecologically important species such as periwinkles, that are low down the food chain and, as such, are an important food source for many different species.

We support the promotion and development of sustainable practices.

🗓 ‼Deadline for responses: 14th October

Follow the link below to have your say 👇

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Northern Ireland Environment Agency

Find and participate in consultations run by the Northern Ireland Assembly

06/10/2026

🌊 Discover the magic of our coastline at the Shorelife Celebration this Saturday, 10 October 2026! 🦀✨

What? A fantastic, free day out celebrating the incredible wildlife and heritage of Strangford Lough.

Where?Activities are split across two venues: National Trust - Mount Stewart and WWT Castle Espie, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Best of all? Admission is completely free, and a complimentary shuttle bus will run between both locations all day! 🚌

Here is what’s in store for the whole family:
🔬 Nature & Science, 🎨 Crafts & Culture,🚶 Tours & Talks

Whether you're a nature lover, a craft enthusiast, or just looking for a brilliant family day out, there is something for everyone.

📍 Venues: Mount Stewart (Newtownards) & WWT Castle Espie (Comber)
📅 Date: Saturday, 10 October 2026 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
💰 Cost: FREE entry

05/10/2026

Our AONB Ambassadors Heart of Down Red Squirrels are running guided walks as part of . Head to Castle Ward National Trust on Saturday or Sunday and give them a ring to book.

28/09/2026

🌳 Trees on the Land - applications now open!

Do you want to plant trees this winter? Applications are now open for our Winter 2026–Spring 2027 tree planting schemes in Northern Ireland !

Sponsored trees are available for schools and colleges, community groups, farms and smallholdings, and private gardens. They can be used for woodlands, hedgerows, shelter belts, avenues, waterside planting, agroforestry, orchards and much more.

🌱 Community, farm and smallholding projects can apply for packs of up to 250 trees, or larger quantities for ambitious planting projects — including schemes of 1,000 trees and beyond.

🏡 Garden tree packs cost €1.50 per tree, plus a €25 delivery charge per order.

📅 Apply by 5pm on Sunday 18 October 2026.

Please apply early: late applications cannot be accepted, and schemes may close before the deadline if oversubscribed.

👉 Find out more and apply: https://www.treesontheland.com/plant-trees

https://www.treesontheland.com/home

Please share with anyone who might be interested! 🌿