Sunday 12th September
Seapark, Holywood 9.30am, meeting in car park.
Litterpick along this popular stretch of beach.
Join the Ards & North Down Beach Cleaners on a gentle stroll and litter pick of Seapark Beach.
2021 Healthy Oceans, Healthy Minds
Below lists the 2021 events that were available in September
To find out about the current programme, see 2022 Heathy Oceans, Healthy Minds programme.
Sponsored by Belfast Harbour, this 2021 programme includes coastal litter picking events to support Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Clean-Up.
A cleaner ocean gives us a clearer mind to enjoy our contact with the sea. All events are free to attend and the programme will be updated with events as the weekend approaches. Please contact the event organiser for more details and to confirm your place.
2021 programme of events
Saturday 18th September
Crawfordsburn Beach, meet 9.45am near the toilets in car park
The Conservation Volunteers are hosting a clean-up of Crawfordsburn Beach, a site popular with walkers and sea swimmers. Join the team for a casual walk and help remove litter from the beach and sea. All welcome, equipment provided. There will be an opportunity to visit the walled garden within the Country Park after the litterpicking event.
Contact Russell Lough at TCV to book your place russell.lough@tcv.org.uk
A litter pick of Millisle Beach organised by NDA U3A. Millisle Beach, Meet at 10am
ND&A U3A is part of an international Movement aimed at providing recreational, social and educational activities for people in the third age, that is retired or semi retired.
Join their beach clean group, the Rubbish Friends, for about an hour picking litter on Millisle Beach, then go for coffee/tea and a yarn afterwards (the best part!)
Killyleagh Shoreline Clean Up. Meeting at 10.30am at the quay, Bridge Street.
The volunteers of the Killyleagh Clean Team (an initiative of the Killyleagh Community Association) will meet for their weekly litter pick, and to mark International Coastal Clean-Up weekend, will focus on litter picking around the Strangford Lough shoreline from Seaside Road to Cuan Beach in the village.
Ballywalter Beach 10.30am, Meet at Orange Hall
Join members of the local community for a clean up of Ballywalter beach on Saturday. All equipment will be provided. A great opportunity to meet local residents and help to keep this beach beautiful.
Details can be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/531779823551975/permalink/4480134798716438/.
Browns Bay, Islandmagee 10.30am, meet in car park
The Marine Conservation Society are hosting a clean-up of Brown's Bay as part of the Big British Beach clean. Join them and hear more about their work.
Let them know you're joining them, contact Elena Aceves-Cully 07752422616
Bangor Bay, Bangor 12pm to 2pm
A group walk and litterpick of the beach from Luke's point to Wilson's Point. Meet members of the Ards & North Down Beach Cleaners and find out more about their great work in Bangor and along the Peninsula. Organised by the Ards & North Down Beach Cleaners Facebook Group.
Clean Up of Stricklands Glen 12pm to 2pm
The Friends of Stricklands Glen will be hosting a clean up, join them to learn more about what this fabulous group do in their local area. Meeting at the Car park. For more information please e-mail: friendsofstricklandsglen@mail.com
Cranfield Beach East (Cranfield Road) 12-2pm
Join the team from Too Much Trash NI for a clean-up of Cranfield Beach. The group will be meeting at the slipway onto the beach. Check out their Instagram @toomuchtrashni for more information.
Seapark, Holywood 2pm, meeting in car park.
Litterpick along this popular stretch of beach.
Join the Ards & North Down Beach Cleaners on a gentle stroll and litter pick of Seapark Beach.
Belfast Lough and surrounding area
Join Citizen Sea, the former ring netter turned ocean warrior, for a day long operation to clean up the beaches around Belfast Lough - from Carrick to Bangor Bay. Citizen Sea are encouraging volunteers to #ConnectAndCollect as part of Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Clean-up (ICC), the world's largest volunteer effort to remove and record litter from local lakes, waterways, beaches and the ocean. Coastal volunteers and groups are encouraged to organise a litter pick at their coastal area, then the litter will be taken by RIB and Citizen Sea crew vessel, Whaleheart out to Sea Bird, acting as the mother ship in Belfast Lough. All litter will be landed at Belfast Harbour, showing how much litter was collected along our beautiful coastlines in just one day.
To get involved and arrange a collection in the Carrick to Bangor Bay location contact admin@citizensea.org.
Ards Canal Path, 7pm onwards for Meet & Greet and Moth Trapping
Meet the dynamic duo behind the Ards Canal Path Community Group and the volunteers who have adopted the path as part of the Live Here Love Here 'Adopt A Spot' project. The team are supplying refreshments and setting up a moth trap to find out more about the wildlife that rely on the canal. Join their Facebook page for details on how to get involved.
Blackwater River
The brilliant folks at Black Water Barge make regular trips along the river to retrieve litter from the water. The tranquil site is home to an abundance of herons and kingfishers with lots more wildlife to spot from the boat. Enjoy the history and views as you travel in style and help remove litter from this beautiful site. The boat is fully accessible and trips are free.
Contact them to book a trip for your family or community group (numbers are strictly limited due to size of boat) https://www.facebook.com/blackwaterbarge.
North Coast for Sand Art and Beach Cleans
Great events to join as an individual or family. Meet members of the inspiring North Coast World Earth group and get creative with sand art and enjoy a beach clean led by the friendly team at Downhill. These guys have created masterpieces which have headlined social media posts. Take part in a beach clean at Whiterocks and for the more adventurous, join the team on the water in Portballintrae.
Three locations:
- Downhill Beach 11am-1pm for sand art and 2-4pm for Beach Clean
- Portrush Whiterocks for Beach Clean 10am - 1pm
- Portballintrae Harbour SUP and Beach Clean 2-4pm
More details on the great work of the group and how to get involved here https://www.facebook.com/northcoastworldearth/.
Sunday 19th September
North Down Coastline, Various times and locations
Councillors Karen Douglas and Martin McRandal are embarking on a 10 mile Coastal Clean Up of the North Down Coast to tackle marine litter and raise awareness of the issues of litter and waste. Join them as they make their journey from Seapark to Skipperstone Beach, lifting and removing litter along the way. Itinerary:
08:00 Seapark
10:00 Seahill
12:00 Helen's Bay
14:00 Smelt Bay
15.30 Skipperstone Beach
More information and joining details can be found on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/1152855007/videos/401191484698804/
Bangor to Donaghadee Meet Bangor 10.30am
Do you own a VW van? Join the members of the Dubs Of Vanarchy NI a in convoy from Bangor to Donaghadee, stopping at beaches along the way to collect litter. Enjoy a coffee, and return to Ward Park for music and craic. Meet in the car park opposite Bangor Bus Station in your shiny VW van!
Saturday 25th September
Clean Up and Drum Newcastle, 11am to 1pm
The fabulous team at UnitT are hosting a litter pick Newcastle beach followed by and interactive drumming circle with Community Tribal Drummers. This promises to be a fun event and is open to everyone. More details to follow.
Carnfunnock Country Park
Join the Larne Eco Rangers for a litterpick and family fun day at Carnfunnock Park. Lots of activities including live music, good and fun games for the children. Chat with the Eco Rangers to find out how to get involved in their work around the Larne and Carrick areas.
Sunday 26th September
Loughshore Park Jordanstown
Litterpick of Loughshore Beach followed by family activities, pizza, ice cream and teas/coffees.
In partnership with the County Antrim Countryside Custodians, the County Antrim litterpicking and environmental group. Join the group for a litter pick of the beach and enjoy a celebratory event with refreshments and fun activities. A great opportunity to meet members of the Custodians and find out how to sign-up. Everyone welcome.
Your story is important too
Throughout September we would like to hear from you - if you have a story that connects you to the outdoors, the sea, the coast or inland waterways, if you have advice or a testimonial, please contact us.
Mental Health can be a sensitive issue, and while it is important to speak about, we know that stories can be personal. If you would still like to share your story with us and our followers but remain anonymous, please let us know.
Thanks to Rolling Can Media for the fabulous promotional video
Our mission for Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds
- Inspire and re-establish people’s connection with our seas and waterways post Covid-19.
- Raise awareness of the benefits a healthy marine environment and the connection to nature/outdoors can make to our physical and mental health and wellbeing.
- Educate people on alternative choices/habits they can adopt that help protect our seas and waterways from further damage and pollution.
- Motivate and empower people to take individual positive actions now (even in lockdown) to protect our seas and waterways.