Also by Hannan: “the blue eyed sheiks” of Icelandic Banking will save us (2004). Brexit will be a huge success and we won’t leave the single market (2016) “Covid won’t kill you” (2020)
News report showing conflict between outdoor music arena and pitch provision
News report showing conflict between biodiverse green space and pitch provision
Deeply concerned about #Belfast Councils ham fisted approach to new playing field strategy
Not content with pitting sports provision against music, they now seem to be pitting it against biodiverse green infrastructure (GI).
New pitches should contribute to new high quality GI, not degrade it.
What a turnout, Belfast! Thanks to everyone who came down this evening to celebrate the starlings with us - our hearts are full 💚
Massive thanks to all that put time and effort into pulling off this event, and to @thisisdakota.bsky.social and @wildlifeni.bsky.social for leading it!
A selection of 3 pics of a murmuration taken from a moving car at Albert Bridge Belfast March 2018 at around 6pm. The pics show a city skyline with the sky beginning to darken and a cloud of starlings preparing to roost
I took this in March 2019. It’s amazing to see them back
This sight is genuinely one of the experiences I recommend any visitor to Belfast to take in if they can.
It's beautiful to watch.
You can read more here:
ulstermuseum.org/guest-blog/where-did-all-starlings-go share.google/yRN9cZMG3Cjb...
And we're still keeping up the fight by asking Belfast City Council to protect these sites here
BelfastTelegraph.co.uk share.google/iLDBmtGcIkxj...
Various planning applications led to the desertion of the site by red listed starlings between 2019 and 2023.
But thanks to our work (with @wildbelfast.bsky.social) we managed to secure a decrease in light pollution at the bridge and the starlings returned in 2023.
You can read more..
Starling murmuration at Belfast (photo by Dulra)
Did you see #winterwatch last night?
Belfast's starling murmuration took centre stage to the delight of audiences across the UK and those watching at Belfast itself.
But did you know we nearly lost it..?
Wild Belfast, Queen’s University planners and some in the council hope to make Belfast the first national park city on the island of Ireland…
A series of public conversations kick off this evening in the city centre.
Find out more here 👇
open.substack.com/pub/theearth...
What is happening already? Community Gardens, Wildflower alleys, Pop up community hubs, Urban gardens.
What would you like to see? Responses include new green space, sustainable drainage systems, new habitats, new native woodland.
What can we celebrate already as a city?
Where can we do better?
#WhatIf
#BelfastNationalParkCity
Picture of people at community meeting imagining their connection with Belfast.
Our #Belfast #NationalParkCity workshop is well underway.
Attendees are writing a postcard to themselves from 2050.
They've been asked:
1) What do you see?
2) What's changed locally?
3) Who's here, and what's their r'ship with nature?
4) How do you feel living here?
What would you say?
The conversation continues this week as we hear from local activists who will help steer us towards thinking "What if Belfast was a National Park City?"
Come along, it just might be the start of something extraordinary.
Register here: forms.gle/dAfCeSb3VaWT...
#NationalParkCity #Whatif
Thanks to Slugger O'Toole for allowing me to write about the joyful insurgency taking place here in Belfast to explore the idea of Belfast becoming a National Park City and the power of asking "What if". You can check it out here:
sluggerotoole.com/2025/10/18/w...
Robin in an apple tree
This Robin has developed camouflage.
Holly blue butterfly on bramble
Holly blue butterfly on bramble
Typically a univoltine species (i.e one flight season April to June) in Northern Ireland the Holly Blue butterfly, a protected species, has developed a second flight season, likely due to our warming climate.
This one was seen outside its typically associated flight season in Garvagh yesterday.
The media propensity to run "police probe [cultural figure x]" stories is corrosive to our polity.
Few if any of these probes get anywhere, but the No Further Actions never get similar prominence.
And what lingers are the police interventions, as if such activity is normal and to be expected.
We need more urban green infrastructure. Every development using private or public funds should be required to include it.
European heatwave caused 2,300 deaths in 10 days:
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/...
Did you ever wonder where all the starlings went at the Lagan Bridge?
Wild Belfast member Dawn re-tells the beautiful and poignant story of the murmurations disappearance, and return.
Article by @wildlifeni.bsky.social → bit.ly/3ZQ9Rx2
#Murmurations #WildIreland
Outputs of workshop from National Park Cities.
Digitising our workshop on how we make Belfast a National Park City - outcomes en route!
Fab contributions so far:
- We're a confluence of past and future
- Make natural heritage last as long as built heritage
- Make gardens a public good
Get involved - email contact@wildbelfast.org.
We need all new council Local Development Plans to strengthen for levels of protection afforded to local nature sites, and to increase the number of these sites.
Many priority habitats, such as Open Mosaic Habitat remain in zoned and this should be addressed.
As the OEP outline the importance of protecting wildlife at a local level, and the value of local wildlife sites in doing so, councils across Northern Ireland are showing no ambition in Local Development Plans to zone new sites, or are revoking them entirely.
www.theoep.org.uk/report/local...
In addition we'll be joined by Cllrs Aine Groogan, Tara Brooks and @seamasbelfast.bsky.social to discuss how we bridge the gap to become a National Park City and what makes for influential advocacy.
Come and be part of the conversation!
Programme below:
www.playthinkbrink.com/Friday-13th
Aerial of Brink site with city reimagined as being greener with title Belfast National Park City
Title Belfast National Park City with agenda and running order for the day.
We're taking our exploration of #Belfast as a National Park City into one of Belfast's best loved meanwhile sites.
I'll be joined in discussion with our host Gawain as well as Perla from Sustrans and Lizzy from Belfast Hills to explore a National Park City, what to celebrate and how we can do more
Dup motion to scrap Nutrients Action Plan carried by 52 votes to 23
DUP motion to scrap Nutrients Action Plan carried by UUP, TUV and Sinn fein 👀
Whenever they come crocodile-tearing at your doorsteps, remember this.
This action plan was to address water quality issues affecting Lough Neagh and beyond, their political cowardice compounds the issue.
#DUP #UUP #TUV #SINNFEIN
“Where did all the starlings go?”
This was the question Lagan rower Dawn Patterson brought to Wild Belfast.
Watch as Dawn re-tells the beautiful and poignant story of the murmurations disappearance, and return.
Article by @wildlifeni.bsky.social → bit.ly/3ZQ9Rx2
#Murmurations #WildIreland
Urban species rich grassland in process of being restored.
Meadow restoration taking shape at PEC in Botanic Gardens.
These are what traditional grasslands would have looked, smelt and buzzed like.
Bravo to upsurge project, Belfast City Council and partners.
Let's see more of this 👏🦋🐝🐞
Ladder being erected by NI Fire Service
Fireman giving thumbs up after turning on swift caller
Enter our heroes from NI Fire and Rescue Service Belfast Central Station who popped in to lend a hand!
A huge thank you to our local heroes who are also playing an important role in Swift Conservation #worldswiftday.
You can hear (& see!) our living, singing mural on Bruce Street, Belfast.
Wild Belfast mural celebrating and supporting swifts
Solar powered swift caller
It's #worldswiftday and I'd like to share a story with you about our swift mural.
Equipped with a solar powered caller to attract swifts to the nesting bricks, we had one issue - how to turn the caller on (>10m high) once the swifts arrived?
Belfast reimagined with nature
National Park City conference agenda with list of international and local experts
National Park City charter
Join us at Queen's University on Tuesday 10th June from 10am for a discussion reflecting what if we treated Belfast like a National Park.
We'll hear from an array of experts and muse how Belfast can be better for us and biodiversity.
Register here:
lnkd.in/evrHtZGs
These questions and more will be part of the discussion. If you're interested in what Belfast might look like as a National Park City come and join the conversation.
Keynote speaker: Cecil Konijnendijk with other announcements very soon!
Register:
lnkd.in/e4N-NHQW
(Graphic by Siobhán Keogh)
