Live Here Love Here’s Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds event programme has drawn to a close, having brought together communities from across Northern Ireland to connect with, celebrate and protect the region’s blue spaces.

Over 1,000 participants took part in this year’s programme of events, with activities designed to highlight the important role that beaches, loughs and coastlines play in supporting both environmental health and our physical and mental wellbeing.

Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds

Sponsored by Belfast Harbour and supported by The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the 2026 programme featured a diverse range of activities, giving people the opportunity to get outdoors and connect with their local environment. The month-long campaign focused on encouraging people to experience first-hand, the benefits of Northern Ireland’s blue spaces, while highlighting the need for greater action to protect them from pollution.

Healthy Oceans, Healthy Minds comes as Live Here Love Here’s Marine Litter Report 2025 continues to highlight the scale of the challenge facing Northern Ireland’s shores. The report includes litter survey information from 12 beaches across Northern Ireland and has highlighted that the region’s shores are still awash with discarded waste. 26,442 items of litter were recorded, and 85% of the litter found was made from plastic.

Lynda Surgenor, Community Engagement Manager at Live Here Love Here said, “Healthy Oceans, Healthy Minds has once again brought people together to experience and celebrate the many ways our blue spaces can benefit both people and the planet.”

“Throughout this year’s programme, communities have taken part in a diverse range of activities, from family fun days and beach cleans, to yoga and meditation. Each event was designed as an opportunity to connect with nature and to take time to focus on wellbeing. It has been fantastic to see so many people of all ages get involved, and the enthusiasm and commitment shown throughout has demonstrated how much our waterways mean to communities across Northern Ireland.”

“By helping people build a stronger connection with nature, we hope Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds continues to inspire more people to want to look after and ultimately improve our blue spaces.”

Jenni Barkley, Communications Engagement Manager at Belfast Harbour said, “Year after year Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds continues to highlight the various ways people can positively engage with and celebrate our wonderful waterways and reiterates how important it is to look after them. In partnership with Live Here Love Here, we can continue to educate people on the better choices they can make to protect our seas and waterways from further damage and pollution.”