Live Here Love Here, the people-powered campaign dedicated to improving local environments and inspiring civic pride, has announced the winners at its 2026 Community Awards. Held on February 19 at Belfast City Hall and hosted by TV presenter Joe Mahon, the event brought together community volunteers, council representatives, environmental organisations and partners to celebrate the vital role local people play in caring for Northern Ireland’s natural and built environment.
The Live Here Love Here Community Awards – delivered in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), ten local councils and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, and managed by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful – recognise outstanding voluntary action tackling some of our most pressing environmental challenges, including littering, biodiversity loss, neglected spaces and climate change.
On the night, 13 awards were presented, including Regional Champion Awards for each participating council area, as well as three special awards recognising long-term impact, community inclusion and emerging environmental leadership: the Bright Future Award, the Community Together Award and the Lasting Contribution Award.
Ballynure In Bloom
Ballynure In Bloom from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council was named winner of the Lasting Contribution Award, which honours a long-established group that has shown outstanding environmental stewardship over many years. Made up of over 30 volunteers from Ballynure and District Community Association and the B&D Friendship Club, the group has created a greener, more attractive and connected village through planting, litter-picking, biodiversity projects and the restoration of paths and public spaces. In the same category, runner-up Friends of Antrim Castle Gardens was recognised for its long-term commitment to maintaining and enhancing the historic gardens as a vibrant, biodiverse community space.
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said: “My department is very proud to support the Live Here Love Here programme, I am greatly encouraged by the dedication shown by all the volunteers whose hard work has helped create a cleaner, greener and healthier environment for us all. Each of us has an individual responsibility to protect our planet and I am delighted by the practical improvements that have been made to enhance our local communities. This inspirational work will continue to motivate others to work together to make a positive and lasting difference to our environment.”
The Community Together Award, sponsored by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, was won by Culmore Community Partnership from the Derry and Strabane area, in recognition of its inclusive intergenerational litter-picking programme that brings residents of all ages together to care for local spaces, protect wildlife and build pride in the community.
Community Together runner-up, Wildflower Alley, was praised for its decade of work regenerating neglected alleyways in Belfast’s Holyland area into biodiverse, welcoming green spaces.
The Bright Future Award – which celebrates a new and emerging community group – was awarded to Crossgar Village Greens from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council for its work improving the cleanliness, biodiversity and appearance of Crossgar through regular volunteering, planting and river and wildlife projects.
Bright Future runner-up, Tyrone Underwater Search and Recovery, was recognised for combining environmental clean-ups with its vital volunteer-led water safety and recovery services.
Speaking about the role of the awards’ in highlighting the impact of everyday community action, Lynda Surgenor, Live Here Love Here Manager, said: “At a time when the biodiversity and climate crises can feel overwhelming, the Live Here Love Here Community Awards shine a light on what is possible when people come together to take action locally. From long-established groups like Ballynure In Bloom to new and emerging groups like Crossgar Village Greens, these winners show that community-led environmental action really does make a difference – for wildlife, for places and for people.”
She concluded: “Live Here Love Here is about supporting people to take pride in where they live and to care for their local environment. We are incredibly grateful to DAERA, our council partners, the Housing Executive and our sponsors, Power NI and Helping Hand, for making these awards possible and helping us continue to grow environmental volunteering across Northern Ireland.”
To support the work of Live Here Love Here and other environmental programmes, visit keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org, where you can find out how to get involved or make a donation.
