Sunday, 26 October 2025
Northern Ireland is celebrating its unique natural beauty and rich biodiversity with the upcoming NI Environment Week. This exciting week is designed to raise awareness about environmental issues, promote sustainability, and encourage community involvement. This year focuses on peatlands, a type of wetland made up of partially decomposed organic matter, primarily plants, that has accumulated […]
Northern Ireland is celebrating its unique natural beauty and rich biodiversity with the upcoming NI Environment Week. This exciting week is designed to raise awareness about environmental issues, promote sustainability, and encourage community involvement.
This year focuses on peatlands, a type of wetland made up of partially decomposed organic matter, primarily plants, that has accumulated over thousands of years. Covering approximately 18% of Northern Ireland’s land area, these habitats play an essential role in the fight against climate change, biodiversity loss, and water pollution.
From educational workshops, talks, guided walks, or volunteering opportunities, Northern Ireland Environmental Link (NIEL) invites YOU to register your event. NIEL invites the registration of a broad range of events to showcase Northern Ireland’s rich peatland heritage and the importance of peatland protection and restoration.
NI Environment Week isn’t just a series of events; it’s a call to action for residents of Northern Ireland. The aim is twofold: to educate communities about the pressing environmental challenges our peatlands face, inspire change, and further our efforts to preserve an important natural resource.
NI Environment Week 2025 will take place between 29th of September and 5th October.
Peatland and other environmental organisations, NIEL members, partner organisations and councils across the country are encouraged to hold events across Northern Ireland throughout this week, as well as sharing their stories.
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has announced the launch of Northern Ireland’s first Peatland Strategy, setting out a long-term vision for the conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of peatlands through to 2040. Developed in response to the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, the strategy outlines five strategic objectives and 26 actions aimed at improving carbon storage, enhancing biodiversity, and protecting water quality.
Speaking at the launch at Divis Mountain, Minister Muir highlighted that well-managed peatlands are “our rainforest equivalent”, with enormous potential to sequester carbon, reduce flood risk, and provide habitats for threatened species such as the hen harrier, curlew, and golden plover. The Minister emphasised the importance of valuing the ecosystem services peatlands provide and noted recent investments through the Environment Fund, Shared Island, and Peace Plus programmes to support large-scale restoration.
This strategy aligns closely with the goals of NI Environment Week, offering a clear framework for how individuals, organisations, and government can work together to scale up peatland restoration efforts across Northern Ireland.
The kinds of events you can register for NI Environment Week includes:
Training activities
Talks or lectures
Guided walks (site‑ or species‑focused)
Volunteering opportunities
Meanwhile, there are other ways you can help spread the word about peatland protection and restoration and take part for 2025!
Organising an activity? Be sure to register your event with NIEL to be featured as part of the official programme.
Check out the event listings and attend talks, guided walks, restoration projects, and more!
If you want to make a lasting impact during NI Environment Week, consider volunteering. Numerous organisations are likely looking for additional support, whether through clean-up efforts, event setup, or leading workshops.
Help increase awareness of NI Environment Week by sharing your experiences on social media. Use the official hashtags to connect with others and encourage your friends and family to participate in the events.
With the launch of the Northern Ireland Peatland Strategy and a packed schedule of events during NI Environment Week 2025, this is a critical time to act for nature and climate. By taking part or hosting in events, volunteering, or simply spreading awareness, you can help ensure peatlands continue to provide their life-sustaining benefits for generations to come.
NI Environment Week 2025 is sponsored by Action Renewables.
