Live Here Love Here's Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds campaign returns this August for its sixth year, sponsored by Belfast Harbour and supported by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), with activities taking place across Northern Ireland.

The programme features a wide variety of events designed to encourage people to enjoy and value blue spaces for physical health, mental wellbeing, and community connection.

Highlights include a Beach Babbies hosted by Mid and East Antrim Outdoors at Ballygally Beach on 11th August at 11am.

Later in the month, there will be Wakeboarding with Meteor Waterski Club in Lisburn at 9am on 15th August, and Nia Beach Dance at Helen’s Bay Beach on various dates from 1st–29th August. An Introduction to Paddle Boarding takes place on 23rd August at 1pm at Greencastle Beach, followed by Rockpool School with the Costal Kidz in Portballintrae on 26th August.

The campaign aims to underline the importance of Northern Ireland's waterways and encourage people to protect them from pollution, particularly litter.

Live Here Love Here's Marine Litter Report 2025 includes surveys from 12 beaches across Northern Ireland and shows the region’s shores remain affected by discarded waste. In total, 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: "Litter, no matter how small, can have significant consequences for marine wildlife and our environment. We are fortunate that Northern Ireland is home to outstanding natural beauty and all of us owe it to future generations to look after these areas and protect them. Sadly, as our latest Marine Litter Report shows some people are not playing their part. Many of our community groups litter pick across a broad range of waterways from beaches to rivers to coastlines, all to improve our marine areas, and their work is essential. Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds aims to empower more people to connect with the benefits of nature in hopes that it inspires them to want to look after it, and ultimately improve it."

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."

Live Here Love Here is also working with individuals, community groups, businesses, local authorities, schools, and charities across Northern Ireland to create their own events to enhance the 2026 programme.