Wat-Er You Waiting For? Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds Is Back
Live Here Love Here, working in partnership with Belfast Harbour, is back with its annual Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds campaign. The campaign, now in its fourth year, offers people the opportunity to show some love to our rivers, lough and beaches while enjoying the mental-health benefits they have to offer.
This year’s campaign is set to be bigger than ever, with over 50 free events to choose from. Activities kick off on Saturday 19th August with sailing lessons at Bangor Marina.
The varied programme of events includes something for everyone: from a scavenger hunt on Cranfield West Beach, to a tour of Exploris Aquarium, to a litter-pick on the River Bann. Events are free to the public, but spaces are limited for some events.
To secure your spot, sign up now at : www.liveherelovehere.org/healthyoceanshealthyminds.
Events are being added to the website all the time, so check regularly to avoid missing out.
The campaign will conclude with an opportunity to give back to our waterways: a series of beach litter-picks on 16-17 September, to coincide with the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. Cleanups like this are much-needed, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful’s 2021 Marine Litter Report found an average of 762 items per 100m of beach surveyed.
Jenni Barkley, Communications and Corporate Responsibility Manager at Belfast Harbour said:
“This is the third year Belfast Harbour has partnered with Live Here Love Here on such a fantastic initiative. Northern Ireland is blessed with many rich marine environments that serve communities in many ways, not least by providing healthy outlets that support our wellbeing. The Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds campaign is a really valuable initiative because it supports communities to positively engage with our waterways in a variety of different ways but also learn that by adopting better habits we can all help to protect these spectacular assets from further damage and pollution, for future generations.”
Lynda Surgenor, Live Here Love Here Coordinator said,
“We’re excited to get this year’s campaign underway. We have a fantastic programme of events on offer, that not only celebrate our beautiful blue spaces, but offer opportunities to improve mental and physical well-being. We encourage people to seize the chance to switch off, recharge and enjoy some downtime by our waterscapes.”
