Summer Spotlight 2026
Designed to share the amazing work going on over the summer months in Northern Ireland, the ESDF Summer Spotlight highlights the work of our network and related sustainable development events across NI. Have fun and learn in and about nature this summer, whatever your age! Just click on the event to find out more!
If you want to get outdoors, learn more about nature or sign the family up for an educational event this summer, check out our summer spotlight! Designed to share the amazing work going on over the summer months in Northern Ireland, the ESDF Summer Spotlight highlights the work of our network and related sustainable development events across NI. From competitions, events, resources, projects, and online sessions, we share them all!
This summer, we don’t want you to miss a thing! Get involved and find an event suitable for your age and location. Can’t find what you are looking for? Get in touch! Want to share your event? Let us know! Our website Summer Spotlight will continue to be updated throughout the season! Have fun and learn in and about nature this summer, whatever your age!
Various dates throughout Summer
- NIEL – Environmental Events
- MEA Nature Art – various dates
- MEA Summer Foraging – various dates
- MEA Bat Walks – various dates
- Seed Collecting with TCV – various dates
- CCGC History Hunters – various dates
- ABCC Pop-Up Play Days Katesbridge – various dates
- ABCC National Playday Events – various dates
- LCBC Park Life – various dates
- Summer Family Play Days An Creagán – various dates
- Pokémon Trail Rowallane Gardens June – September
- Pokémon Summer of Play Mount Stewart June – September
- Dragonfly Festival WWT Castle Espie June – September
- Sundays on Maritime Mile June – August
- Summer of Play Florence Court July – August
- Little Learners Tours at Springhill – various dates
- Hillsborough Castle Gardens Hijinks July – August
July 2026
- Limavady Agricultural Show 17th -18th July
- Castlewellan Agricultural Show 18th July
- ANBC Moths and Butterflies Workshop Antrim 18th July
- Big Birthday Seed Swap & Facepainting – Carrick Greengrocers 18th July
- ABCC Young Nature Explorers Summer Camp 8-12 Y0 20th – 23rd July
- Finding your way in environmental stewardship – Online 20th July
- Bitty Butterflies (online ID training) 22nd July
- Big Butterfly Count 2026 – Marble Arch 23rd July
- Big Butterfly Count 2026 – Killykeegan NNR 23rd July
- Coastal Care Day Tyrella Beach 24th July
- ANBC Tree ID Workshop Antrim 25th July
- A Bug Bonanza Cavehill 25th July
- Moths and Meander at Umbra Nature Reserve 25th July
- Beautiful Butterflies (age 4-7) Bog Meadows 25th July
- World Bog Day with RSPB 26th July
- Woodland Walk Belfast Hills 28th July
- Sustaining Heritage in Challenging Environments 30th July
- Teen Nature Recorder Workshop 31st July 12-16 YO
August 2026
- ‘Worry Worlds’ Climate Exhibition: Opening Event 1st August
- Look and Sea (age 2-4) Bog Meadows 1st August
- By the Coast’ Felting Workshop Whitehead 1st August
- QUB Marine Lab Portaferry – open day 1st August
- CCGHT Raptor Rangers 1st August
- An Evening of Poetry and Song Bog Meadows 3rd August
- Flora, Fauna & Folklore of Colin Glen 3rd August
- BCC Family Sustainability Workshops 3rd – 9th August
- The Lough Needs You 8-16YO with event 4th-5th August
- Forest School Down SWT 10-16 YO 4th-5th August
- Look and Sea (age 2-4) Bog Meadows 8th August
- ANBC Mini Beast Workshop Sentry Hill 8th August
- Identification workshop on The Daisy Family – Asteraceae 12th August
- Colour Your Summer at Island Arts Centre until 15th August
- Mini Beast Workshop Antrim 15th August
- Botanical Recording for Beginners 16th August
- Walk on the Wild Side Loughgall 19th August
- Walk on the Wild Side Gosford Forest Park 26th August
- LAFS Forest School CPD and Networking event August 25th
- NI Forest Schools Summer Clubs
- Go All In this summer for National Year of Reading
- NI Libraries Big Summer Read – Grow your story tree
- All Ability Biodiversity Fun Day 28th August
- Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds – August various dates
Throughout Summer
- Wildlife Watch Patrol – Belfast Hills Partnership
- Outmore NI activity sheet and poster
- Getting the Picture – Heatwaves
- Willow and Lore Heritage Farm Walking Tour – various dates
- Complete environmental taskcards on myEARTH
- The Secret Garden Experience Interactive tool
- Your Voice Your Future – NI Youth Assembly
- Young People’s Climate Change and Sustainability Survey (Ages 14-19)
Summer and Beyond
- Free NIEL Youth/Student Membership -sign up now!
- Clandeboye Forest Pre- School Opening September
- Fields Good Agriculture Festival 2026 5th September
- Downhill Batwalk 5th September
- Cook the Season, Moy 4th September
- Echoes in the Landscape, The Braid until 25th September
- Free Trees for schools, community groups and landowners
- Free Trees – Woodland Trust NI
- National Trust Education Group Access Pass
- Field Studies Ireland training events
- Further Your Education in the Environment in NI
Got an event or summer project you would like to add the our list? Get in touch and let us know!
