Farmers and landowners across the Lough Neagh catchment have an important role to play in protecting the lough, its waterways, habitats and wildlife.
Protecting Lough Neagh: Farmers & Catchment Solutions is a three-part documentary series from Lough Neagh Partnership, showcasing how farmers, landowners and environmental organisations are working together through DAERA-funded programmes to improve water quality, restore habitats and protect Northern Ireland’s largest freshwater lake.
Across the three films, we visit projects around the Lough Neagh catchment to see practical environmental work taking place on farms, along the shoreline and beside the rivers and streams that ultimately flow into the lough.
Episode 1: Environmental Farming Scheme Group Project
The first episode explores the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) Group Project and the work being undertaken by local farmers to restore and enhance habitats along the Lough Neagh shoreline.
From habitat restoration to practical environmental improvements, the film highlights positive work taking place to support biodiversity, strengthen natural habitats and help protect the future of Lough Neagh.
Hear directly from the farmers and project partners involved and discover how collaborative approaches and sustainable farming practices can make a real difference for nature and local communities.
Episode 2: Sustainable Catchment Programme
Protecting Lough Neagh does not begin at the shoreline. The rivers and streams throughout its extensive catchment eventually make their way into the lough, making work upstream an important part of improving water quality.
Episode 2 explores the Sustainable Catchment Programme (SCP) and the practical work taking place alongside farmers and landowners to improve the rivers and streams that flow into Lough Neagh.
The film demonstrates how effective catchment management and practical interventions on the ground can help reduce pollution, improve water quality and create healthier waterways.
Episode 3: Farming With Nature
In the final episode, we visit the farm of Helen Keys in the western catchment of Lough Neagh to see the new Farming With Nature Programme in action.
Helen shares the story of her unique farming enterprise, including growing flax for linen production, and explains how farming and food production can work alongside nature.
The programme demonstrates how practical environmental farming measures can enhance biodiversity, protect water quality and help create more resilient farms for future generations.
Working Together to Protect Lough Neagh
The three films demonstrate the value of collaboration between farmers, landowners and environmental organisations across the Lough Neagh catchment.
Through practical action on farms, along waterways and around the shoreline, these programmes are helping to improve habitats, support biodiversity and protect water quality.
Lough Neagh Partnership works with farmers, landowners, communities and partner organisations to deliver environmental projects throughout the Lough Neagh landscape, securing funding and bringing people together to deliver practical action for the benefit of the lough and its wider catchment.
