Restoring Nature, Connecting Communities
Projects
The strength behind PeacePlus Nature is the coming together of like-minded organisations committed to delivering habitat enhancement. PeacePlus Nature is a partnership of RSPB NI, Monaghan County Council, BlackWater River Catchment Trust, Birdwatch Ireland, Truagh Development Association, Lough Neagh Partnership, Butterfly Conservation, NI water and An Taisce – National Trust for Ireland.
Restoring Peatland in the Antrim Hills
Key Partners:
This project brings together RSPB NI and NI Water to restore some of Northern Ireland’s most valuable peatland habitats. Peatlands are essential for wildlife and are among the most effective landscapes for storing carbon. This initiative focuses on revitalising three priority areas: the wider Antrim Hills SPA, Killylane, and the Slieveannora and Coraghan ASSI.
Across these sites, the project will develop and deliver targeted restoration and management plans—from specialist peatland recovery work at Killylane to large‑scale habitat restoration spanning more than 1,600 hectares at Slieveannora and Coraghan. Together, these efforts aim to safeguard these unique landscapes and the species that depend on them, ensuring their resilience for generations to come.
Donegal Wader Recovery
Key Partners:
Led by BirdWatch Ireland, this project is working to protect and restore breeding wader populations across some of the county’s most important sites. Through practical conservation, scientific monitoring, and strong community involvement, the project supports vulnerable species such as Lapwing, Curlew, Dunlin and Corncrake. Key sites including Magheragallon, Rinmore, inch Long Point and Blanket Nook with benefit from practical management, ongoing monitoring and expert conservation advice.
On Tory Island – home to some of Ireland’s rarest breeding waders – the project will assess the factors affecting nest survival and empowering the local community, including 60 farmers and 20 residents, with training and knowledge to help safeguard these vulnerable species for the future.
Limestone Grassland and Habitat Management
Key Partners:
This project aims to protect and restore the precious wildlife of Northern Ireland’s threatened Limestone Grassland. This habitat is home to a host of rare and threatened species including the Marsh Fritillary, Small Blue and Cryptic Wood White butterflies as well as the Irish Plume Moth, but it is threatened by encroaching scrub. Together, with landowners and stakeholders, Butterfly Conservation will devise a plan to manage and improve this habitat at key sites while continuing to raise awareness of this fantastic ecocystem.
The project will also support a community network of volunteers who will help build resilience of their local green infrastructure through work parties, species surveys and community events.
Sliabh Beagh Peatland Restoration Project
Key Partners:
This project brings together a number of partners to protect one of the region’s most important blanket bog landscapes. Home to vulnerable birds of prey such as Hen Harrier and Merlin, Sliabh Beagh is benefiting from largescale habitat restoration including 608 hectares of peatland recovery at Eshbrack NHA and the removal of regenerating Sitka spruce (an invasive species) across 730 hectares to restore open bog habitat. scale habitat restoration including 608 hectares of peatland recovery at
The project also supports community-led peatland engagement, alongside the development of a fire prevention action plan.
Breeding Waders on Lough Neagh
Key Partners:
The Breeding Wader Project on Lough Neagh, led by the Lough Neagh Partnership, focuses on restoring and protecting key wetland habitats around the largest freshwater lake in the UK and Ireland. Lough Neagh’s shores support important breeding waders such as Curlew, Lapwing, Snipe and Redshank, but these species have declined due to habitat loss and increased predation.
This project is enhancing two key sites on the lake’s southwestern shore- Killycolpy and Killywoolaghan – through measures such as scrub control, vegetation management, grazing reintroduction and wetland restoration.
Breeding Waders on Lower Lough Erne
Key Partners:
The Breeding Wader Recovery on Lower Lough Erne project, led by RSPB NI, is working to restore and reconnect key wetland habitats to support vulnerable species such as Curlew, Lapwing and Snipe. Across the RSPB’s Lower Lough Erne reserves, work focuses on creating and maintaining wet features, managing rush and scrub, improving access, installing nest protection fencing, and expanding monitoring.
Ongoing habitat management will be in place across the key sites, which includes Upper Lough Erne, Lough MacNean, Knocks and Coranny.
Major investment is underway following the purchase of Inishcreenry – recently purchased under PeacePlus Nature. This major investment will create new scrapes, upgrade infrastructure and restore wetlands across 61 hectares.
To bring these actions together, RSPB NI is developing a Nature Recovery Network Map to identify, connect and prioritise key habitats, creating a more resilient, joined‑up landscape for breeding waders across the wider Erne system.
Breeding Waders on Lough Neagh
Key Partners:
The Lough Erne (West Area) Breeding Wader Recovery project, led by RSPB NI, focuses on restoring and managing important wetland landscapes across Lough Beg, Portmore and Reedy Flats to support declining species such as Curlew, Lapwing and Snipe.
With dedicated monitoring staff and a flexible Nature Recovery Network Officer working across sites, the project enhances habitat structure, improves water management, and supports sustainable grazing systems to create the conditions waders need to nest and raise their young.
Breeding Wader Recovery in Glenwherry and Glencloy
Key Partners:
The Glenwherry and Glencloy Upland Recovery Project, led by RSPB NI, is working to restore and reconnect important upland habitats to support breeding waders such as Curlew and Lapwing, along with other priority species. Across Glenwherry, large-scale habitat improvements include extensive rush control, new scrapes and reprofiled drains to create shallow feeding areas, protective nest fencing, and detailed monitoring. Work also supports Lapwing breeding through dedicated fallow plot management and provides tailored advice to local landowners.
The project extends into the neighbouring Glencloy valley, where additional monitoring and landowner support will help locate, protect and improve nesting areas for Curlew, contributing to a more resilient and connected upland landscape.
Corncrake Recovery on Rathlin Island
Key Partners:
The Corncrake Recovery on Rathlin Island project, led by RSPB NI, is building on years of successful work that brought back this rare and iconic bird back to Northern Ireland. The project is trialling new, practical approaches to habitat creation and management. This includes testing innovative conservation methods, creating early and late cover habitats that provide the dense, tall vegetation corncrakes need throughout the breeding season.
These targeted actions are helping to strengthen the corncrake’s foothold on Rathlin Island and support its long term recovery and Agri- Environment schemes.
Hen Harrier and Merlin, Antrim Hills
Key Partners:
The Hen Harrier and Merlin Recovery in the Antrim Hills project, led by RSPB NI, is working to protect two of Northern Ireland’s most vulnerable upland raptors. Across the Antrim Hills and the wider Sliabh Beagh landscape, the project is improving nesting and foraging habitats, reducing pressures on these sensitive birds and strengthening understanding of how their populations are changing. Work in the Antrim Hills includes enhancing habitat around key nesting areas, installing protective fencing and supporting efforts to reduce wildfire risks on important moorland. Annual monitoring across both landscapes, supported by satellite tracking, provides essential insights into the movements, behaviour and survival of Hen Harriers and Merlin, helping guide long-term, evidence-based conservation
Delivery of CAP at Montiagh’s Moss for Marsh Fritillary and Irish Damselfly
Key Partners:
Montiaghs Moss, located south of Lough Neagh, is known for its exceptional insect life and is one of Northern Ireland’s most important strongholds for the Marsh Fritillary butterfly and Irish Damselfly.
RSPB NI have worked on the site for many years to protect these rare species, and this new phase of work builds on that foundation, delivered targeted restoration to maintain and enhance the specialised habitats these species rely on.
About The Partners:
RSPB NI
The RSPB has been operating in Northern Ireland for 60 years to inspire a world richer in nature. It works with partners and local communities to help birds, wildlife and natural places survive and thrive, and is the lead partner for PeacePlus Nature. It is an important voice for nature with over 13,000 members, 500 volunteers and a reserve network.
Butterfly Conservation Ireland
Butterfly Conservation is the UK charity dedicated to saving butterflies, moths and our environment. Our research provides advice on how to conserve and restore habitats. We run projects to protect more than 100 threatened species, and we are involved in conserving hundreds of sites and reserves.
Lough Neagh Partnership
Lough Neagh Partnership is a non-governmental organisation established in 2003 to protect, manage, and promote Lough Neagh and its catchments. It works with government, councils, communities, and conservation bodies to deliver environmental restoration, heritage protection, sustainable development, and long-term landscape management for the largest freshwater lake in the UK and Ireland.
Monaghan County Council
Monaghan County Council is the local authority responsible for delivering public services and promoting sustainable development across County Monaghan, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. Its functions include housing, planning, roads, environment, community development, and economic growth.
Truagh Development Association
Truagh Development Association (Truagh Spirit) is a community development organisation established to promote the economic, cultural, educational, and environmental wellbeing of the Truagh and north Monaghan area. It delivers social enterprise services, cross-border projects, lifelong learning programmes, community facilities, and support for marginalised groups through a wide range of local initiatives.
An Taisce – The National Trust for Ireland
An Taisce is Ireland’s national trust and one of its oldest environmental charities. Founded in 1948, it works to protect natural and built heritage through policy advocacy, education, environmental monitoring, property stewardship, and statutory consultation on planning. The organisation promotes conservation, biodiversity, and sustainable environmental governance nationwide.
NI Water (Northern Ireland Water)
NI Water is Northern Ireland’s publicly owned water utility, responsible for providing drinking water and wastewater services across the region. It manages water treatment, supply, sewerage systems, and infrastructure investment. NI Water emphasises quality, safety, compliance, transparency, and environmental responsibility in delivering essential water services.
River Blackwater Catchment Trust
The River Blackwater Catchment Trust is a cross-border environmental charity focused on conserving, protecting, and improving the rivers, habitats, and ecosystems of the Blackwater catchment. Its work includes water quality monitoring, habitat restoration, species protection, and raising public awareness of catchment health across Monaghan, Tyrone, Fermanagh, and Armagh.
BirdWatch Ireland
The largest independent conservation organisation in Ireland. The primary objective of BirdWatch Ireland is the protection of wild birds and their habitats in Ireland. From our boardroom to our staff and our branches, we are passionate about what we do.
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Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast