Dr Nick Baker Horne at the launch of the new Carrick native oyster nursery
Create An Oyster Wildlife!
Want to restore our sea life during Marine Week?
Help bring our native oyster back and create cleaner waters and vital habitats for hundreds more marine wildlife species.
Will you help us reach our target of adding 9 new sea supporters this week?
Get a special, one-off 'I'm here for Oyster Wildlife' pin badge when you join by Sunday 10 August, 10pm.
Muscle on native oysters
Superheroes of the sea
Over 90% of our native oyster reefs are disappearing, and native oysters were feared almost extinct until they were discovered in Belfast Lough in 2020.
By helping to bring back these ecosystem engineers, we can restore precious oyster reef habitats that support hundreds of sea species and harness native oysters' ability to clean pollution from our coastal waters.
Dr Nick Baker-Horne, Marine Conservation Manager with Ulster Wildlife, joins Ryan Hack, Harbour Master with Mid & East Antrim Borough Council at the launch of the new native oyster nursery at Carrickfergus Marina.
Why Ulster Wildlife?
We are boosting native oyster numbers at four nurseries across the country: Glenarm, Carrickfergus, Belfast Harbour and Bangor. In time, we hope to relocate this growing population to the sea bed and let them recover oyster reef habitats.
With 14,000 members supporting our mission to bring nature back at land and sea, we are the largest local conservation charity at home.
Making a difference, together
Outside of supporting marine recovery, in 2023-24, members' support helped us to:
- Fledge 35 barn owl chicks through habitat management and nest-box erection
- Manage 850 hectares of land for wildlife – equivalent to 1,190 football pitches – to create homes for local nature
- Monitor over 2,000 seabirds on Isle of Muck Nature Reserve, including kittiwakes, gannets, puffins, guillemots and razorbills
Terms and Conditions
- This offer is open to new adult members of Ulster Wildlife who join during the promotional period. The offer is not available to existing or renewing members.
- Ulster Wildlife reserves the right to withdraw the offer at any time and to refuse any application for membership.
- Due to the cost of postage, this offer is only available to UK postal addresses.
Nudibranch ©Dan Bolt
Give with confidence
Rest assured, you can give with confidence knowing that we will use your donation wisely. We are registered with the Fundraising Regulator. Our fundraising promise outlines how we adhere to the highest standards in our fundraising.
You can find out more about how we process your data and your rights by reading our privacy notice. You can change the way in which you receive information from us at any time by emailing membership@ulsterwildlife.org or by calling Vickie Chambers, Fundraising & Communications Manager, on 028 9045 4094.
Ulster Wildlife is registered with the NI charity commission, NIC101848.
