iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Hercules; Laverys Electric Light Station; The National; Deers head; Haymarket; Stock Exchange; Ulster sports club; McHughs; Northern Lights; The Commons; Charlie's; Pavilion; Parador; annnndddd Rattlebag! Send a picture of them in the wild - and make sure to tag the artist ❤️ #supportourartists

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Our fabulous participating venues are: Native Coffee (where there's also our gallery of the top 20 submissions!) Sunflower; The Black Box; Union Street; Kremlin; Kremlin Rooftop; Foundry; John Hewitt; Whites Complex; Kelly's; Maddens; Nancy Mulligans; Cosgroves;

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Our new beer mats for the #Fleadh have been created and distributed throughout bars in #Belfast! Supported by #BelfastCityCouncil they celebrate the role our natural heritage has in Irish art. Our winning artists can be seen in Insta: @thelittlefiend @entropyial @clairtyart @caolmacdonaldartist

Pint afraid to be put on a beautiful artistic beer mat celebrating connection between Irish natural and cultural heritage.

Winning images in the Wild Belfast brief to ask artists to celebrate connection between Irish natural and cultural heritage.

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Incredibly so, she's put so much detail into the work ♥️

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Check out our new "Living Mural" in #Cullybackey. Designed in partnership with local community celebrates the towns connection with River Main and includes Swift nesting bricks. In partnership with Alpha Housing and our wonderful artist can be found here www.instagram.com/wallartbyale...

Mural depicting wildlife of the River Main with embedded Swift bricks

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

You did well to capture it! Devilish species to keep up with

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

The top 20 shortlisted will have their work celebrated throughout the Fleadh as part of a gallery at Native Coffee at Queens Quay. So go on, spread the word.. Or better yet get involved! #BelfastFleadh #BelfastFleadh2026 @belfasttelegraph.co.uk @belfastlive.co.uk @vaultartiststudios.bsky.social

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

#Belfast based artist?? We've launched a call to celebrate the connection of Irish natural & cultural heritage for #Fleadh2026! We're providing four winners the opportunity to win £350 and have their work distributed across the city during the Fleadh. And theres more! 🧵 ⤵️ The top 20..

Call for artwork to celebrate link between Irish cultural and natural heritage.

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Reposted by Conor McKinney

Elaine Crory @elainecrory.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

View from the stage at the biggest anti-racism rally in Belfast yet

View from the stage shows a massive crowd

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Reposted by Conor McKinney

Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Also by Hannan: “the blue eyed sheiks” of Icelandic Banking will save us (2004). Brexit will be a huge success and we won’t leave the single market (2016) “Covid won’t kill you” (2020)

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Deeply concerned about #Belfast Councils ham fisted approach to new playing field strategy Not content with pitting sports provision against music, they now seem to be pitting it against biodiverse green infrastructure (GI). New pitches should contribute to new high quality GI, not degrade it.

News report showing conflict between outdoor music arena and pitch provision

News report showing conflict between biodiverse green space and pitch provision

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Reposted by Conor McKinney

Wild Belfast @wildbelfast.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

What a turnout, Belfast! Thanks to everyone who came down this evening to celebrate the starlings with us - our hearts are full 💚 Massive thanks to all that put time and effort into pulling off this event, and to @thisisdakota.bsky.social and @wildlifeni.bsky.social for leading it!

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Elly ☘️ @ellyj.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

I took this in March 2019. It’s amazing to see them back

A selection of 3 pics of a murmuration taken from a moving car at Albert Bridge Belfast March 2018 at around 6pm. The pics show a city skyline with the sky beginning to darken and a cloud of starlings preparing to roost

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Reposted by Conor McKinney

Richard Troupe @richardtroupe.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

This sight is genuinely one of the experiences I recommend any visitor to Belfast to take in if they can. It's beautiful to watch.

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

You can read more here: ulstermuseum.org/guest-blog/where-did-all-starlings-go share.google/yRN9cZMG3Cjb... And we're still keeping up the fight by asking Belfast City Council to protect these sites here BelfastTelegraph.co.uk share.google/iLDBmtGcIkxj...

belfasttelegraph.co.uk

BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

Get the latest news from Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland from Belfast to Derry/Londonderry from award-winning journalists.

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Various planning applications led to the desertion of the site by red listed starlings between 2019 and 2023. But thanks to our work (with @wildbelfast.bsky.social) we managed to secure a decrease in light pollution at the bridge and the starlings returned in 2023. You can read more..

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Did you see #winterwatch last night? Belfast's starling murmuration took centre stage to the delight of audiences across the UK and those watching at Belfast itself. But did you know we nearly lost it..?

Starling murmuration at Belfast (photo by Dulra)

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Shauna Corr @shaunacorr.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Wild Belfast, Queen’s University planners and some in the council hope to make Belfast the first national park city on the island of Ireland… A series of public conversations kick off this evening in the city centre. Find out more here 👇 open.substack.com/pub/theearth...

open.substack.com

Belfast becoming a national park city could ‘bring people together’ says Wild Belfast founder

A new campaign to make Belfast the first national park city on the island of Ireland could be just the thing to bring “people together” rather than “tearing them apart” says Wild Belfast founder, Cono...

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

What can we celebrate already as a city? Where can we do better? #WhatIf #BelfastNationalParkCity

What is happening already?

Community Gardens,

Wildflower alleys,

Pop up community hubs,

Urban gardens.

What would you like to see?

Responses include new green space, sustainable drainage systems, new habitats, new native woodland.

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Our #Belfast #NationalParkCity workshop is well underway. Attendees are writing a postcard to themselves from 2050. They've been asked: 1) What do you see? 2) What's changed locally? 3) Who's here, and what's their r'ship with nature? 4) How do you feel living here? What would you say?

Picture of people at community meeting imagining their connection with Belfast.

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

The conversation continues this week as we hear from local activists who will help steer us towards thinking "What if Belfast was a National Park City?" Come along, it just might be the start of something extraordinary. Register here: forms.gle/dAfCeSb3VaWT... #NationalParkCity #Whatif

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

Thanks to Slugger O'Toole for allowing me to write about the joyful insurgency taking place here in Belfast to explore the idea of Belfast becoming a National Park City and the power of asking "What if". You can check it out here: sluggerotoole.com/2025/10/18/w...

sluggerotoole.com

What if Belfast was a National Park City?

Conor McKinney is the founder of Wild Belfast and a local wildlife activist / conservationist; What if? is a powerful question. In a time of myriad health, climate, ecological and social crises it can...

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

This Robin has developed camouflage.

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

Typically a univoltine species (i.e one flight season April to June) in Northern Ireland the Holly Blue butterfly, a protected species, has developed a second flight season, likely due to our warming climate. This one was seen outside its typically associated flight season in Garvagh yesterday.

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Reposted by Conor McKinney

The Empty City @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

The media propensity to run "police probe [cultural figure x]" stories is corrosive to our polity. Few if any of these probes get anywhere, but the No Further Actions never get similar prominence. And what lingers are the police interventions, as if such activity is normal and to be expected.

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

We need more urban green infrastructure. Every development using private or public funds should be required to include it. European heatwave caused 2,300 deaths in 10 days: www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/...

share.google

European heatwave caused 2,300 deaths in 10 days, study finds

Researchers find human-caused climate change raised temperatures by up to 4C, with 1,500 deaths linked directly to it.

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Reposted by Conor McKinney

Ulster Museum @ulstermuseum.org · 04/07/2025

Did you ever wonder where all the starlings went at the Lagan Bridge? Wild Belfast member Dawn re-tells the beautiful and poignant story of the murmurations disappearance, and return. Article by @wildlifeni.bsky.social → bit.ly/3ZQ9Rx2 #Murmurations #WildIreland

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Digitising our workshop on how we make Belfast a National Park City - outcomes en route! Fab contributions so far: - We're a confluence of past and future - Make natural heritage last as long as built heritage - Make gardens a public good Get involved - email contact@wildbelfast.org.

Outputs of workshop from National Park Cities.

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

We need all new council Local Development Plans to strengthen for levels of protection afforded to local nature sites, and to increase the number of these sites. Many priority habitats, such as Open Mosaic Habitat remain in zoned and this should be addressed.

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

As the OEP outline the importance of protecting wildlife at a local level, and the value of local wildlife sites in doing so, councils across Northern Ireland are showing no ambition in Local Development Plans to zone new sites, or are revoking them entirely. www.theoep.org.uk/report/local...

theoep.org.uk

Local nature recovery has an important part to play in helping government deliver its ‘win-win’ for the environment and economic growth, says OEP report | Office for Environmental Protection

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

In addition we'll be joined by Cllrs Aine Groogan, Tara Brooks and @seamasbelfast.bsky.social to discuss how we bridge the gap to become a National Park City and what makes for influential advocacy. Come and be part of the conversation! Programme below: www.playthinkbrink.com/Friday-13th

playthinkbrink.com

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

We're taking our exploration of #Belfast as a National Park City into one of Belfast's best loved meanwhile sites. I'll be joined in discussion with our host Gawain as well as Perla from Sustrans and Lizzy from Belfast Hills to explore a National Park City, what to celebrate and how we can do more

Aerial of Brink site with city reimagined as being greener with title Belfast National Park City

Title Belfast National Park City with agenda and running order for the day.

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Whenever they come crocodile-tearing at your doorsteps, remember this. This action plan was to address water quality issues affecting Lough Neagh and beyond, their political cowardice compounds the issue. #DUP #UUP #TUV #SINNFEIN

Dup motion to scrap Nutrients Action Plan carried by 52 votes to 23

DUP motion to scrap Nutrients Action Plan carried by UUP, TUV and Sinn fein 👀

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Ulster Museum @ulstermuseum.org · 09/06/2025

“Where did all the starlings go?” This was the question Lagan rower Dawn Patterson brought to Wild Belfast. Watch as Dawn re-tells the beautiful and poignant story of the murmurations disappearance, and return. Article by @wildlifeni.bsky.social → bit.ly/3ZQ9Rx2 #Murmurations #WildIreland

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

Meadow restoration taking shape at PEC in Botanic Gardens. These are what traditional grasslands would have looked, smelt and buzzed like. Bravo to upsurge project, Belfast City Council and partners. Let's see more of this 👏🦋🐝🐞

Urban species rich grassland in process of being restored.

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Enter our heroes from NI Fire and Rescue Service Belfast Central Station who popped in to lend a hand! A huge thank you to our local heroes who are also playing an important role in Swift Conservation #worldswiftday. You can hear (& see!) our living, singing mural on Bruce Street, Belfast.

Fireman giving thumbs up after turning on swift caller

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

It's #worldswiftday and I'd like to share a story with you about our swift mural. Equipped with a solar powered caller to attract swifts to the nesting bricks, we had one issue - how to turn the caller on (>10m high) once the swifts arrived?

Wild Belfast mural celebrating and supporting swifts

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

Join us at Queen's University on Tuesday 10th June from 10am for a discussion reflecting what if we treated Belfast like a National Park. We'll hear from an array of experts and muse how Belfast can be better for us and biodiversity. Register here: lnkd.in/evrHtZGs

National Park City conference agenda with list of international and local experts

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

These questions and more will be part of the discussion. If you're interested in what Belfast might look like as a National Park City come and join the conversation. Keynote speaker: Cecil Konijnendijk with other announcements very soon! Register: lnkd.in/e4N-NHQW (Graphic by Siobhán Keogh)

lnkd.in

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Remember to register for the Planning at Queen's University Belfast and Wild Belfast conference asking "What if Belfast was a National Park City?" E.g. what if schools and universities offered nature rich green infrastructure to encourage ecological awareness and an asset for communities?

Graphic of QUB with nature rich green space

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IPBES @ipbes.net · 21/05/2025

🗞️Authors from the @ipbes.net #InvasiveAlienSpecies Report have published the Global Impacts Dataset of Invasive Alien Species derived from the report, creating a global resource for investigating and managing the impacts of invasive alien species. 🌍🧪 Read more in ‪@nature.com‬ bit.ly/43APoP7

An image of two lionfish. Overlay text reads: Major New Resource, Global Impacts Dataset of Invasive Alien Species

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

What if development and parks were more biodiverse? If you're interested in what Belfast might look like as a National Park City come along and join the conversation. Keynote speaker: Cecil Konijnendijk with other announcements very soon! Register here: docs.google.com/forms/d/1SAe...

docs.google.com

Making Space for Nature: Belfast National Park City

Tuesday 10th June - 10.00-4.00 David Keir Building Room 0G.012 Join us for the launch of a city wide discussion that aims to make Belfast the first National Park City on the island of Ireland. We'll...

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

What if Belfast was a National Park City? After last year's "Making Space for Nature' conference that's the question we'll be exploring in our next conference on the 10th June with Planning at Queen's University Belfast. What if we had better access to green space?

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

We're calling for more sites to be zoned to protect nature by Belfast City Council. We have international ambitions to protect and manage 30% of our land & seas by 2030, why isn't this percolating through to how we approach planning? m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/environ...

m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Calls for Belfast planning changes after blunder that spoiled starling spectacle: ‘It created Las Vegas under the bridge’

An environmental group has urged Belfast City Council to help protect local landmarks as areas of conservational importance in future planning applications.

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Belfast is taking part again in the #CityNatureChallenge! We want to put Belfast as high up the global league table and assert our position as a hot-spot for ecological recording. Get involved - all you need is your phone and appropriate clothing ⏬🐝 www.inaturalist.org/projects/cit...

Flyer City Nature Challenge Belfast 25th April to 28th April

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

My take on the parakeets in the Waterworks story. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

An ecological baseline must inform any new infrastructure, or any new use of existing infrastructure. We should look to learn lessons from similar opening hours elsewhere. Enhance the existing biodiversity value of our green spaces to offset operational disturbance.

40 species of wildflower per M2. A natural species rich grassland.

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

We have experienced the impact of light disturbance on Belfast species (eg starling murmuration). Artificial light at night (or ALAN) can have a chronic and pervasive effect on bats, birds and invertebrates. Lighting must be avoided and dark zones maintained where possible.

Albert bridge after light mitigation measures take to protect starling murmuration.

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

We've submitted our consultation for the extension of opening hours (with most of the heavy lifting done by the fab Erin Mckeown). In principle Belfast City Council have our support, we can't expect people to care for nature if they can't access nature. But here's what we're calling for:

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Conor McKinney @wildlifeni.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

There's no reason for Labours toryesque behaviour. Developing with nature creates better, more climate resilient schemes. Accreditation schemes such as Building with Nature exist that orientate schemes to produce high quality #GreenInfrastruture. Mandate it. www.buildingwithnature.org.uk

buildingwithnature.org.uk

Building with Nature

This is the website of Building with Nature. We provide developers with information about adding green infrastructure into their development projects and assess this through an award scheme. Promoting...

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