Explore Climate Change at North Down Museum!

Launch of NDM Climate Change Programme

North Down Museum in Bangor has launched a new programme of exhibitions and activities examining climate change in Ards and North Down. Entitled ‘Climate Change – Local Action’, the programme aims to raise awareness of the climate emergency and how it’s affecting the Borough, as well as highlighting mitigating actions at a local level.

The exciting exhibition programme which opened on 8 February and runs until 27 March, features four exhibitions; Climate Change and Our Borough is an exhibition by Climate NI exploring how climate change is affecting Northern Ireland and Ards and North Down in particular. On display in The Long Gallery, it examines what actions Ards and North Down Borough Council is currently taking to protect and mitigate against potentially negative impacts and highlights some things everyone can to protect our planet.

Climate Change and Our Historic Environment can be viewed in the museum’s Community Gallery and explores the potentially devastating impact climate change could have on local historic buildings and sites. Visitors can also learn about what changes have already been made to protect them in the future.

Climate Change and Our Sustainable Tourism, highlights the Council’s commitment to developing more sustainable Tourism. Find out about the newly formed AND Sustainable Giants, Green Tourism Network. The network’s members are enthusiastic and like-minded local businesses who wish to work together to develop, achieve and promote such sustainable tourism practices.

Climate Change and Our Biodiversity, which is on display in the museum café until 6 March, explores the variety of habitats that can be found across the Borough and the wonderful animal, birds and insects that call the area home. For more hands-on learning, young visitors can borrow one of the museum’s Nature Packs to explore the wonderful biodiversity in nearby Castle Park and the Walled Garden. The packs contain magnifying glasses, bug collectors, binoculars and a fun-filled booklet to help kids get outside and find out who is living in the park. The packs are available from 1 March.

Towards the end of February, Clive Lyttle from Welig Heritage Crafts will be re-thatching the museum’s famous Monk’s Cell.  This traditional building skill fits perfectly into the Climate Change programme as it uses a warm material which is both environmentally friendly and techniques that date back thousands of years. Due to Covid restrictions and the small space in which Clive has to work, visitors will be able to watch him from the museum’s galleries. A video is also being produced which will be shared online.

Climate Change – Local Action is supported by The Museums Challenge: Climate Change Grant Programme which is managed by the NI Museums Council and supported by the Department for Communities Climate Change Fund and The National Lottery Heritage Fund The Museum’s Challenge: Climate Change Grant is due to deliver over £155,000 to fund a wide range of projects from the successful local museums. All the projects funded reflect either of the Fund's priorities to-

  • Raise awareness of the climate emergency and mitigating actions
  • Undertake actions to increase sustainability or biodiversity.

Speaking about the programme, Heather McGuicken, Museum Manager said: “We are so pleased to be one of seven museums funded through the Climate Change grant to run this programme.  Museums are a wonderful space to raise awareness and help our local communities to take action.”

Pictured at the launch: Deputy Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Robert Adair, Perla Mansour from Climate NI, Heather McGuicken, Manager at North Down Museum and Nora Douds, Chair of Northern Ireland Museums Council