September felt like a month of taking stock, as we looked back on an extraordinary summer and asked what it means for the places we love.
The month opened with the confirmation many of us had already felt in our bones: Summer 2026 was the UK’s warmest since records began, and a couple of days later early data showed that Ireland had its hottest summer on record too. Even after the rain came back, officials warned there was still a “very long way to go” before the drought is over. Closer to home, the Stormont environment minister reaffirmed his commitment to climate action after the record heat, pointing to environmental recovery and stronger all-island co-operation.
Lough Neagh was in the news again, and not in a happy way. One lough-shore café owner described her worst summer yet as the blue-green algae returned. The story notes that the lough has warmed by about a degree since the 1990s, which is a sobering reminder that what happens to our climate shows up in our water.
Flooding was the other big theme. Belfast City Council officials warned that the city is at “massive risk” of flooding, while the infrastructure minister told MLAs that £30m a year is needed for flood defences. On a more practical note, the Department for Infrastructure ran a training exercise for the Belfast Tidal Flood Alleviation Scheme, a scheme designed with climate projections out to 2080 in mind.
On the land, almost £240m in Farm Sustainability Payments reached NI farmers in the scheme’s first year. Looking to energy, a piece on what Northern Ireland needs to keep renewables investment flowing described us as standing at “a pivotal crossroads” on the road to a sustainable future. And in a call that sits close to the heart of what we do, The Wildlife Trusts pressed for nature “right next to where people live”, arguing that access to green space should be a priority and not a luxury.
To finish, some good news to carry into autumn. The National Trust reports that terns have had a boost in breeding at key seabird colonies this year. While reporting on Northumberland, many of the observations are relevant to our coast. These birds have had to cope with storms, climate pressures and disease outbreaks, so a strong season is a real lift. Arctic terns travel from pole to pole every year and keep coming back to raise the next generation, which is a good example for the rest of us. Care, patience and protection do pay off.
Join the Dots Crossword: September 2026
Every answer can be found in this month’s Ecological Roundup. Click a square (click again to switch direction) or click a clue, then type.