SHE may have her feet on dry land – for now – but the water, and the weather, are never far from the surface for five-time Irish surfing champion, Easkey Britton.

The scuffle of fallen leaves swishing in mini-whirlwinds along the gravel path and the hollow beat of a swan’s wings as it lifts from the river.

WILDLIFE lovers are being encouraged to take a "torchlight safari" to patches of late-flowering ivy to spot rare migrant moths which are flocking to the UK.

THINK of the historical gold rushes – bands of ragged prospectors pursuing their dreams to the ends of the Earth.

I AM sometimes asked for advice on buying binoculars or ‘bins ‘as they are often referred to in the birdwatching world.

Wildlife presenter and environmentalist Chris Packham, who has written the foreword to a new book, Natural Wonders Of The World, reveals five of his own favourites: 1.

A GRAFFITI tag has caused anger after being daubed on a popular north Belfast beauty spot.

Carlow’s majestic Blackstairs Mountains and River Barrow together with the charming villages of Myshall and Borris will feature in this year’s Carlow Autumn Walking Festival which takes place from Friday October 6 to Sunday October 8.

A High Court judge has dismissed a legal bid to stop underground work at a Co Tyrone goldmine.

Absolutely stunning.

THE soothing calls form a collared dove, perched on my neighbour’s television aerial last Sunday, mirrored the mood of calm on a blue sunlit morning which followed days of incessant rain.

A SERIES of new literary trails inspired by the 19th century author William Carleton have been launched in Clogher.

WINDY days bring churning seas – picturesque and an aural symphony as the waves crash on to a sandy shore.

THE continuous warble of fluty notes from the robin, gathering swallows and the swollen fruits of our hedgerows all hint at nature’s gradual transition from summer to autumn.

MORE than 300 historic and modern properties around Northern Ireland will open their doors to the public for free this weekend as part of European Heritage Open Day 2017.

The hurricane is the Atlantic’s most powerful in recorded history.

A CO Antrim nature reserve is to get a £65,000 makeover in a bid to make it a "favourite with everyone".

ON THE long empty strand, shifting eddies of sand swirl on mini-whirlwinds before collapsing, only to rise again a few feet away.

ARMAGH man Eamonn Donnelly and his friend Sepp Tieber-Kessler from Graz in Austria have arrived in Ireland after clocking up over 2,200km of their 2,500km expedition across Europe to Northern Ireland to raise funds for dementia research.

A Texas coastal community is becoming increasingly isolated as Storm Harvey-fed rains flooded most major roads leading out of the city and swamped a shelter for those displaced in the Houston area.