MEMBERS of a climate activism group have staged a protest in Wimborne.

Extinction Rebellion organised a colourful protest at the gates of St Giles House in Wimborne- the seat of the Earl of Shaftesbury.

The protest took place on Monday, March 18, which was the St Patrick's Day bank holiday in Northern Ireland.

Joanna Bury, an environmental activist and author from Wimborne Minster, said, "We want to raise awareness of the Earl of Shaftesbury's exploitation of Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland. Lough Neagh is suffering an ecological catastrophe.

"Urgent action is needed!"

Bournemouth Echo:

The Earl of Shaftesbury owns the Lough, the largest lake in the United Kingdom.

The Lough provides 40 percent of Northern Ireland's drinking water and is home to a whole host of biodiversity, including migratory birds, fish, eels, and insects.

Extinction Rebellion reported that last summer, the Lough was covered with blue-green algae, a toxic bacterium that poses a risk to human health and biodiversity.

Runoff from agricultural land and human sewage has been blamed.

Local communities and environmental groups report a downturn in fish and eel numbers in the Lough.

Queens University Belfast has found an eighty percent fall in migratory birds, including the whooper swan, in the last decade.

Joanna said: "The Lough faces a further severe challenge, namely sand extraction licensed by the Earl of Shaftesbury.

"1.5 million tons of sand is dredged from the bed of the Lough every year. This causes environmental damage and likely exacerbates the ill effects of algal blooms, causing dead zones for fish.

"The Earl of Shaftesbury must stop allowing sand extraction and take action to reverse the damage done to the Lough: he is uniquely positioned to help with its recovery."

The Daily Echo has attempted to contact Lord Shaftesbury for a comment.