Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the UK and Ireland, containing over 800 billion gallons of water. Its remarkable flora and fauna make it an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) and a Special Protected Area.

Lough Neagh is close to both my home and my heart and is one of Northern Ireland’s most precious wildlife sites, yet its facing disaster.

Changes in the global climate means that the area has experienced more rainfall and warmer summers on average than in recent decades. Additional Agricultural fertilisers, sewage run-off and storm water flowing into the Lough alongside increased water temperatures has caused an overabundance of nutrients and increasing a bacteria which produces a toxic Algal bloom. This blue-green algae covering much of the surface of Lough Neagh can cause rashes and illness in humans and can and has killed wild animals, livestock and pets. The blooms also block sunlight from reaching other plants and use up Oxygen in the water, which can suffocate fish and other creatures. The Lough slowly is dying.

I have used a rich blue sinamay in the base of the hat to represent the water in its pure and naturally mineral rich state. This also forms the central part of the hand-sculpted wave that flows outward from the base. The curved outer edges of the wave are trimmed with crinoline in different shades of blues and greens to represent the devastating spread of the wave of toxic algae bloom across the surface of the lough.

As yet no clear path to resolve this devastation has been found, but there is hope. Government funding has been granted to 5 suppliers to develop physical, chemical or biological solutions to treat the bloom, My hope is for my design is to highlight this issue to more people.

Note: Entries have been not been edited or proofread to protect the integrity of the maker's original meaning.