Castlewellan Forest Park upgrade gets go-ahead

15 December 2021

THE green light has finally been given for a major multi-million pound investment in Castlewellan Forest Park.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council and the Forest Service recently signed a draft lease which legally formalises the local authority’s phased takeover of the stunning

forest park which attracts tens of visitors yearly.

A £5.5m revitalisation project at the park is being backed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the local council, with the latter spearheading the ambitious project to significantly enhance facilities at the sprawling park, with the lottery funding earmarked to restore a number of key features to help maximise its tourism potential.

At the local authority’s final monthly meeting of the year last week, it was confirmed that the terms of the draft lease have been accepted by the main funder and all outstanding issues resolved.

Construction work has already commenced at the Bothy Yard in the forest park thanks to funding from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the EU.

Work on the main restoration project is scheduled to complete by December 2025, with the local authority agreeing a lease for the core areas within the park from the Forest Service until 2045.

Proposed work includes new landscape and drainage within The Grange courtyard, a new pedestrian path from the entrance gates to the main car park, a new vehicular road off Castle Avenue to the existing car park.

There will also be a new traffic control barrier at Castle Avenue.

Caravan spaces will be relocated with the feature entrance gates at the Castle Avenue entrance restored, alongside the restoration of The Grange courtyard buildings and the reconstruction of a derelict building block.

The park’s 19th century greenhouse is also being restored, while one of several outbuildings will be converted to an office and volunteer space.

Elsewhere, visitor facilities will be created in the Stove Conservatory including an interpretation centre, with a platform lift installed to provide access to the terrance for people with reduced mobility.

Agreement on the draft lease came at a recent meeting of the local authority’s Enterprise, Tourism and Regeneration Committee which was discussed at the council’s monthly meeting last week and welcomed by Mournes councillor Laura Devlin.

She is a member of the Castlewellan Task and Finish Board set up to help oversee the dramatic upgrade of one of Northern Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions.

“This project will be a game changer for Castlewellan and the wider district,” said Cllr Devlin.

“It will bring the stunning arboretum back to its former glory and create a unique visitor attraction within the park itself.”

Cllr Devlin said that securing the lease was a “necessary part of the process” to pave the way for the multi-million pound investment project.

She added: “I am pleased that this draft lease has now been accepted by the Heritage Lottery Fund and all outstanding issues have been resolved which now allows this amazing project to proceed to the next stage.

“I live in Castlewellan and have loved being a part of something so incredibly special, so I can’t wait for its completion, so my children can get as much joy, if not more, than what I had as a child in the demesne.”

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