Forest parks have potential

Forest parks have potential

3 July 2013

DOWN Council is aiming to play a key role in helping redevelop the district’s two leading forest parks.

It plans to work closely with the Forest Service and Outdoor Recreation Northern Ireland to unlock the economic potential of both parks in a bid to attract thousands more visitors.

The public and private sectors are to be asked to play key roles in the new initiative to help finance much-needed work to improve the infrastructure at both parks, upgrade existing facilities and providing a range of new ones.

A major review of Castlewellan and Tollymore forest parks has been completed by Outdoor Recreation Northern Ireland (ORNI) on behalf of Down Council, looking at what can be done to enhance what both attractions have to offer.

The report on the forest park in Castlewellan was tabled several months ago and details of the study on Tollymore made public at last week’s meeting of Down Council’s Recreation and Community Services Committee. Proposals for both parks are now to be worked up to the detailed design stage and funding sought.

It’s understood the Forest Service will continue to manage the commercial forestry at both parks, with Down Council focusing on the management of tourism and recreational opportunities to ensure both parks can enhance and complement each other.

Proposals for the forest park in Castlewellan include improving visitor signs, upgrading and extending the existing cafe, the development of an adventure play park and play trail for children, the reinvention of the peace maze, upgrading and modernising caravan and camping facilities and the Annesley Gardens and Arboretum.

Proposals for Tollymore are similar in many respects, including improved signs and reopening and upgrading the cafe. The development of high and low ropes courses are also proposed for Tollymore, alongside a new adventure play park, a heritage trail and upgrading and modernising caravan and camping facilities.

Down Council Recreation Director, Michael Lipsett, highlighted the need to develop a Mourne Forest brand and to examine all possible funding opportunities which are available to progress the proposals for both parks.

As a first step, he has secured support for the local authority to enter into an agreement with ORNI to allow it to move the project forward to the detailed design stage and seek funding.

“Funding may also be also be available for further study work from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Tourist Board, while the Forest Service has £4m available to spend over the next two years. We hope to secure some of that,” he continued.

“We are trying to get ahead of the game so we are in the best position to tap into as much of the Forest Service money as we can. We have been talking about doing something at our forest parks for 10 years and someone now needs to give these proposals a push.”

Mr. Lipsett suggested the major tree felling exercise continuing at Tollymore forest park after the discovery of the Sudden Oak death in large trees may provided an opportunity to develop new mountain bike trails at this location. He also believes there’s a need to look at what can be done to improve Donard Wood in Newcastle.

“We need to set out the vision for the forest parks, highlighting their potential, the impact they can make and the opportunity for private businesses to get involved in shaping the future of both facilities,” he said.

Mr. Lipsett added: “I believe the vision for both forest parks can be sold to potential investors to provide fantastic services for tourists and visitors. We can show investors what is possible in four of five years’ time to increase the number of visitors at both parks by up to five or six times their current number. Investors would be foolish to miss this opportunity.”