Nesbitt welcomes Saintfield boost

Nesbitt welcomes Saintfield boost

1 May 2024

PLANS for a new community heritage park in Saintfield are set to become a reality after a near £1m boost.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has made money available for the new park located on a three acre site behind the town’s community centre, where there is an early 19th century windmill tower, flour mill and millers cottage.

News of the funding boost has been welcomed by Strangford MLA Mike Nesbitt.

The ambitious development programme for the Windmill Field location will focus on stabilising the buildings, which are of key heritage importance in the area, to make them safe to enter ahead of the heritage park’s anticipated opening at the end of next year.

Saintfield Community Association officials are delighted that the hard work of so many people has paid off and welcomed confirmation that their application to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a grant to provide the new park has been successful.  

The final design for the park takes into account feedback from public consultations over the past few years and provides access for all abilities from the community centre car park to the higher ground in the park, including two interpretation panels and viewing points for the windmill and railway track bed.  

Seats for relaxation and informal meeting places will be placed in the centre of the park and the lower area includes paths to access the river. 

And there is also an area for outdoor classes for young people to learn about the environment.  

The old railway track bed is being maintained as a wildlife corridor and a wetland area will be created to improve the biodiversity of the site, while nesting boxes for birds and bats will be added to the buildings and trees and there will be plantings for pollinators. 

Mr Nesbitt said having the opportunity to enjoy green space is transformational for people’s physical and mental health.

“I’m delighted that through this community effort, Saintfield residents will benefit for years to come,” he said.

“Saintfield has a rich built heritage and a vibrant offering in retail and hospitality, but an issue that has been raised by constituents, for some time, has been the desire for more accessible outdoor space in the area.”

Mr Nesbitt said he was “eagerly looking forward to seeing the exciting plans delivered”.

He added: “Congratulations and thanks are due to everyone who helped shape this exciting project for Saintfield through public consultation, particularly the Saintfield Community Association, as well as the National Lottery Heritage Fund which has invested in a number of significant heritage grants in the wider area.”

The historic windmill was built in 1803 and operated until 1839, when the sails were blown off in the infamous ‘Big Wind’ and never repaired.

A team of volunteers has been working for 10 years to provide the shared outdoor space for the residents of the Saintfield area with the community group looking for new volunteers who would like to be a part of the exciting project.