New garden trail plan could spur on Annesley Gardens refurbishment

New garden trail plan could spur on Annesley Gardens refurbishment

16 January 2013

PLANS which are being drawn up to create a major new garden trail across Co. Down could spur on the refurbishment of the Annesley Gardens in Castlewellan.

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) is keen to create a trail to capitalise on what is seen as a demand from overseas visitors for gardens. Recent figures show that almost 30 per cent of tourists visit a garden during their visit to the Province.

A garden trail has already been established in Co. Antrim and it is hoped a similar trail will be established among the great gardens of Down within a year.

There are obvious contenders for inclusion in a Co. Down Garden Trail including the National Trust properties at Rowallane, Castle Ward and Mount Stewart, the gardens surrounding Hillsborough Castle and Bangor Walled Garden.

The Tourist Board is also keen to involve the Annesley Gardens and Arboretum at Castlewellan Forest Park which were once ranked among the finest in Ireland. Over the past decade cutbacks within the Forest Service meant the gardens were allowed to deteriorate before a public outcry last year highlighted the condition of the gardens.

The Forest Service has been approached about the garden trail project but has said it is not in a position to take part at the moment.

Campaigners pushing for the refurbishment of the Annesley Gardens believe the garden trail project is the perfect incentive for the redevelopment of the Castlewellan gardens.

A new initiative is currently up and running, led by Down Council, which will see the Annesley Gardens restored under a new project to upgrade forest parks in the Mournes area.

Grants are available to restore the gardens and council officials hope to be in a position to apply for these this year. The existence of a group actively pushing a garden trail in Co. Down will give the council’s application some impetus.