Trust to press ahead with horse ban at Murlough

Trust to press ahead with horse ban at Murlough

21 February 2018

THE National Trust is pressing ahead with plans to ban horses from Murlough Nature Reserve.

The controversial decision was outlined several weeks ago and while the organisation was asked to publicly consult on the move, it has refused, insisting the ban is necessary for conservation and visitor safety reasons.

The Trust said the ban was designed to protect a “fragile, sensitive coastal landscape and the provision of a safe environment for everyone.” 

However, it has confirmed it is prepared to work alongside Newry, Mourne and Down Council to identify alternative access points to the beach.

Branding the ban as “disgraceful,” South Down MLA Colin McGrath expressed disappointment that the Trust did not agree to a consultation period to allow local people to put forward their views, as suggested by him and Councillor Laura Devlin.

“Our request for consultation has been denied and horse riding at the Reserve is now banned. In doing so, the National Trust is preventing horses getting access to the beach itself,” he declared.

“Despite horses having accessed the Reserve for many years, they are no longer permitted.  This decision is far too heavy handed and I have great objection to the way it was taken.”

Mr McGrath said while he appreciated there was only one paid-up horse riding permit for the Reserve on file, “it is pretty evident that many more riders have been accessing the area.” He claimed many others attempted to buy permits but were unable to do so.

“I am all for protecting the beauty of Murlough. However, there has to be some common sense shown. In this case, I do not believe there has. To deny the request for a three-month consultation seems petty in the modern time when consultations are widely accepted and used.”

Welcoming the Trust’s offer to work with Newry, Mourne and Down Council to identify and an alternative access to the beach, Cllr Devlin said she hoped meaningful discussions will take place as soon as possible.

She added: “For the Trust to even suggest that horse boxes should park up in Downs Road and access the beach via Golf Links Road is absurd. For the greater good of outdoor recreation in the wider Mournes, I really hope some accommodation can be found between the Trust and local council.”

A Trust spokeswoman confirmed the ban was about the long term conservation of the fragile dune system.

She said Murlough was home to a wide variety of plants and wildlife, with European and local protections in place for some rare insects and birds.  

“As a conservation charity, our job of balancing visitor access, safety and enjoyment with looking after these special coastal habitats is one we take very seriously,” she continued.

“We have listened to the views of the horse riding community and sought further advice from a range of visitor access, conservation and safety advisors on the matter. 

“The reaction to the decision to withdraw the one horse permit has highlighted a wider issue, with horse riders expressing concerns around a lack of suitable beach access points and we will be actively supporting the local council and other stakeholders to help find solutions to this issue.”

The spokeswoman said the Trust’s focus was on the development of Murlough as a key visitor attraction in the Mournes destination, while protecting the “ancient and fragile dune system” which supports many rare species of plants and fauna and is home to over 740 types of butterfly and moths.

She added: “Murlough’s diverse eco-system and natural beauty already attracts 250,000 visitors each year. We are embarking upon an exciting project to enhance the visitor experience through more engaging interpretation, education development, repairing boardwalks and providing visitor reception facilities.”