£6m strategy will transform forests

£6m strategy will transform forests

21 August 2013

DOWN Council has unveiled a £6m wish list which could transform the district’s biggest forests into a Mecca for outdoor recreation enthusiasts.

The council has reached an agreement with the Forest Service which would allow the local authority to develop outdoor activities at the huge Castlewellan and Tollymore forest parks.

Now that the agreement has been finalised the council is planning to link up with Outdoor Recreation Northern Ireland to develop outdoor activities at the parks and to refurbish many of the dilapidated buildings and attractions.

In Castlewellan park there are plans for a second phase of the Mourne Mountain Bike trails, the £1m upgrading of the campsite, the restoration of the Grange Courtyard and the refurbishment of the historic Annesley Gardens and arboretum, which would each cost another £1m.

It was the campaign raised by former Castlewellan man, Simon Moore, over the

deteriorating condition of the Annesley Gardens, which has led to the development of the forest parks recreation strategy.

Mr. Moore, now a celebrated landscape gardener in England, was so horrified that the once stunning and historically important gardens were in such a bad condition, he launched a campaign for the community to take them over.

The Forest Service admitted that budget constraints meant it was unable to maintain the recreation side of the forest parks.

Down Council and the Forest Service began discussions which have resulted in the agreement and led to the exciting outdoor recreation proposals.

In Tollymore park there are plans to upgrade the campsite, reopen the tea house and restore the historic Clanbrassil Barn. There are also plans for a high ropes course and a new discovery and adventure trail.

Outdoor Recreation Northern Ireland (ORNI) has been recruited by Down Council, at a cost of almost £120,000, to deliver the strategy.

It’s officials will be responsible for driving the projects forward, including seeking the all important funding for the ambitious strategy.

ORNI has already worked with the council to deliver a number of initiatives in the district including canoe trails, the Castlewellan mountain bike trails and securing the European mountain bike championships in 2014.

Mr. Moore described the forest park strategy as “terrific news” which represents the culmination of a lot work by a lot of people.

“I am really confident it will be a massive success,” he said. “Castlewellan deserves to benefit from this investment and the Castlewellan Futures group will be instrumental to a really bright future.

“As for Tollymore, the Tea House was built and designed by the late Jim Rodgers of Castlewellan well over 30 years ago and should never have been allowed to have fallen into such disrepair.

“A brew, loo and a view are the essentials in this day and age for a successful tourist destination. These three areas must be addressed for both Tollymore and Castlewellan and the proposal brought before the council by Michael Lipsett (Down Council Director of Recreation) covers these,” he said.