New ‘Heart of Ancient Ulster Landscape Partnership’ In Community Consultation

by Gráinne Connolly

A round of community consultations began yesterday, for the new 'Landscape Partnership Scheme’ created with Heritage Lottery funding to conserve and protect the Lower Sperrin plateau. 

The Heart of Ancient Ulster Landscape Partnership scheme has the potential to benefit from a Heritage Lottery grant of £2M over 5 years to deliver a series of projects which will conserve and protect 144km2 of outstanding prehistoric landscape and reconnect the local community to its unique natural, built and cultural heritage.

The partnership has been working with Mid Ulster District Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and various statutory bodies to deliver some of the projects for the scheme. 

Among those proposed is: 

• The restoration and maintenance of over 25,000 hectares of blanket and raised bog
   
• The recruitment of volunteers to help plant 100,000 native trees
   
• The reduction of carbon emissions from the peatland
   
• The creation of 10km of new heritage trails

While Round 1 funding has been secured from Heritage Lottery by the two local councils, key to the scheme’s Round 2 application is a community-led partnership, as Moira O’Rourke, Development Officer with the Landscape Partnership Scheme, explained:

“People have been living on this landscape for over 5,000 years and their invaluable knowledge paves the way to protect the environment creating and exploring new opportunities, whilst increasing tourism to the area.

“Historic monuments scatter the land and cultural traditions have been passed down from previous generations.

"This is an exciting time, while the project is still in its infancy and we are seeking to support and encourage community groups to come together and work collectively on themes such as built, natural and cultural heritage.

“Local people will also be able to develop their skills and avail of training and become ambassadors for the land in which they live and so we are holding a series of community consultations to allow local people to come together to hear more about what lies ahead and give their views on what projects they would like to see take place in their area as a result of the scheme”.

The consultation events will take place in:

Rowntree Centre, Pomeroy                    Thursday 11th Jan 2018               7.00/9.00pm

Broughderg Community Centre              Monday 15th Jan 2018                 7.00/9.00pm

WF Marshall Centre, Sixmilecross          Thursday 18th Jan 2018               7.00/9.00pm

An Creagan Visitor Centre                     Monday 22nd Jan 2018                7.00/9.00pm

Galbally Community Centre                   Thursday 25th Jan 2018               7.00/9.00pm

The Patrician, Carrickmore                    Tuesday 30th Jan 2018                7.00/9.00pm

Greencastle Community Centre             Thursday 1st Feb 2018                 7.00/9.00pm
 

Over the last decade, HLF’s Landscape Partnership programme has provided £221million across the UK. 

The programme helps to forge new partnerships between public and community bodies, ensuring people are better equipped to understand and tackle the needs of their local landscapes, with grants ranging from £100,000 to £3million.