Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
Information => Forum News, Information and Help => Topic started by: admin on July 27, 2012
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One of Northern Ireland's main tourist attractions, the Mourne Mountains, have received £1.5m from the Heritage Lottery fund.
The scheme has been led by the Mourne Heritage Trust and the money comes from the Landscape Partnership programme which helps to protect treasured landscapes.
Meanwhile, £1,040,200, is going towards the Ring of Gullion area in Armagh.
The news has been welcomed by Environment Minister Alex Attwood.
"This is great news for two of our most prized landscapes, Mourne and the Ring of Gullion, both of which are designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty," he said.
"It is clear evidence of the growing recognition that investing in our natural and built heritage can produce very significant community benefits as well as a sound economic return."
Head of Heritage Lottery Fund Northern Ireland Paul Mullan said he was delighted at the news.
Cultural heritage
"The Mournes are one of the most iconic landscapes of such natural beauty we cherish in Northern Ireland," he said.
"They are subject to a high number of designations for their heritage value such as Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) and contain some of Europe's most important tracts of upland heath.
"This scheme will ensure long-term management, promising long-term benefits for the local communities, visitors to the Mournes and to the heritage of this magnificent landscape."
Martin Carey of the Mourne Heritage Trust said the funding would "celebrate and significantly enhance the conservation of our natural, built and cultural heritage".
Thirty individual projects make up the Landscape Conservation Action Plan which covers an area of 223km².
Among the plan's objectives are encouraging healthy heathland; caring for walls and monuments; making recreation sustainable; developing trails with tales; getting people around the Mournes; participative research and learning and sharing stories.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19005741
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woohoo, now build that railway :)
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woohoo, now build that railway :)
Stop that foolish talk.
It'll be interesting to see what a million pounds does for the Ring of Gullion area. Didn't one of our members on here say that there was a little bit too much road walking around that area. I think it would be good if all the hills were connected by a network of paths. Perhaps the money can be used to purchase sections of fields to give an off-road wild experience.
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Stop that foolish talk.
apologies, that was the drink talking last night, should actually build a cable car, much better view on the way up ;)
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The mournes need zip lines, downhill cycle tracks and cable lifts, motorcycle trail roads, downhill mono rail tracks etc etc. Shooting ranges etc etc
Basically the mournes turned into a huge outdoor activity area.