Forever Mournes Partnership event

Forever Mournes Partnership event

17 April 2024

NEWCASTLE is hosting an event next week to provide an opportunity for people to find out more about the Forever Mournes Partnership.

It was formed a year ago when representatives from the National Trust, Mourne Heritage Trust, Northern Ireland Water and Woodland Trust Northern Ireland signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a commitment to work together across their collective land and interests in the Mournes and enhance co-operation.  

The partner organisations are inviting people to attend a - in event next Tuesday at Newcastle Centre between 6pm and 8.30pm to find out more about the project and how they can get involved.

National Trust project manager, Bernadine Maguire-Matthews, said the Forever Mournes partners see a need for a vision for the future of the high Mournes which is shared by the local community and all those who care about the area.

“This vision needs to be followed by an agreed long term management plan for our public and charitable owned lands, which everyone supports and has enough funds to make sure it can be delivered,” she continued.

“This is what Forever Mournes are starting to work towards, and we are keen to hear how people would like to be involved on this journey.”

During next week’s -in session, there will be an opportunity to find out about some of the key outputs from the work undertaken during phase one of the Mournes Community Renewal Through Nature project, what is planned next and how people can be involved. 

“We are delighted that we have been able to secure some funding from the DAERA Environment Fund to continue working together and to start implementing some of the recommendations from first phase of the Mournes Community Renewal Through Nature project,” Bernadine continued.

“We have a long journey ahead of us, but it’s great that we are able to build on the foundations already developed.”

Bernadine said all the partners are excited to speak to the local community to tell them some of the key outputs from phase one, but also want to find out how they would like to be involved on the journey ahead.

She added: “While this is the longer term goal for Forever Mournes, we collectively continue to deliver work on the ground across the Mournes through ongoing path repairs and maintenance, tree planting, wildfire recovery, peatland restoration and engagement with recreation users.” 

The Environment Agency, Newry, Mourne and Down Council and Forest Service have signed up as Memorandum of Understanding observer members.