WORK on a multi-million pound revitalisation project at Castlewellan Forest Park has been given the seal of approval by Stormont rural affairs minister Edwin Poots.
He visited the park recently to view work currently underway at the Bothy Yard and highly acclaimed Arboretum as part of four-year £5.5m scheme which is being backed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Newry, Mourne and Down Council.
The project will significantly enhance facilities at the sprawling park, with the lottery funding earmarked to restore a number of key features to help maximise its tourism potential.
The Heritage Fund has already provided almost £250,000 in financial assistance and has now backed that up with an additional £2.7m, with the local authority investing £2.8m in the revitalisation scheme.
Construction work has already commenced at the Bothy Yard in the forest park thanks to a £500,000 funding boost from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and the EU.
During his visit, Mr Poots met with Dr Sally Montgomery, chairwoman of the Task and Finish Project Board, and council chairwoman Laura Devlin, who provided him with an update on the work so far and the exciting plans for the future.
The Stormont minister described the Bothy Yard and Arboretum projects in an area of outstanding natural beauty as an “excellent example” of what his department is doing to support investment in rural tourism and the natural and built heritage of Northern Ireland.
“Tourism remains vitally important to our rural economy and through the rural tourism scheme with my department investing just over £9m across 19 projects, all of which are unique in their own right,” he said.
Mr Poots said he was delighted that following funding provided by DAERA and the local authority, the National Lottery Heritage Fund had made a substantial financial offer to allow the council take forward other works within the forest park which will see its masterplan come to fruition.
“I believe that DAERA’s vision and initial investment went a long way to levering in this additional funding and I wish the local council every success with this project,” he added.
Cllr Devlin said the DAERA investment, alongside that provided by the local authority, will ensure the Bothy is reinstated as a working hub of the Arboretum.
“Following the investment, visitors will be able to learn about the rich natural heritage that the forest park has to offer through interpretation in the Stove Conservatory, enriching the visitor experience in the park,” she added.
Work on the main restoration project at the forest park is scheduled to start in the summer and complete by December 2025, with the local authority agreeing a lease for the core areas within the park from the Forest Service until 2045.
Proposed work includes new landscape and drainage within the Grange courtyard, a new pedestrian path from the entrance gates to the main car park, a new vehicular road off Castle Avenue to the existing car park. There will also be a new traffic control barrier at Castle Avenue.
Caravan spaces will be relocated with the feature entrance gates at the Castle Avenue entrance restored, alongside the restoration of the Grange courtyard buildings and the reconstruction of a derelict building block.
The park’s 19th century greenhouse is also being restored with the reconstruction of the propagation house and cold frames, while one of several outbuildings will be converted to an office and volunteer space.
Elsewhere, visitor facilities will be created in the Stove Conservatory including an interpretation centre, with a platform lift installed to provide access to the terrance for people with reduced mobility.
Since 2015, the local authority has been progressing with plans to restore the natural and built heritage of the forest park with several key stakeholders including the Forest Service.
The council’s vision is to create a heritage-led destination which protects the heritage of Castlewellan Forest Park for future generations, whilst also providing opportunities for local people and visitors to learn more about the landscape.