New tour guides appointed for Castlewellan forest park

New tour guides appointed for Castlewellan forest park

17 July 2024

TEN new tour guides specialising in Castlewellan’s historic demesne have been appointed by Newry, Mourne and Down Council.

The newly appointed white badge guides are a mixture of passionate staff members from the local authority’s gardening and park teams as well as volunteers, all of whom have a strong desire to promote the forest park and share their love of the site with visitors.

Getting to work right away, they will be leading guided walking tours through the park and wider arboretum on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer months.

The tour guiding qualification is accredited by the Institute of Tourist Guiding in London, via the Northern Ireland Tourist Guide Association.

The council’s vice-chairman, David Lee-Surginor, said he was delighted to have the opportunity to meet such enthusiastic individuals and celebrate the hard work they put towards attaining their qualification. 

He also thanked the National Lottery Heritage Fund for providing funding towards the guide training programme, as part of the £5m Re-Rooting Our Past in the Future project.

Tourist Guide Association chairwoman, Catherine Burns, explained the white badge is a symbol of high-quality tour guides.

“It recognises the guides as experts on the history, heritage and biodiversity of Castlewellan Historic Demesne, particularly the internationally renowned Annesley Walled Garden,” she explained.

“We are proud to have been able to work with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to develop a training programme which worked for such a heritage rich site.” 

Work on the £5m investment programme at Castlewellan Forest Park is underway. 

Stretching to over 1,100 acres and one of the best in Ireland, the ambitious development programme will overhaul a range of existing facilities and provide a number of exciting new developments at the stunning forest park.

In addition to the funding being provided by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Newry, Mourne and Down Council is also providing financial support.

Since the 1740s, the sprawling forest park was the demesne of the Annesley family, who created a beautiful landscape and a nationally and internationally important 45-hectare arboretum. 

The proposed development project aims to create a new vision for the historic Castlewellan demesne, delivering what is being described as a “heritage-led destination” to connect people with their built and natural heritage.  

Council officials and local politicians are keen to see the picturesque forest park’s Arboretum, Annesley Garden and Grange Buildings redeveloped to help increase the number of visitors and provide the area with an economic boost.

Officials say the focus is on improving amenities and the interpretation of the park’s natural and built heritage.

The local authority is keen to play a leading role, alongside the Forest Service, to help transform the park’s fortunes and make it even more popular.

The local authority holds a 20-year operating licence for the park’s walking, bike and horse riding trails, in addition to play facilities and it’s understood that formal links will be established with a number of organisations in relation to the future management of the park’s Bothy Yard, glasshouses and propagation in particular.

The ‘Re-Rooting our past in the Future: Castlewellan Historic Demesne’ project is designed to revitalise and conserve the cultural and natural heritage of the park for present and future generations.

During construction and restoration work, there will be a varied programme of activities, events, environmental education and skills development delivered by the local authority’s education and biodiversity officer, volunteer coordinator and gardening team. 

The programme of activities will provide opportunities for the wider community to learn about the importance of heritage, biodiversity and conservation, fostering a sense of environmental stewardship and creating an inviting park accessible to all.

Bookings for the guided walking tours through the park and wider arboretum on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer months can only be made on the day on a first come first served basis. Once the restoration of the walled garden is completed guided walking tours, showcasing the amazing trees and period features of the walled garden, will commence.

The multi-million pound project is committed to the sensitive conservation and management of the landscape, ensuring the protection of its plant collection and vital biodiversity, with the National Arboretum and Annesley Garden at the heart of the forest park.

The walled Garden provides a central focal point for the Arboretum, with the investment restoring the historical nature of the planting in the Arboretum, while the Grange will be developed into a vibrant visitor core, featuring a welcome centre, community space, café facilities and open event space.