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The Woodland Trust Northern Ireland has launched an online survey so the public can have their say on Mourne Park. In 2021 the Woodland Trust, the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity, announced it had purchased 156 hectares of the Mourne Park estate, including 73 hectares of ancient woodland, thanks to funding from NIEA (Northern Ireland Environment Agency), Garfield Weston and gifts in wills.
Northern Ireland has the lowest per centage of tree cover of any region within Europe, with just 8.7% cover; of which 4% are native trees and 0.04% ancient woodland. The Woodland Trust aims to protect and restore ancient woodland for nature, people and the climate. In 2020, the woodland conservation charity created the single largest native woodland to date beside Mourne Park, at Aughrim Hill, which now has new walking trails and car parking for visitors.
The Woodland Trust wants to encourage local people and the wider public to get involved and help them develop a destination that is fit for the purpose of its visitors through in-person sessions in Kilkeel and an online survey. The consultation seeks input on many different factors including travel time, access points, and what activities people would like to get involved with and see on site.
Dave Scott, Estate & Special Projects Manager for the Woodland Trust Northern Ireland said “As part of our plans for Mourne Park we are running public consultations. We really want the local community and the wider public to get involved in forming our activities in Mourne Park as we value the ideas and comments from our new neighbours and from everyone who will want to visit this very special woodland. The Mournes attract over 700,000 visitors every year from across the Island of Ireland so the online survey will be available to visitors from farther afield to have their say, and for anyone within the local community who missed the in-person sessions.”
To have your say on Mourne Park, complete the online survey at emea.focusvision.com
The Woodland Trust has just launched an appeal to raise £5.2million for Mourne Park. This funding will allow us to purchase adjoining 46ha land, restore 73ha ancient woodland and hedging, create vital corridors for wildlife, plant thousands more native trees and open historic trails for the public.
To find out more and support the appeal, visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
