CCGHTCCGHT ActivityActivity NewsletterNewsletter (Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust) Issue 7 October 2011 Trust Director’s Report HLF Heart of the Glens Growing an organisation at any point to meet the demands placed on it is tough at the best of times. In August, the Heritage Lot- However to grow an organisation tery Fund announced that the during recession is quite an Glens of Antrim were amongst achievement, but this is some- 11 areas in the United King- thing that the Heritage Trust has done. This is dom to have successfully especially satisfying when in March 2011 the Heri- passed the first round of Land- tage Trust was not in a position to balance its scape Partnership Scheme ap- budget for 2011/12. During the past two years the Heritage Trust has fundamentally changed its direc- plication. tion and honed its skills and expertise to deliver landscape management for and on behalf of its Landscape Partnership Schemes aim to conserve, enhance and promote partners. By landscape management I mean look- the natural heritage, historic environment and cultural heritage of ing after the unique and special qualities of the unique landscapes in the UK. heritage of the North Coast and in particular, the three AONBs for the benefit of both visitors and Over the coming year £91,700 will be offered by HLF to the Causeway local people. Coast and Glens Heritage Trust to develop the scheme which in turn will Two years ago, Directors took a positive decision to lead to a 5 year programme that will bring £1.5m of HLF funding to the engage two new officers to help deliver three AONB area. The projects developed under the scheme will not only benefit the management plans and their associated projects. Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust but all the other organisa- The two new officers augmented the existing team tions involved in the scheme with benefits spreading wider than just the and together we are proud of our successes. Most Landscape Partnership Scheme area. of which you will read within the Activity Report, but noticeably – the European Charter for Sustain- able Tourism in Protected Areas, the Landscape Over the next few months, the Cause- Partnership Scheme – Heart of the Glens project, way Coast and Glens Heritage Trust will delivery of the AONB management plans, Finns appoint a LPS Manager who will put to- Gallery, Picture This! and many more. gether the series of projects, develop partnerships and funding packages and We have ambitions and one of them is to have prepare the implementation of these Geopark status for the area within five years. This projects. The projects to be developed will help support and look after the area, its com- will include a woodland management munities and the rural economy by developing it sustainably. We are engaging with new partners, project, peatland conservation project, such as GSNI and looking at other governmental farm buildings and features project, departments and agencies to help realise our aim. food festival, interactive heritage trail, Further, the Heritage Trust wants to engage more hospitality training project, heritage with young people and support the future guardi- skills training project... These will in- ans of our beautiful landscapes – this vision is set volve and benefit a wide range of stake- out within the Memorandum and Articles of Asso- holders from the private sector ciation. (tourism, farming...), schools, commu- To achieve this we need resources and more impor- nity groups, NGOs from within the LPS tantly sustainable resources. This is something but also from the wider Northeast re- that the Working Group has been working towards. gion. In particular, there are encouraging signs that the Councils may be able to work towards three year It is anticipated that by the end of the 5 funding for the Heritage Trust, with letters of in- years, the scheme will not only have tent. This in turn will help the Trust to look for brought funding opportunities but job external sources of funding, especially project opportunities, enhanced visitor opportu- funding, through RDP and European monies. What nities, improved working relationship is fundamental to this point is the recognition that between the different partners and bet- the Heritage Trust delivers at a regional basis that ter understanding of the Glens unique benefits the whole area and all those who live, heritage. work and come to enjoy the area. NIEA Marine Day We have a clear vision, aims and objectives to CCGHT took part in the Marine Day Event achieve. We need to be brave and deliver within at the Coastal Zone Centre in Portrush in these uncertain times. So will we be here next August to raise awareness of the unique year? Absolutely! Will we be looking at securing heritage of the Causeway Coast and Glens resources to deliver? Of course! We have proved area as well as to raise the profile of the our worth and effectiveness; we offer value for Trust itself. The event was very well at- money and with the continued support of our part- tended, particularly by families and young ners our ambition to deliver the best landscape management for the North Coast will be realised. children. Helen Noble , Trust Director National Trails Day Staff Update Carol Kelly, AONB Officer Carol Kelly joined the Causeway Coast & Glens Heri- organised two tage Trust, as AONB Officer in June 2011. Carol walks for this graduated from Queens University Belfast with a year’s National Masters Degree in Town & Country Planning in 2005. Trails Day held Since then she has worked as a Planning Consultant nd on 2 October. in both Northern Ireland & the Republic of Ireland. A The event which is in its fourth career break in 2009 allowed Carol to travel exten- year and organised by CAAN is sively, visiting some of the most stunning landscapes a celebration of Ireland’s won- in the world. Her experiences during this time in- derful variety of trails and a spired her to pursue a career in protected landscapes chance for everyone to enjoy management and she is delighted of the opportunity some of our most beautiful to take up this position in the beautiful north coast of countryside, forests, mountains Northern Ireland. Her responsibilities in the role of and lakes. In conjunction with AONB Officer will include co-ordinating and promot- the Lough Foyle Hill-Walking & ing the implementation & review of the Management Plans for the Antrim Coast Rambling Group, the CCGHT & Glens AONB, the Causeway Coast AONB and Binevenagh AONB. Carol will be organised a walk in Binevenagh working on a range of initiatives and projects which promote best practice envi- AONB, which took walkers ronmental management across the area. A key area of her work will entail rais- through Binevenagh Forest ing the profile of the AONB’s in national & regional policy. which is home to a number of rare alpine plants and birds and CAAN Study Trip—Carol Kelly, AONB Officer with the onwards to Binevenagh Summit Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust attended the Coun- to enjoy panoramic views over tryside Access & Activities Network Study Trip to Devon in Lough Foyle, Roe Valley and to September. The study trip provided the opportunity to visit Inishowen. In the Antrim Coast Stover Country Park to learn about a Countryside Mobility & Glens AONB, the CCGHT in Scheme, which aims to improve access to the countryside partnership with the Red Squir- for people with limited mobility. A visit to Dartmoor pro- rel Group led a walk through vided the opportunity to see the work being carried out in the National Park in- Glenariff Forest, stopping at cluding various initiatives with the local villages and farming community in the viewing points where red squir- areas of recreation and sustainable tourism. Robert Steemson, Head of Ranger rels are being attracted, and & Volunteer Services provided an insight into the operation of the National Park learning about the red squirrel Authority, its departmental structure and management, issues currently very and its conservation. topical to Northern Ireland. A highlight of the Study Trip was a visit to the Eden Project in Cornwall, where a disused clay mine has been transformed into a rich, global garden featuring a rainforest and a Mediterranean biodome, showcasing Leave No Trace various plants and vegetation displays from around the world. Walk & Talk ses- sions facilitated by staff from the Eden Project & the Sensory Trust informed the The Trust is group about visitor management, including interpretation and accessibility at delighted to the site. An off-road trail building workshop at Haldon Forest, provided by the announce Forestry Commission in conjunction with Architrails, a professional trail design that we have and build company, rounded off Day 4 before the weary group made it’s way to joined the Bristol Airport for the return journey home. The Causeway Coast & Glens Heri- partnership tage Trust would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff at CAAN for or- Leave no Trace Ireland for a ganising the Study Trip! very small membership fee and are therefore entitled to Maxime Sizaret attended a series of meetings over the last few months includ- the benefits of being associ- ing a Northern Ireland Protected Area Network meeting where the review of NI ated with the network in- biodiversity strategy and the White Paper on the enabling legislation for Na- cluding use of the logo on tional Parks were discussed. Maxime Sizaret also attended a Coleraine/ our promotional literature, Limavady/Ballymoney biodiversity steering group where links between the emails and website. CCGHT Councils’ biodiversity activities and the Trust AONB activities were discussed is committed to support the and common opportunities investigated.