Faughan Valley
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has today announced an earmarked first-round pass of £1.2million for Faughan Valley in Derry made through its Landscape Partnership (LP) programme. This programme supports rural regeneration and landscape conservation schemes which highlight the diversity of the UK’s geography and its impact on our culture.
HLF’s Landscape Partnerships have been running for the past five years and £55million has been invested into this innovative programme across the UK. They act as a catalyst to bring organisations and communities together to form partnerships that create a shared vision for the conservation and management of our landscape heritage, enabling people to tackle the heritage needs of their local landscapes in a co-ordinated and effective way. Each scheme involves a portfolio of individual projects that deliver long-term social, economic and environmental benefits for rural areas.
The Faughan Valley comprises 100km² of landscape running from the Sperrins Foothills and the Loughermore Hills to the Burngibbagh Valley. Atlantic salmon can be found in the River Faughan, while ancient and native woodlands and prehistoric sites remain in the river valleys and surrounding hinterland. The valley links the urban fringes of Londonderry with the surrounding countryside where woodland, rolling farmland, heathland, hill pasture, bog and scrub thrive.
This scheme, developed by the Rural Area Partnership in Derry Ltd (RAPID), Derry City Council and the Woodland Trust, will revitalise the landscape, restore habitats and through woodland management create a wildlife corridor along the river. It will also provide opportunities for people living within the rural area as well as the urban population of Derry City to become more involved with the natural heritage on their doorstep through an imaginative education and activity programme. This will include annual walking festivals, woodland site visits, ‘Heritage Weeks’ and rural crafts training.
Commenting on the announcement, Head of HLF Northern Ireland Paul Mullan, said: “Faughan Valley is an area of unique landscape that changes in character as the river flows through. This first-round pass decision is an endorsement of the exciting proposals for this area which can now be further developed to deliver a range of benefits for the people who live, work and visit the valley.”
Brian Poots, Project Development Manager with the Woodland Trust, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive the backing of the Heritage Lottery Fund. This initiative is a joint effort between the three partners – RAPID, Derry City Council and the Woodland Trust – and we now look forward to developing this exciting project. With our collective efforts, we can make a positive and lasting contribution to the beautiful Faughan Valley; it’s good news for the landscape, for wildlife and for people.”
Further information
Julie Halliday at HLF Northern Ireland on 07733 100674 or Katie Owen, HLF Press Office on 020 7591 6036. Out of office hours mobile on 07973 613820.
Kaye Coates, Woodlands Trust Communications Officer on 028 9127 5787.