Following recent announcements of multi-million pound grants for major environmental projects in Northern Ireland, including £1.6million for the Mourne AONB and £1.2million for the Belfast Hills, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is hosting a special Information Seminar to support the next round of potential local applicants to its ‘Landscape Partnership’ (LP) programme.

The LP programme provides grants of between £250,000 and £2million for projects which aim to conserve an area of distinctive landscape character that is recognised and valued by local people. The programme helps to protect some of the UK’s most treasured landscapes by acting as a catalyst to bring communities and organisations together to form partnerships that create a shared vision, and help implement local action for the conservation and management of our landscape heritage. Each scheme contains a portfolio of smaller projects that provide long term social, economic and environmental benefits for the area.

The LP programme has been hugely successful in Northern Ireland having already provided grants for five local projects, and HLF are keen to attract and support new applicants as they prepare their submissions to the programme and compete for funding at UK level.

Head of HLF Northern Ireland, Paul Mullan, said: "The LP programme is a competitive scheme but with funding already secured for five local projects, we know our outstanding local landscapes can compete with the best throughout the UK."

The information seminar has been designed to provide essential information about the programme, the application process and how to access further support from HLF. We hope to encourage new groups, organisations and individuals with a vision for their local landscapes, as well as those who may already be considering making an application, to come along and find out more."

The Information Seminar is being held on Tuesday 14th September 2010 at Oxford Island, Craigavon from 2pm-4pm.

To register your attendance, please contact HLF on 028 9031 0120 or email oonaghb@hlf.org.uk by Friday 3rd September 2010.

Notes to editors

Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage.

Since 1994 the Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded £135 million to projects across Northern Ireland.

Further information

Julie Halliday, HLF Northern Ireland on 07733 100 674 or julieh@hlf.org.uk