The area contains some of Northern Ireland's most important coastal landscapes, including Strangford and Lecale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Strangford Lough. However, these landscapes face increasing pressures from the climate crisis and habitat fragmentation.
Our development funding will create a dedicated team to provide the capacity, coordination and expertise needed to design the eight-year delivery programme.
Newry Mourne and Down District Council, Ulster Wildlife and Ards and North Down Borough Council are working together on the project. They will:
- increase participants’ skills, including those of farmers, landowners, anglers and community groups
- provide training and mentoring in habitat management, biosecurity and storytelling
- recruit five full-time roles, including a project manager and landowner advisor
- prepare a marine restoration plan
- appoint an independent evaluator to measure ecological recovery, community participation, governance change and long-term resilience
If successful in its delivery round, a grant of up to £8.7million will help restore and create habitats, including 123 hectares of species-rich meadow.
Councillor Glyn Hanna, Chairperson, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, said: "This investment is a key achievement for the Strangford and Lecale landscape and for everyone who has helped shape this ambitious project. We’re delighted to develop this project over the next two years, working alongside project partners, communities, landowners and organisations to enhance our natural heritage.”
This funding is part of our Landscape Connections strategic initiative, helping designated Protected Landscapes and other world-class landscapes across the UK to become better for nature and people.
Explore our support for the neighbouring Mourne Gullion Landscape Connections project. Together, these projects cover 13% of land in Northern Ireland.
