Lough Neagh Partnership Ltd Presentation to the UK Rural Development and Networking Conference 15 th November 2017 Dr William Burke – Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership Manager
Lough Neagh – Background to the UK & Irelands Largest Freshwater Body • Biggest Lough in British Isles • Surface Area of Lough 383km² • Average depth 8.9m • Length of shoreline approximately 125km • Maximum length 30.5km (SW-NE) • Maximum width 12.1km (W-E) • Total Lough Neagh Catchment 5750km² • RAMSAR, SPA, ASSI, • Sand, Eel And Water Industry • Lough Neagh Partnership
Lough Neagh Partnership – Who are we? • Established in 2003 as a not for profit limited company with Charitable Status • Made up of local stakeholders from around the shores of the Lough • A Board of 21 Directors with representatives from the five Local Councils, local community groups, local businesses and representatives from special interest groups. • Works closely with Government agencies • Core staff of 8 • Has attracted investment in excess of £14 million
Partnership Vision & Mission Vision “A well managed sustainable Lough Neagh valued by current and future generations”. Mission “ To coordinate, facilitate and deliver a wide range of tourism, culture and heritage, environmental and recreational initiatives for the sustainable development and management of Lough Neagh”.
Lough Neagh Partnership - What we do • Aim to coordinate a range of activities that can make a significant impact on the economic , environmental and social wellbeing of the Lough Neagh area. • Work across five strategic thematic areas • Tourism promotion • Environmental protection, enhancement and sustainability • Heritage conservation, management and promotion • Leisure, recreation and safety • Attracting investment and financial sustainability
Long Term Governance • 2016 - New Lough Neagh Development Trust established ( Interim Directors) • Aim is to acquire the bed and soil of Lough Neagh ( Shaftesbury Estate in full agreement provided the Trust can provide evidence of its management capabilities). • Essential to gain cross Departmental support • Currently open for membership as Friends of Lough Neagh • Lough Neagh Partnership will probably become the operational wing of the new trust but this will not happen for a number of years. In meantime, LNP will continue to operate as at present.
Main Programmes and Projects • Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership Programme • SPA and ASSI Management Plan • WaterPro • Tourism Destination Management Plan • Marketing Programme
Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership Programme • Partnership based programme • Covers an area of 405 km 2 and has the Lough Neagh wetlands, archaeology and people at its heart • Aims to protect, conserve and develop the natural, built and cultural heritage around Lough Neagh over five year period, from 2016-2021 • Community focused and Forum led • Strong regional strategic focus combining partner objectives with the aim of establishing a sustainable and resourced legacy • Developed with strategic partners to address the heritage needs of the Lough and its shoreline on a holistic integrated landscape basis • Partnership project supported by HLF, Councils, government, environmental organisations and local community stakeholders • Investment of £3.52 million over 5 years
Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership Programme Funding Partners • Main funder - Heritage Lottery Fund • Match Funders – District Councils, NGO’s Government Departments, Universities and Community Organisations • Total project value - £3,528,058.00 • Grant from HLF - £2,494,900.00 • Council Contributions - £499,059.00 • Others - £534,099.00 • Leverage of £6.60 invested for every £1.00 committed by Council • LNLP Team continuously looking for other funding opportunities that will further maximise financial commitment
Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership Programme • 27 broad programme headings hosting in excess of 100+ projects relating to: • Natural Heritage – peatland conservation & management, biodiversity promotion, environmental education, countryside access, litter-less Lough, species & habitat protection • Built Heritage – archaeological surveys, historic building conservation, schools engagement, heritage skills training, canal heritage, experimental archaeology • Cultural Heritage – people, songs, stories, myths & legends, World War II local history, exhibitions, publications, placenames etc • Heritage Tourism – two visitor centres, 24 planned tours, tour leaders trained, strategic heritage signage programme for the whole Lough • Volunteer training and wider heritage education
Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership Programme
Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership Programme
Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership Programme
Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership Programme
Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership Programme
Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership Programme
Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership Programme
Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership Programme – Case Studies -Toome Lockhouse
SPA and ASSI Management Plan • Creation of an SPA/ASSI stakeholder forum, farmers and shooting /conservation club reps • Major mapping exercise to identify priority habitats • Development of management strategy that will facilitate the drawing down of DARD investment around the Lough and the better protection of wet grassland to improve the favourable status of the SPA/ASSI.
Lough Neagh & Its Waterways Tourism Destination Management Plan
Destination Management Plan Review of DMP to clearly identify tourism product and develop an Implementation Plan LN Tourism Forum ( Tourism Providers) LN Themed Cluster Groups • Lough Neagh Food • Lough Neagh Heritage • Outdoor Activities (Shoreline) including eco-tourism • Outdoor Activities (Lough and river based) • Heaney – (MUDC) Role of Festivals in promoting Lough Neagh
Destination Marketing Website : www.discoverloughneagh.com • Listings for accommodation, attractions, activities, eat & drink and events. • Website features a destination blog , itineraries and featured day trips • The content is populated with a feed from discovernorthernireland.com • The website is also fully integrated with Social Media and is mobile responsive App: A new destination app is due to be launched in the coming weeks, its content will feed from the website
Destination Marketing E-newsletter: • Consumer newsletter issued monthly April – Sept, Halloween & Christmas • Stakeholder newsletter issued quarterly, or more often if required Competitions : • A blog competition will be launched for the summer • A children’s colouring competition will be launched for Christmas • Social Media competitions running regularly in partnership with tourism providers
Destination Marketing PR: • Event Press Releases issued monthly April – Sept, Halloween & Christmas Social Media: • Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Google +, Flickr – regular posts Promotional Campaigns: • Summer (promoting events, blogs, trails & activities) • Christmas (promoting events, markets, trails & activities)
Thank you
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