Environment Minister, Mark H Durkan, recently launched the first ‘Heritage Management Strategy and Action Plan’ for Strangford Lough and Lecale.

Promoting our heritage and recognising the central role of local people in managing and communicating the landscape, heritage buildings and wildlife is a priority within the Strategy, which has been produced by the Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership (SLLP).

The Minister also had the opportunity to launch the Partnership’s new ‘Local Insights into Strangford Lough and Lecale’ media app. The app. features many local people telling their stories about everything from their passion for seaweed to having an ancestor killed by a pirate!

Speaking at the launch Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said: “Strangford Lough and the Lecale area are highlights among the North’s rich tapestry. Though the natural and built heritage of this area are protected by many statutory designations, it will still take real commitment from all concerned to care for all the heritage into the future.

“The photography used in the Strategy document is inspired by the many wonders of the rich and diverse marine life, the spectacular numbers of coastal birds, the enchanting drumlin and island landscape, the lovely coastal wildflowers, the marvellous built heritage and archaeology. It encourages everyone to play a part in looking after our heritage for ourselves and for future generations.

“I commend the work of Down District Council, Ards Borough Council, my own Department and the Advisory Committee of stakeholders that form the Partnership. Their work with other authorities and the public to develop a shared vision of heritage excellence for the benefit of people’s health, well-being and prosperity in the long term has been tremendous.”

Mayor of Ards Borough Council, Cllr Steven McIlveen, said: “Strangford Lough is a body of water that provides some of the most breath-taking scenery in the country, an ecological haven and a place which has had significant influence on our social and economic past, present and, of course, future. Balancing the needs of diverse, and sometime competing, elements is no easy task but is greatly aided by this new strategy which provides a very clear direction of travel towards both preserving the broad-based heritage of the Lough and ensuring that it remains a place where we can live and work, build lives and businesses, where others can visit, and where we can all enjoy our leisure time.”.

Vice-Chair of Down District Council, Cllr Gareth Sharvin, observed: "The Strategy and Action Plan launched today re-enforce the efforts by local councils to bring authorities and others together to develop sustainable tourism and outdoor recreation, while at the same time improving wildlife and built heritage conservation and protection. This Strategy and Action Plan are a welcomed boost, which will contribute to our local economy through tourism, environmental and recreational growth."

Some of the new initiatives already underway are geared to support the growing interest in outdoor recreation. Later this year a handbook guidance on sights of interest and using the area sensitively will be produced and many local people will be involved in a project to develop community coastal rowing, working with Sport NI and the Police Service Northern Ireland respectively.

Chairman of the SLLP’s Advisory Committee, Isabel Hood commented: “There are clearly challenges ahead but this level of collaboration in addressing them is very much welcomed. Advisory Committee members have contributed greatly to identifying the priorities within the Strategy and both they and many others are committed to work with the authorities to address them. Not everything can be tackled at once and some issues will not be easily resolved but this Strategy and action Plan is a huge step in the right direction for those of us who know and love this area so well”.

The Action Plan work programme is hugely varied and ranges from “bringing history alive” through re-enactments and events at monastic sites and tower houses to tackling invasive sea squirts.