Over €65K to be spent maintaining Coillte lands locally
In excess of €65,000 is to be spent on maintenance works on local Coillte lands under a five-year strategic partnership designed to support communities and boost rural tourism.
The Department of Rural and Community Development has recently shared figures regarding works being carried out under the scheme, with several local areas to benefit.
News of the funding comes as Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, announced €15 million in funding as part of a new five-year strategic partnership with Coillte designed to boost rural tourism and develop recreational facilities on Coillte lands.
Despite no Coillte lands in The Avondhu area benefitting from Capital funding under the scheme, several maintenance works at Coillte sites locally were allocated sums.
One of the largest local beneficiaries is Glansheskin Wood (Glenseskin) in Kilworth, with a sum of €11,000 cited for general maintenance. The Kilworth area also received a second allocation of €1,500 for general maintenance at the Ballard Trail.
Another significant allocation went to Glengarra in County Tipperary, with €9,000 earmarked for the upgrade of trails and general maintenance.
Funding of €6,000 was noted for Glenshelane, near Cappoquin, with the same amount cited for St Declan’s Way at Mount Melleray, both for general maintenance.
€3,500 was set aside for Corrin in Fermoy, Glenabo was allocated €2,500 and Kilbarry saw €1,500 listed for general maintenance in the documents shared last week.
Both Galty Castle near Kilbehenny and Castleblagh near Ballyhooly saw sums of €3,000 allocated individually. €16,000 has been allocated to the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails.
Mountain Meithal, a group which undertakes trail maintenance and repairs, had €2,500 allocated this year to support their ongoing projects in the Galtee mountains.
General maintenance works in Ardarou near Glenville and in Moanbaun near Watergrasshill saw sums of €2,500 earmarked, however, in Moanbaun, this funding also contributes to the tidy up following harvesting.
Finally, Dromana near Villierstown in county Waterford, was cited a figure of €2,000, also for general maintenance works.
No local works were listed under the Upgrade Capital Works programme for this year, however, in Waterford, Crough Wood near Mahon Bridge was allocated a sum of €80,000 to reinforce an unstable embankment and for the reopening of the trail.
INCREASED VISITOR NUMBERS
According to Imelda Hurley, CEO at Coillte, their aim is to support the growing visitor demand.
“As the largest provider of outdoor recreation space in Ireland, Coillte has an important role in the provision of recreation forests, forest parks, waymarked walking and cycling trails, picnic sites and other facilities to support the growing demand for access to the outdoors,” she said.
“We are particularly keen to provide additional facilities at our recreation sites to support our visitors’ experience, such as food and beverage outlets, enhanced trails, waymarking and signage. By partnering with local businesses to provide services for visitors, we can increase local and rural economic activity and enable local employment.
“We are delighted to have ongoing support from Minister Heather Humphreys and the Department of Rural and Community Development. With their support, we can enhance and develop our recreational offering to cater for the significantly increased visitor numbers using Coillte’s forests each year,” Ms Hurley added.
In total, 260 recreational forests and 12 forest parks were allocated funding under the scheme, with some 3,000km of walking trails and cycleways to be improved under the initiative.
Coillte recorded a significant increase in visitor numbers to its forest parks and recreation sites over the past two years, with a doubling of visitor numbers at some of its most popular sites. Funding announced on Friday will assist Coillte in upgrading facilities to meet the increased demand for access to these amenities.