Northern Ireland

Public urged to have their say on future of forests in Co Armagh

Gosford Forest Park in Co Armagh
Gosford Forest Park in Co Armagh Gosford Forest Park in Co Armagh

THE public is being urged to have their say on the future of forests in Co Armagh.

A consultation about how state owned forests, such as Gosford and Slieve Gullion, should be managed has been launched.

It is part of a programme of reviewing all plans for Forest Service managed forests and woodlands across Northern Ireland.

Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Gordon Lyons said: "Forests are a vital natural resource which belong to us all.

"As our forests develop as places of industry, environment and leisure, we are encouraging everyone to make their views known.

"Co Armagh boasts some of Northern Ireland’s best known and most popular forests, such as Gosford and Slieve Gullion forests.

"Both of these forest parks have had considerable investments in recent years by the local councils in partnership with Forest Service, to improve and develop paths, trails and playparks.

"The last year has seen a huge increase in people wanting to get into the countryside.

"An effect of the Covid-19 lockdowns and other restrictions has been to emphasise how important forests are for people to improve both their physical and mental health."

Forests in Co Armagh are also working forests that produce timber for the wood processing industry in the north, supplying the Forest Service around 29,000 cubic metres of timber, which is around 1,000 lorry loads every year.

As part of sustainable forest management Forest Service has planted around 750,000 trees in the county in the last five years.

Mr Lyons added: "Reviewing forest plans ensures that they are up to date and allows us to continue to meet the diverse and sometimes competing needs of people, wildlife and wood processing industries".

The consultation is available on https://consultations.nidirect.gov.uk/daera-forest-service/scoping-a-new-forestry-plan-for-armagh