Northern Ireland

Co Down wetland reserve Castle Espie awarded £200,000 funding to help recover from Covid-19 pandemic

Castle Espie Wetland Centre, near Comber
Castle Espie Wetland Centre, near Comber Castle Espie Wetland Centre, near Comber

A Co Down wetland reserve has been awarded more than £200,000 funding to help recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is hoped the grant will enable Castle Espie Wetland Centre, near Comber, to cover income lost as a result of having to close to visitors during lockdown and maintain the wetland habitat and heritage site.

It is one of more than 90 organisations and individuals that have been awarded grants through the Heritage Recovery Fund, which is part of the £29 million Executive allocation to support the arts, culture, heritage and language sectors in Northern Ireland.

Grants were awarded to a wide range of organisations and individuals in the heritage sector, from historic sites, attractions and landscapes, to tour guides and specialist heritage conservators.

Paul Stewart from Castle Espie Wetland Centre said: "Thanks to this grant, we can continue paying vital costs and look after our building so it’s safe and ready for visitors when we re-open again".

Paul Mullan from the National Lottery Heritage Fund said the funding will help "Northern Ireland’s heritage sector to recover from the current crisis".

"The risks to heritage sites, attractions and organisations from a sudden and dramatic loss of income as a result of the pandemic, have put the heritage and visitor economy in crisis, and this funding will play a vital role in their recovery," he said.

"Heritage has an essential role to play in making communities better places to live, creating economic prosperity and supporting personal wellbeing.

"All of these are going to be vitally important as we emerge from the current pandemic."