A recent visitor to the district has expressed dismay over the appearance of Tollymore Forest Park.
The holidaymaker, who asked not to be named, grew up in the area and had travelled here for a week-long stay to explore the parks. But they said they felt that the state of Tollymore Forest Park left something to be desired.
They contacted the Mourne Observer to highlight their disappointment. The Mourne Observer passed on the complaint to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), which is responsible for the Forest Service.
They were asked if they felt Tollymore was maintained to an acceptable standard, and how much resources are allocated to maintaining the park.
In response, DAERA issued the following statement: “Forest Service welcomes and receives regular feedback from visitors and this forms an integral part of our continuous improvement.
“The park is maintained through a structured inspection programme of formal recreational facilities and maintenance; to protect the safety of visitors and to ensure it is maintained to a high standard.
“The upkeep of the park is funded through the DAERA Forest Service budgetary allocations and delivered by a team of 12 individuals working across forests in the Down/Armagh area, with five of them primarily dedicated to Tollymore Forest.
“Forest Service would like to reassure visitors that Tollymore Forest will continue to be managed, recognising its important and valued heritage and popularity for public access and outdoor recreation, including its proximity to the wider Mournes area.”
The statement also pointed out the importance of the forest park.
“Forest Service forests, including Tollymore Forest Park, attract a wide range of visitors, including those who wish to use core recreational facilities and others who avail of the wider environmental and natural forest setting.
“Tollymore continues to be valued for its natural character and authentic forest environment as well as for its forest path network and formal recreational facilities.
“As a large open woodland, Tollymore is a living landscape, influenced by natural elements such as storms, high rainfall events, disease and seasonal change.”
