£2.7 million granted to improving Fermanagh Lakelands

by Gráinne Connolly

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has granted £2.7 million to better manage the Fermanagh Lakelands.

The Lough Erne Landscape partnership (LELP) has compiled two detailed reports stating suggestions or proposed projects for the lakeland areas. 

LELP was established to help protect and enhance the built, natural and cultural heritage of the Lough Erne landscape. 

It's one of several in Northern Ireland. 

In 2015, the HLF announced that the money would be used to conserve at risk heritage buildings, and to preserve and improve wildlife species and their habits.

It would also be used to manage a 500 square kilometre area of Fermanagh's Lakelands. 

The LELP must submit an action plan next with the proposed projects.

It will be submitted for consideration in Autumn of this year (2017).

Reported in the Impartial Reporter, some of the project ideas include: 

Outdoor Classrooms, Community-led village plans, developing the Round O as a future recreational hub and widening the road to Trory jetty. 

The LELP are aiming to help "achieve the vision of a vibrant and sustainable rural economy, a healthy population and a functioning ecosystem"- that's according to Programme Manager Barney Devine. 

The range of projects when decided, will take place over a 5 year period, begining in 2018.