Alliance Councillor Patrick Clarke has welcomed approval by the Recreation Department of Down District Council to erect an agricultural fence at Bunker’s Hill, multi-use walking trail between the forest and adjacent private agricultural fields to prevent visitors damaging stone walls.
Alliance Councillor Patrick Clarke said: “Outdoor Recreation NI has been working with Down District Council under its current Service Level Agreement to deliver a multi-use trail (walking and family cycling) and play trail in Bunker’s Hill, Castlewellan.
“The trail at Bunker’s Hill is already being well used and feedback from the local community on the recreation resource to date has been extremely positive.
“The trail’s unique selling point is the magnificent views afforded from the trail of the Mourne Mountains, the South Down coast and the Slieve Croob hills. The unique selling point was confirmed during the recent Festival of Flight when hundreds of people used the trail at Bunker’s Hill as a vantage point to enjoy the festival.
“Unfortunately many visitors did not stay within the confines of the forest but rather climbed over the stone walls, which acts as the boundary between the forest and the adjacent private agricultural fields, to take up a more comfortable seat. This resulted in breaks being made in the landowner’s stone walls and has caused the landowner inconvenience and concern about future damage to his property.”
“To help rectify the problem and to prevent further damage to stone walls, I asked Down District Council to consider erecting an agricultural fence. I welcome the approval and agreement to now erect an agricultural type fence on the inside of the boundary stone wall which will prevent visitors from further damaging the stone walls and entering private agricultural fields.”
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