Have Your Say on the Future of the Strangford & Lecale AONB

Newry Mourne and Down District Council has launched the Strangford and Lecale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Landscape Connections Community Survey. This is a chance for local people, landowners, community groups, and visitors to share their ideas and help shape the future of this special landscape.

Why Your Views Matter

The Strangford and Lecale landscape is a place of outstanding beauty, with rich biodiversity, cultural heritage, and dramatic coastal scenery. From the rolling drumlins and ancient monuments to the shores of Strangford Lough and the Irish Sea, this is a landscape that inspires and supports people every day. By completing the survey, you can tell us what matters most to you and what you want for the future.

Shaping the Future Together

The survey is asking for your thoughts on the places you value, the traditions and stories you would like to see celebrated, and the changes that would improve the area for both people and nature. We want to know how the landscape can be more inclusive, how wildlife can be restored, and how communities can take a bigger role in protecting and enjoying the area.

Your ideas will guide our application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund in November 2025. If successful, a development phase will run from 2026 to 2028 with community workshops and pilot projects. The delivery phase, from 2028 to 2034, will bring the shared vision to life through long-term investment in nature, heritage, and community wellbeing.

How to Get Involved

The Landscape Connections Community Survey is open now, and everyone is encouraged to take part. Whether you are a lifelong resident, a regular visitor, or someone discovering the area for the first time, your views are important. Together, we can protect, celebrate, and connect with the Strangford and Lecale landscape for generations to come.