£4m Project To Transform Hillsborough Forest Into First-Class Visitor Area

A £4 million project is moving forward to transform Hillsborough Forest, County Down, into a natural recreational area.Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) is set to assume management responsibilities of the 200-acre forest and will lead the delivery of the new family attraction. Phase one of the project will include an accessible woodland play area for children of all abilities, a new picnic area, improved pathways, an upgraded car park with 70 additional spaces and new seating around the lake. This is estimated to cost around £1.5 million. Future phases are still in development and consultations will take place at all relevant stages.This investment, which is funded by LCCC, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, the Public Health Agency and the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, forms part of LCCC’s Hillsborough Tourism Masterplan, which supports the development of Hillsborough as a key visitor destination.The first phase of work is scheduled for completion by winter 2019.