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Strangford and Lecale – Community Survey

Community Survey for Strangford and Lecale Landscape Connections Project

Jump to Survey Questions Below

We are at the very beginning of developing a new project for the Strangford and Lecale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This project, called Strangford and Lecale Landscape Connections, aims to restore and celebrate our landscapes, nature, and heritage, with local people and communities at its heart.

What is an AONB?

An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a nationally designated landscape, recognised for its special character, wildlife, heritage, and culture. The aim of an AONB is to conserve and enhance the beauty of the area while supporting the people and communities who live and work there.

Strangford and Lecale AONB

The Strangford and Lecale AONB stretches from the shores of Strangford Lough to the coast of the Irish Sea. It includes rich farmland, dramatic drumlins, historic villages, ancient monuments, and a stunning coastline with internationally important wildlife. This landscape is not only beautiful — it’s also shaped by generations of people, farming, fishing, and community traditions.

What fund are we applying to?

Landscape Connections is a major funding initiative by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This programme aims to bring nature, heritage, and communities together across special protected areas like ours.

It supports large projects across the UK, including AONB like Strangford and Lecale, encouraging partnerships between communities, land managers, conservationists, and heritage groups.

The goal? To help local people reconnect with the land, restore wildlife and habitats, strengthen farms and livelihoods, and make nature more accessible to everyone, including those who don’t usually visit these beautiful places.

Now, the Strangford and Lecale Landscape Connections project is inviting your ideas to help shape how this vision becomes a lived reality here—starting with this community survey.

Map of the Strangford and Lecale AONB. Click the image to open the AONB and Geopark Interactive Map

Why your voice matters

We don’t have a fixed plan yet. Instead, we are beginning a conversation with local groups, landowners, and residents to listen to your ideas, needs, and priorities. We want to understand what matters most to you about this landscape and explore how we can work together to protect, connect, and celebrate it. Your answers will play a vital role in shaping the shared vision and actions we develop for the future.

Project timeline

An Expression of Interest has already been submitted, and a full application will follow in November 2025 as we continue gathering ideas and building partnerships. If successful, the project will then move into a Development Phase from 2026 to 2028, where we will work with communities through workshops, co-design, pilots, and testing ideas to create a detailed plan. From 2028 to 2034, the Delivery Phase will bring this plan to life over seven years, with ongoing opportunities for local people to be involved at every stage.

Our commitment

This is not a one-off consultation, it’s the start of a shared journey. If our application is successful, there will be at least two years of dedicated development work, during which, communities will co-design activities, projects, and priorities. You will be part of the decision-making process, ensuring this project truly reflects local needs and ambitions.

Next steps

Filling in this questionnaire is the first step. Later this year we will share what we learn with local communities, and if you’d like to stay involved there will be many opportunities to join workshops, projects, and events during the development stage. Together, we can shape a project that connects people, place, nature, and heritage for the long term.

Community Survey – Your Voice Matters

We’d love for you to share as much information as you can in the answers below. Don’t worry if you can’t answer every question, there are no right or wrong responses. Every bit of feedback, no matter how small, will help shape the application and ensure the project reflects the needs and hopes of our community.

About You

Name

Your Connection to the Landscape

What places, landscapes, or aspects of Strangford and Lecale are most important to you
Do you feel connected to the Strangford and Lecale landscape around you?

Shaping the Strangford and Lecale Landscape Connections Project Together

This next section is about shaping the Strangford and Lecale Landscape Connections project together. It invites you to imagine what our area could be like in the years ahead and to share the hopes and ideas that matter most to you. You might think about how the landscape should look and feel in 10 or 20 years, or what could change for local people, wildlife, and heritage. That could mean stronger opportunities for volunteering, youth engagement, family activities, festivals, or education. It might involve passing on traditional skills, supporting community projects, or creating new ways for people to connect with nature and each other. For some, the future may be about healthier wildlife, cleaner water, more trees and wildflowers, restored habitats, or action on climate change and coastal protection. For others, it could be celebrating what makes this place unique; from historic buildings for nature and farming traditions to folklore, crafts, and the special landscapes of Strangford Lough, the Lecale Coast, and our villages. However you see it, your voice will help shape a shared vision for the future of this landscape.

Get Involved

Would you or your group like to be more involved as this project develops?
If yes or maybe — how would you like to be involved?

Additional Questions for Inclusion and Engagement

These questions are designed to help us understand the experiences and needs of people who don’t usually engage with nature or heritage in the Strangford and Lecale area. Your responses will help shape a more inclusive and accessible Landscape Connections project that works for everyone. If these questions don’t apply to you, feel free to skip this section and continue to the next part of the questionnaire.
Do you (or the group you represent) currently spend much time in nature or outdoor places in the Strangford and Lecale area?
What are the main barriers that make it hard for you or your community to connect with the Strangford and Lecale landscape or heritage?
(Select all that apply)
Have you ever felt excluded or uncomfortable in outdoor or heritage spaces?
For example: this could include more information about local wildlife and habitats, beaches, or woodlands; more information about local wildlife and habitats; opportunities to join guided walks or citizen science projects; family-friendly outdoor events; safe and welcoming spaces to enjoy nature; tree or wildflower planting; nature-based activities for young people; volunteering on conservation projects; or small community-led habitat projects.
For example: Guided wildlife walks, family nature days, quiet or sensory-friendly sessions, opportunities for planting or conservation, local storytelling or folklore events, arts or crafts inspired by nature, or community celebrations of seasonal changes and local wildlife.

On-Farm Nature and Landscape Engagement

Farming and land management are at the heart of the Strangford and Lecale landscape. This section explores how farms and farmers can be part of the Landscape Connections project — through sharing knowledge, showcasing wildlife-friendly practices, and creating opportunities for people to experience nature on working land.
Please tick any of the following activities you or your group would find interesting, useful, or would like to take part in. If none apply, just skip to the next section.
Farm Walks and Open Days
Farm-Based Learning Events
Farmer-Led Initiatives
If you have any other suggestions for On-Farm Nature and Landscape Engagement tell us below:

Accessible Talks and Storytelling

Stories, knowledge, and local voices bring the landscape to life. Through talks, workshops, and creative events, we can share the history, wildlife, and culture of Strangford and Lecale in ways that are welcoming and accessible for everyone. This might include seasonal wildlife talks, storytelling evenings, school or library events, or online sessions that people can join from home.
Please tick any of the following activities you or your group would find interesting, useful, or would like to take part in. If none apply, just skip to the next section.
Library, Community Hall, and School Talks
Online Engagement
If you have any other suggestions for Accessible Talks and Storytelling tell us below:

Creative and Cultural Nature Connection

Art, craft, music, and storytelling are powerful ways to connect people with the landscape. By using creativity, we can explore how nature shapes our culture and traditions, and celebrate the beauty and character of Strangford and Lecale. This could include nature journaling, crafts with natural materials, photography, or community storytelling projects.
Please tick any of the following activities you or your group would find interesting, useful, or would like to take part in. If none apply, just skip to the next section.
Arts, Craft & Heritage-Based Engagement
Intergenerational & Community Activities
If you have any other suggestions for Creative and Cultural Nature Connection tell us below:

Inclusive and Targeted Approaches

Not everyone feels equally welcome or included in outdoor or heritage spaces. This part of the project will explore ways to reach underrepresented groups and create activities that are accessible, welcoming, and relevant to different communities. This could include wellbeing walks, sensory-friendly sessions, bilingual events, or nature activities designed with specific groups in mind.
Please tick any of the following activities you or your group would find interesting, useful, or would like to take part in. If none apply, just skip to the next section.
Nature Connection for Underrepresented Groups
Participation through Everyday Life
If you have any other suggestions for Inclusive and Targeted Approaches tell us below:

(For example: ideas we haven’t covered, places or traditions you’d like to see included, or ways we can make this project more meaningful for your community.)
Would you like us to keep in touch about this project?
We’ll only use your email for this project and won’t share it.
Declaration and consent(Required)
(Required)