LOUGH ERNE LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP (LELP)
The LELP Board, partners and staff team are excited to work with local community groups and organisations to deliver the Lough Erne Heritage Festival 2024.
The LELP partnership was established in 2017, has been led by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) NI. Includes several other partner organisations including Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, Waterways Ireland, National Trust, Fermanagh Rural Community Network and Lough Erne Heritage. Upper Lough Erne Region was also a partner organisation up to early 2024 when the group disbanded.
The partnership has also been supported by the Department of Environment, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, the Department of Communities – Heritage Environment Division and Tourism Northern Ireland.
The main activities of the partnership have been generously supported through funding by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (circa £2.7m), as well as match funding provided by the RSPB NI, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, Waterways Ireland and the National Trust (as funders partners). The funding and activities have been focussed on the successful delivery of the Landscape Partnership Scheme.
Our Vision
“Lough Erne’s unique built, natural and cultural heritage is protected, enhanced and cherished by all”
Our Mission
The Lough Erne Landscape Partnership (LELP) has focussed on the conservation and promotion of Lough Erne’s landscape character and unique heritage. LELP has addressed ecological issues, reconnected communities with their heritage, brought economic and social benefits, and created links between stakeholders to realise a longer-term goal of the coordinated management of the landscape.
LELP objectives following completion of the programme is:
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To connect and engage people with their unique landscape by developing skills, improving confidence and providing opportunities to learn about it, change perceptions and influence its management.
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To improve and protect biodiversity and conserve the built heritage of our unique landscape, and involve communities in its protection, interpretation, and conservation.
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To create and improve physical and intellectual access to and around the Lough making it a better place to live, work and visit.
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To engage with communities to generate pride in their unique cultural heritage, celebrate it and be emotionally and physically involved with it.
To find out more on Our Story so Far, click HERE.
The Landscape Partnership Scheme will conclude in December 2024. 44 impactful projects have now been delivered by our LELP team and partners. We are proud that the LELP programme has brought together statutory partners, eNGO’s and community groups, who all played a significant part in it’s success. To find out more information on the Achievements, Outcomes and Impacts of the partnership, click: Resources - Lough Erne Landscape Partnership (lelp.org.uk)
To celebrate the success of this programme, we are planning a vibrant and engaging festival for local communities and visitors alike. The Lough Erne Heritage Festival will showcase the rich tapestry of the Lough Erne area through a series of heritage events, activities, exhibitions, and workshops designed to highlight the region’s diverse heritage and the significant impact of LELP's initiatives.
Thank you for celebrating with us!