Calls have been made for the Department for Agriculture (DEARA) to invest more money into Gosford Forest Park in order to help it maximise its full potential – as well as help it return to full health following the devastation caused by Storm Éowyn in January 2025.
DUP MLA Gareth Wilson raised the issue during an Assembly exchange this week, highlighting the importance of Gosford to the local community and the wider region.
He said the popular forest park, which is managed in collaboration with Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, had been significantly impacted by Storm Éowyn.
Referring to the Minister Andrew Muir’s report into a nature recovery strategy for NI, Mr Wilson said it was right to emphasise the need to help, adding that Gosford represented a prime opportunity to do so.
“Gosford is a fantastic site and very well cherished locally,” he said. “There is a lot more that could be done with further financial interventions from the Department, which would lead to an even greater experience for people in Newry and Armagh and those visiting from further afield.”
Mr Wilson asked Mr Muir to consider allocating additional resources to support the ongoing regeneration of the forest park and to meet with him and council officials to discuss its future potential.
In response, Minister Muir said he was happy to engage with Mr Wilson and departmental officials on the issue and confirmed he was familiar with Gosford Forest Park.
“I know it well – I’ve been down there and it’s a great place to be,” the Minister said, adding that he had even completed a 10k run in the park. He acknowledged the impact Storm Éowyn had on the site and the local community.
Minister Muir also pointed to wider work under way within his Department, including the Tree Planting Action Plan, aimed at improving resilience and supporting nature recovery.
“We need to do more on that, and that work is now under way,” he said. “We need to set it on a path where we’re having more tree planting and building that resilience.”
Details on Minister Muir’s Strategy are available on the DAERA website: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/consultations/draft-nature-recovery-strategy-daera. Responses should be submitted before the deadline on March 18, 2026.
