Article first published in:
Wicklow Mountain Views – The Newsletter of the Wicklow Uplands Council.
Issue No. 28.
Dear members and supporters,
I hope everyone had a most enjoyable summer season. It seems rather incredible that following the blizzard conditions in the spring, the summer months proved to be some of the driest on record. These extreme conditions are particularly difficult in the uplands. The blizzards cut off many upland communities for days and the dry conditions brought their own problems including devastating wildfires.
I write this letter as the outgoing Chairman having served in the position for the last three years. I am happy to say that Tom Byrne has been elected to serve as the next Chairman of Wicklow Uplands Council and I wish him the very best in the role. I have been involved with the Uplands Council since the very beginning and its development over the past two decades has been a very interesting journey with many challenges successfully overcome through various partnerships and projects.
The idea for this organisation came from a group organised by the late Adrian Phillips, a founder member of the Irish Uplands Forum, and others. This movement began around 1995 when there had been a long period of difficulties between upland farmers and other voluntary and statutory organisations. A meeting was called to discuss the formation of a new organisation to represent the non statutory views in the uplands with Wicklow Uplands Council coming into existence soon after.
The members resolved to form an organisation which could solve problems by compromise rather than through conflict and I am proud to say that since that time, the Uplands Council has continued to operate on the basis of consensus and partnership with no decision of the Board decided by vote. This ethos has encouraged open discussions and ensured that all voices have had an opportunity to be heard with equal weight and consideration.
Over the past twenty years, the Uplands Council has tackled various issues and identified solutions through innovative projects and programmes. Tensions between stakeholders have largely eased due to this open dialogue but issues can arise from time to time and the Uplands Council continues to play an important role, believing in the importance of partnerships to ensure sustainability.
This past year has been particularly busy for the Uplands Council. The successful proposal for the Sustainable Uplands Agri-environment Scheme (SUAS) project for the Wicklow and Dublin uplands was announced in January and its implementation is ongoing. It is a substantial undertaking and presents an enormous opportunity for the organisation to lead the way yet again.
SUAS was developed based on years of research carried out by Wicklow Uplands Council and partners, and I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of those who have worked, collaborated and participated in the vegetation projects in whatever way. I would especially like to thank our staff past and present.
We have a very full work programme aside from SUAS: The vision for a long distance route from Bray Station to Woodenbridge is getting ever closer with agreements now in place for a trail from Bray Head to link to the Sugar Loaf Way. We are collaborating with the Wicklow Heritage Office this year on a heritage recording project to create a digital archive of built, natural and cultural heritage associated with the communities along the route and its surrounding landscape. Plans are also in place to secure LEADER funding for a path condition survey to access the current condition of upland paths in conjunction with Mountaineering Ireland. In addition we have been notified that we have been awarded a tender for the provision of deer management services in Co Wicklow in conjunction with the Wicklow Deer Management Partnership.
The work of Wicklow Uplands Council could not continue without financial support and we are very grateful to our funders and supporters. The Heritage Council continues to be our main supporter and it was they who first believed in the values and opportunities that an organisation like ours could provide. The Heritage Council plays a very important role in providing heritage advice and assistance to community groups and organisations like ours and without that initial and ongoing support we would not be where we are today. Of course we are also very grateful to Denis O’Brien, a long-time supporter of the organisation and to Wicklow County Council for their continued assistance.
As is evident throughout this newsletter, Wicklow Uplands Council is involved in many activities and projects and I hope that you will enjoy reading more about them and the various other projects and initiatives in the county.
Finally, to all our members past and present, our board and our staff, and to anybody who has contributed in any way, I would like to extend my sincere thanks.
Sean Byrne,
Outgoing Chair, Wicklow Uplands Council.
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