We are delighted to have joined with The Fitzone Foundation, a local health & wellness centre based in Craigavon, to assist them with the delivery of ‘Heritage 4 Health’: a new health and wellbeing programme, funded by the NI Environment Link, which combines positive physical and mental health messages with heritage site visits. The programme takes place over 15 sessions held between June 2023 and March 2024, with 20 participants recruited by an open call.

To date ten sessions have been held. The programme started off with 4 sessions in June. To kick things off the group were treated to a tour of Brownlow House.  This was followed in the second week by a trip to the Norman Emerson Group’s sand extraction business on the shores of Lough Neagh, where George Emerson and Conor Jordan provided an insight into the history of sand extraction on Lough Neagh as well as a tour of their operation.  In the third week local guides Jim Conway and Paul May provided a tour of Oxford Island nature reserve, covering the history of the site and tree folklore. Then for the fourth week we headed to Armagh City for a Tour of the Hill including the St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, and The Robinson Library.

The programme recommenced in October after the summer break. with a buttermaking session and tour of the Barn Museum at Tannaghmore Gardens. Next we went to the Kinnego Bushcraft Centre to take part in a foraging walk and bushcraft session. The following week we were then treated to a guided tree trail tour of Lurgan Park by Pascal Downing. In our eighth session we had a Craigavon memories reminiscence workshop, with an introduction to archaeology workshop facilitated by Queens University Belfast archaeologist Ryan Montgomery on 15 November. The year was concluded with a visit and tour of the Almac complex on Tuesday 21 November. Five more sessions will be held between January and March 2024 to conclude the programme.

You can listen to a podcast about the ‘Heritage 4 Health’ project by clicking the below link:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5F700yk6z6R6bhPSe8ulL9?si=RLSVTmLiQ46QnxEYDkWWCA 

‘Heritage 4 Health’ is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fundand delivered in partnership with Northern Ireland Environment Linkand the Verve Healthy Living Centre Alliance – to promote health and wellbeing through engagement with environmental heritage.