Thanks to: Emily Cunningham eegeesea@gmail.com

The Tyne to Tees, Shores and Seas – Seascape Partnership has been awarded £2.9m by the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop and deliver the UK’s first marine Landscape Partnership Scheme. Boosted by a further £2m in partnership funding, this scheme will deliver over 30 projects to benefit the coast, marine environment and coastal communities of South Shields, Sunderland, Durham and Hartlepool.

The scheme focuses on the undervalued Magnesian Limestone seascape between the rivers Tyne and Tees in North East England; where it will improve access to beaches, explore the shipwrecks and habitats beneath the waves, increase biological recording through citizen science, construct a coastal conservation centre, tackle marine litter and create opportunities for local people and visitors to enjoy being on and in the sea. The detail of these projects will be finalised through the funded Development stage, due to commence in January 2018. The scheme aims to take a community-led approach from the beginning, engaging coastal communities and sea users throughout development and delivery.

The Seascape Partnership encompasses a wide range of local, regional and national partners. Led by the Heritage Coast Partnership, these include South Tyneside, Sunderland, Durham and Hartlepool Councils, the National Trust, Northumbrian Water, Durham Wildlife Trust, North East Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, Natural England, Groundwork, Marine Management Organisation, the Environment Agency, East Durham Heritage Group, Donnison School and Durham and Newcastle Universities.

The HLF grant is exciting news for everyone with an interest in marine and coastal zone management and community engagement, as Emily Cunningham, who developed and wrote the successful bid on behalf of the Seascape Partnership explains.

Emily says: “We’re absolutely thrilled that HLF has funded the UK’s first marine Landscape Partnership Scheme. It’s going to enable us to re-engage coastal communities with their heritage, igniting stewardship and working together to realise the potential of this special coastline.”

Drew Bennellick, HLF Head of Landscape and Natural Heritage, says: “Across the UK people are increasingly realising that nature is in trouble and it’s time to take a more proactive approach.

“Schemes like these provide a creative solution to helping people reconnect with landscapes and the environment, to implement solutions at a truly landscape-scale and tackle issues such as soil loss and flooding by supporting partnerships and coalitions of the willing.”

The Seascape scheme will begin its funded development phase in January 2018. For more information, please contact Niall Benson, Heritage Coast Officer, on niall.benson@durham.gov.uk or visit http://www.durhamheritagecoast.org/our-coast/seascape/

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