Farmers' initiative targets car theft

The farmers' car parks offer security and facilities

By BBC NI environment correspondent Mike McKimm

The increasing number of cars visiting the Mourne Mountains in County Down is creating problems for the area.

The Mournes attract hundreds of walkers and climbers in summer.

Thieves have had easy pickings breaking into cars left in isolated car parks to steal any belongings unwisely left behind.

The increasing number of people visiting the area by car has also created problems over parking space, sometimes blocking narrow roads, much to the anger of local farmers.

Farmers' initiative

But an initiative by the Mourne Heritage Trust has led to a novel answer.

Desmond Patterson welcomes the chance to increase his farm's income

They have encouraged three local farmers so far to provide parking and facilities in their farmyards.

Cars parked there are under constant supervision and the welcome addition of public toilets, showers and even a tea house should make the carparks very popular.

There is a charge, on average about £3 a day. But those using the new parking facilities seem to be happy to pay it for peace of mind.

The added bonus of a hot cup of tea is also welcome in what is a very rural and relatively deserted part of the countryside.

The new facilities have to blend into the rural landscape and make use of abandoned farm buildings, mature trees and existing gateways.

As many of the local farmers own land running back to the foothills of the mountains, they can also provide new points of entry.

Extra income

It is hoped that these will take the pressure off the current 'honeypots' as they are known, because walkers tend to cluster around the pathways and these are becoming increasingly eroded under the pressure.

Ultimately, the places where these new ventures can be set up are limited and already the Mourne Heritage Trust is looking at the possibility of a 'Park and Ride' scheme to keep the walkers in the mountains, but the cars out.

Meanwhile this new idea is been welcomed by farmers as a means of diversifying their income.

There is a crisis in hill farms with average annual salaries dropping to as little as £5,000 and below.

The extra income will be welcomed by those who can take advantage of their remote location, which ironically in the past, has worked against them.

Some local farmers used to say, when a tourist commented on the beauty of the view, that it did not put money in their pocket. But times appear to be changing.