Marketing Lancashire
Activities
Report now produced and available to view at https://www.forestofbowland.com/Plans-Strategies-Reports
Bowland Revealed is an exciting arts offer designed to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Forest of Bowland AONB. A partnership project between LCC Arts Development Service, the AONB and Ribble Valley Borough Council, the programme has received funding from Arts Council England, via their Grants for the Arts strand, and from the partner organisations.
Landmarks (managed by Mid Pennine Arts) were a series of four ambitious, temporary outdoor visual arts commissions inspired by the Bowland landscape and sited in popular locations around the AONB. On show from September to late December 2014 (Sun Catcher until October 2015) the project attracted attention from BBC's Countryfile programme.
50 Years in the Making (Managed by Green Close) ran from June to December 2014 and engaged local residents, visitors, schools and artists through a series of workshops and exhibitions.
Bowland Explorers' Club (Managed by Mid Pennine Arts) began in May 2015 offering a programme of creative participation which particularly targets communities living around the AONB. The Explorers' Club has visited Cloudspotting (Gisburn Forest Hub), Blackburn Heritage Festival, Burnley Canal Festival; Hopeful & Glorious Art Fair (Lytham), Garstang Victorian Christmas Fair and Brockholes Visitor Centre (x2) In partnership with Wild Rumpus, the club organised a final celebration event in March 2016, again at Gisburn Forest, which attracted over 250 participants. Branches of the club also worked with In Situ in Brierfield, with Ground Up, linked to the Burnley Mechanics At Home group, and with a group in Bolton.
A Bowland Revealed discussion/evaluation workshop is planned for late April 2016.
Actions
Action | Targets and Timescales | Partners | ||
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2.4A | Develop resources and a series of training sessions to enable businesses to develop bespoke visitor experiences from their door e.g. rainy day guides, car free itineraries, access opportunities |
Support 40 businesses through workshops and one-to-one sessions 2019 |
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2.4D | Continue to encourage local retailers, pubs and restaurants to source, stock and utilise and promote local produce |
Recruit and support 15 new BEx members from food-related businesses 2017 |
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2.4E | Encourage and support local authorities to develop and promote 'Top 10' AONB visitor experiences which are accessible from gateway towns and cities |
'AONB Top 10' promoted by at least 2 local authorities 2017 |
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2.4F | Identify and promote opportunities based on seasonal activities to help encourage year-round (or 'off-peak') tourism - e.g. seasonal routes/trails, seasonal produce, bird-watching, fishing, geo-tourism and dark skies) |
Workshop held to highlight the opportunities for year-round tourism. 2016 |
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2.4G | Continue to support the development of business clusters in the provision and marketing of 'tourism packages' e.g. Bowland wildlife website and Gisburn Forest Bike trails |
Develop 2 business cluster projects 2019 |
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2.4I | Support opportunities to develop and promote 'Gisburn Forest and Stocks' as a destination for cycling, walking and riding |
New branding and visitor information rolled out for Gisburn Forest and Stocks 2014 onwards Investigate potential to divert bus route to link with Gisburn Forest Hub 2014 |
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2.4J | Investigate the role of mobile technologies to provide an enhanced visitor experience, recognising the limitations of the telecommunications network in the AONB |
Produce a mobile-friendly version of the AONB website 2015 Develop at least 3 mobile apps for walking, cycling and local produce/crafts 2019 |
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Action | Targets and Timescales | Partners | ||
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2.2F | Develop an effective way of collecting and disseminating tourism related data for the AONB |
Collate and analyse tourism data annually. 2019 Develop visitor profiles Disseminate information to partners annually |
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Action | Targets and Timescales | Partners | ||
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3.4D | Promote the Countryside Code to visitors with clear messages communicated through all AONB and partner communications channels |
Review and develop content on Countryside Code on AONB website, social media, print and on-site interpretation, wherever possible Annually |
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Action | Targets and Timescales | Partners | ||
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3.5E | Ensure that AONB gateway sites (e.g. country parks, market towns, nature reserves) and tourism businesses open to the public continue to carry AONB literature |
Review and maintain leaflet distribution service Annually |
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3.5F | Develop and maintain relationships with specialist media in promoting the AONB as sustainable tourism destination |
Update AONB green travel guide Annually Investigate scope to develop destination guide through 'Our Land', a Protected Landscapes tourism project 2014 |
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