Marketing Lancashire

Activities

Annual Report 2017-18

Great Stone, Bentham (Jon Brook)

Report now produced and available to view at https://www.forestofbowland.com/Plans-Strategies-Reports

30th September 2018

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Bowland Revealed

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.

6th May 2014 to 30th April 2016

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Actions

2.4 Sustainable Tourism
Action Targets and Timescales Partners
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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2.2 Local Economy and Rural Services
Action Targets and Timescales Partners
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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3.4 Information and Publicity
Action Targets and Timescales Partners
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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3.5 Branding and Identity
Action Targets and Timescales Partners
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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