
Dr Julie Attard
Charnwood Forest Programme Manager
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Partners are fully represented throughout the governance structure of Charnwood Forest Geopark.
The Charnwood Forest Regional Park Board is the strategic body working together on the big issues which impact the future of the area.
The Steering Group has collective responsibility for the delivery of the Landscape Partnership Scheme projects keeping the programme on schedule and managing any amendments to scope and budget. It’s here that the individual work of partners gets woven into the projects to increase the impact and secure integrated care for the area, and opportunities for match funding – real partnership in practice.
The Stakeholder Forum is a huge asset to the Geopark. More than 150 people who in a paid or volunteer role are committed to the area and to helping others explore, understand and care for Charnwood Forest.
The distinctive nature of Charnwood Forest was recognised as far back as the 1930s when it was considered as a National Park, but without official designation the area is under threat.
In 2007 an Officer Steering Group and Stakeholder Group were established to look at ways to manage and promote the area. In 2012 the Charnwood Forest Regional Park Board met for the first time and one of the actions agreed was a bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund Landscape Partnership Scheme.
After an initial National Lottery Heritage Fund bid in 2013, a successful first round application for funding was made in 2017 and the project plans were developed over 18 months to write a round two submission in October 2019.
National Lottery confirmed the grant award in March 2020 but the Covid Pandemic meant the start date was deferred until July 2020 with much ingenuity required to deliver the projects in the early months.
By spring 2021 the full delivery team for the Landscape Partnership Scheme had been recruited and the Regional Park Board had approved the first stages of an application to UNESCO – Charnwood Forest is now an Aspiring Geopark.
Charnwood Forest Programme Manager
Geoheritage Conservation and Interpretation Officer
Heritage Education Officer
Community Engagement Officer
Finance and Administration Officer
Representatives of partner organisations make up the Steering Group responsible for managing the delivery of the Landscape Partnership Scheme.
The strategic body for Charnwood Forest is the Regional Park Board which includes local authority elected members and senior officers from partner organisations. The following organisations and sectors are currently represented:
As we prepare our application to become a UNESCO Global Geopark, it is essential that everything we do, from interpretation to the production of educational resources, is rooted in research and science. Our Expert Advisory Panel provides advice to the Geopark on a diverse range of topics, ensuring all our projects and endeavours meet the very highest standards.