Red squirrels and folklore to shape new heritage trail in Cushendall’s Cottage Wood

Cottage Wood just off Ballybrack Road, Cushendall

A woodland on the edge of Cushendall known for its red squirrels, winding paths and sea views is set to become an immersive outdoor heritage attraction after councillors approved plans for a new art and storytelling trail at Cottage Wood.

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has backed proposals from Cushendall Development Group to transform parts of the 10-acre woodland into a family-focused heritage experience celebrating local folklore, music, history and community identity.

The project will combine a new heritage art trail through the woodland with a mapped self-guided walking tour around Cushendall village, designed to attract visitors while encouraging local children and families to engage with the area’s stories and traditions.

According to council officers, the initiative aims to create “accessible, engaging, and sustainable ways for residents and visitors to explore local heritage” while enhancing cultural tourism in the Glens area.

Woodland trail to feature folklore sculptures and storytelling

One of the centrepieces of the proposal is the Cottage Wood Heritage Art Trail, which will use sculptures carved from tree stumps and fallen timber already within the woodland.

The artworks will reflect local mythology, folklore and heritage themes connected to the area.

Planned sculptures include:

• A swan inspired by the Children of Lir legend

• A horse linked to Tír na nÓg folklore

• A fairy based on Tiveragh fairy legends

• A squirrel sculpture reflecting Cottage Wood’s famous red squirrel population

• A harp celebrating Feis na nGleann

Each sculpture will feature QR codes linking visitors to stories, child-friendly explanations and additional historical information online.

The trail is intended to be strongly child-focused, with local young people helping research heritage themes and contributing to how the stories and artworks are interpreted.

Council documents stated:

“The trail will be child-oriented, with local children involved in researching heritage themes and contributing to the interpretation of the artworks.”

A trail passport and entrance map board are also planned to encourage families to explore the route together.

Future plans include storytelling chair and village heritage route

The proposals also include a second phase featuring a carved wooden “story chair” representing themes including music, local sport and Cushendall’s connection with the sea.

The chair is intended to act as a community storytelling space within the woodland.

Alongside the woodland attraction, the project will introduce a self-guided heritage walking tour through Cushendall village itself.

Plans include:

• A large central orientation map, potentially beside the Curfew Tower

• Between 10 and 15 heritage points of interest around the village

• Information boards and QR interpretation points

• Online access and printed trail maps available through the Tourist Office

Council officers said the combined woodland and village trails would blend “art, education, storytelling and tourism” into a connected heritage experience.

Red squirrels and biodiversity central to project

Cottage Wood already holds significant appeal for visitors because of its wildlife, particularly its increasingly rare population of red squirrels which are regularly spotted throughout the site.

Located on the north-west side of Cushendall off Ballybrack Road, the council-owned woodland contains a mix of broadleaved woodland, scenic viewpoints, picnic areas and winding walking paths.

The site supports a wide range of native and non-native species including Scots Pine, Holly, Ash, Horse Chestnut, Beech, Sycamore, Spruce and Elm, alongside woodland plants such as Bluebells, Wild Garlic, Primroses and Wood Sorrel.

During committee discussions, a council officer described the scheme as “excellent for biodiversity and habitat protection”, particularly in relation to the woodland’s red squirrel habitat.

The officer added that the community group was keen to work alongside council teams and had already applied for National Lottery Heritage Fund support to help deliver the project.

Council backs project as tourism and community initiative

The proposal was approved during a meeting of the council’s Leisure and Development Committee in April.

If funding is secured, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Tourism and Recreation team will help facilitate the programme.

Supporters believe the project could strengthen Cushendall’s tourism offering by encouraging visitors to spend more time exploring both the village and the surrounding woodland environment while giving local families new ways to engage with the area’s history and folklore.

The development also reflects a growing trend towards low-impact outdoor tourism experiences that combine heritage, nature, digital interaction and family participation.

With folklore carvings, wildlife, storytelling and interactive trails all planned within the woodland, Cottage Wood could soon become one of the Glens’ most distinctive visitor experiences.