ADP

The government has launched a consultation to develop a new Science and Society Strategy. The initiative is designed to promote public engagement on complex scientific issues. The aim of the strategy is to bring together a range of views from the general public, businesses and scientists. The minister for science and innovation has praised the role of the science centre and museums in making science more accessible.

Every year Explore-At-Bristol works with thousands of school children and the local community with the aim of inspiring their visitors about science. Explore-At-Bristol is part of a national network of science centres and museums.

The New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA) is going to carry out a public consultation on two draft documents outlining its 20 year vision for the park. The National Park Plan and the Recreation Management Strategy are the result of a development and consultation process between the Authority and 70 organisations, as well as workshops. The National Park Plan is the first National Park Management Plan that has been developed by NFNPA, and a first to be combined with the Core Strategy.

Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Limited (HWHL) was set up in 2006 by groups including One North East and English Heritage to attract visitors to the Wall.   Of the 450 businesses across its route, 78% said the group was having a positive impact on the economy.  As well as helping to boost the economy the group also helps to protect and conserve the World Heritage Site. HWHL hopes to build the area into a brand, and the businesses which responded positively found that the Hadrian’s Wall brand has raised the profile of the area.

A website that guides visitors around the 555 sq miles of the Peak District National Park has been created by the Peak Interpretation Partnership. It is in partnership with the Peak District National Park Authority, Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, High Peak Borough Council, The National Trust, Natural England, English Heritage and Severn Trent Water. The Website is funded through the partnership and part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

It allows visitors to share their experiences of the peak district through MP3 audio files, podcasts, blogs and photographs. It also has walking trail guides, links to accommodation and places to eat and drink.

A record number of people visited the British Museum in London last year to see China’s Terracotta Army exhibition. More than 850,000 people viewed the exhibition, the highest attendance figures since the Tutankhamun display in 1972. The overall visitor figures for 2007-8 was 6 million.

An £8m interpretation centre is offering visitors the first multi-media tour of Cardiff Castle’s 2,000 year history. Visitors can watch a film of its history via a girl who meets ghosts from across the ages. There are displays in English and Welsh, a timeline of the castle and a widescreen television that loops images of the site, artefacts and costumed re-enactments. The rest of the castle is a self-guided tour using a special hand-held device which explains the heritage in 10 languages.

Plans to convert the Victorian Bestwood Winding Engine House, in Bestwood Country Park, Nottingham, into a visitor attraction has been given the go ahead. The restoration of the Grade 2 listed building will preserve one of the few remaining twin-cylinder, vertical winding steam engines used for English coal mining. It is funded by a £1.1 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £300,000 from the Greater Nottingham Partnership and additional funding from the county council. A nearby electrical sub-station, Dynamo House, will also be restored and the remaining structure will be extended and converted into a visitor centre, with historical exhibition on the Winding House. Construction will be begin in August 2008 and is expected to be completed by summer 2009.

More than £4m is needed to turn Croome Court, in Worcestershire, into a tourist attraction by the National Trust. Croome Court was the former home of the Earls of Coventry but last year it was brought by the Croome Heritage Trust and will be managed by the National Trust. It is hoped that the house will be opened to the public later this year.

The new strategy from the Heritage Lottery Fund is called ‘Valuing our Heritage: Investing in our Future’. It outlines the HLF’s plans to invest £1bn in UK heritage over the next 5 years. Among the changes are a simplified application process, a support and mentoring service and extra help for inexperienced applicants. It should help to provide a quicker turnaround for funding assessments. They will also be encouraging green practices to help minimize environmental impact. Other changes will include a new youth participation strategy called ‘Champions of the Future’ to try engage more young people.

Work has begun on a £3.6m revamp of one of Coventry’s city centres most historic areas. Ironmonger Row and the Burges will be redeveloped into a public square, with cafés and restaurants. The Burges is one of few remaining parts of the city to survive World War Two bombing and redevelopment. The area will become completely pedestrainised.