The Sacred Land Project |
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The Sacred Land Project aims to renew a sense of the sacredness of particular places. |
| It brings together people from across the UK who are interested in conserving, enhancing and developing Britain's sacred sites. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-UK) has made Sacred Land its religious project for the millenium and the scheme has won the support of religious leaders, conservationists and heritage groups throughout the country. It is supported by the Alliance of Religion and Conservation and by ICOREC, the International Consultancy on Religion, Education and Culture. |
| Projects come from cities and towns as well as the countryside and reflect the initiatives of local people within their local context. Some Sacred Land projects involve the conservation and restoration of sites such as ancient holy wells, shrines, monuments, burial places, and pilgrimage routes while, others concentrate on the creation of new areas for prayer, reflection and community life. In Walsingham a new Pilgrim Way is being set out along a disused railway line. In Manchester a Path of Life is to lead to an open space in a run-down housing estate. |
| Each project is encouraged to take on partnerships between local government, religious communities, environmentalists and other interested individuals. |
| The Sacred Land Project is not a scheme that will enable groups to
buy property or restore major buildings and its primary purpose is not
to provide funding for individual projects. It is a programme which helps enable local groups to put together the resources, expertise and the national profile needed to initiate projects on sites of special religious significance. |
The Project is restoring a nature reserve at Pennant Melagnel, Wales, where, legend tells us, a prince founded the site when a rabbit he was pursuing took refuge in the skirts of the monk Melagnel |
At the chapel of Our Lady of the Crag, Knaresborough, Yorkshire, the Project is to create a Marian garden. |
At Wigtown, Scotland, the central are of the town is to be redesigned as open space for residents and visitors to reflect in tranquility. |
| One simple way to get involved is to become a Pilgrim Supporter by
making an annual donation of £25 which keeps individuals up to date
with the project's progress and gives them the opportunity to visit some
of the sites. Visit the Sacred Land Project web pages For more information contact |
| John Smith, Project Development Officer, The Sacred Land Project, ICOREC, 9A Didsbury Park, Manchester M20 5LH. |
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