Annual Review2012/13

The past year has been one of progress. There is a growing interest in the work of CSGN and the potential that a central belt wide environmental body has to deliver transformational projects.

Below I outline some of the year’s major milestones which give a flavour of our direction of travel.

John Muir Trail Launch and progress; in September, we hosted an event at the Scottish Parliament called ‘Bringing John Muir Home’. The reception was attended by over 150 people including Ministers, MSPs, guests and staff. It provided an opportunity to launch the John Muir Trail, which will be opened by First Minister, Alex Salmond MSP, on John Muir Day on 21 April 2014. Particular thanks are due to Ron McCraw and his team at Scottish Natural Heritage who have worked wonders in progressing work on the Trail itself. As I write this introduction work is well underway, not just on the Trail itself, but on the process of marketing the path, through a new website and comprehensive maps and guides.

2012 Forum; our biggest event of the year was the 2012 CSGN Forum. Held in June at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow, over 200 delegates attended and enjoyed presentations covering brownfield land impacts in Glasgow and New York, the concept of the Ecological City, and two truly inspirational landscape projects; the High Line in New

York and the Olympic Park in London. I am delighted to say that CSGN is in the process of helping support a feasibility study, in cooperation with the City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust, for a “Leith Highline” project that would see a new bridge built that would provide a crucial link between cycle paths in the north east and north west of the city.

Local Authority Concordats; seven Councils have now set out their commitments to deliver the CSGN in their areas and several others are finalising their actions.

Policy and Planning; we are investing significant effort in securing a supportive policy and planning framework which will help us and our many partners to drive forward delivery of the CSGN. Each of the local authorities in the CSGN area has begun work on new Strategic and/or Local Development Plans (SD/LDPs) and each is required to incorporate the CSGN in its plans. We are delighted by the level of support for the CSGN set out in the draft Glasgow Clyde Valley SDP and the draft LDPs for Falkirk and Stirling.

CSGN funding; it is pleasing to report that, through our 2012 Development Fund, Community Projects Fund and Learning Outdoors Fund we have been able to support over 260 local projects by offering grants totalling nearly £1.15M. These projects are beginning to make a real difference on the ground.

Chair’s Foreword

Looking to the future, two major influences which will shape the initiative in the years to come emerged during the year; the Scottish Government began work on the third National Planning Framework (NPF3) and the lead partners instigated a review of governance.

NPF3; work started on NPF3 in the latter part of 2012. This made it necessary to nominate the CSGN to become a National Development in NPF3 in order that the development can be identified in the Main Issues Report (MIR). Notes from a partner workshop held in November were collated and used by the lead partners to prepare the submission by the deadline of 14 December 2012. As well as our own submission, the CSGN was nominated by six other organisations including the Healthy Environment Network.

Efforts are now turning to how best to respond to the MIR released for consultation in April 2013 and how to make the most of the goodwill of partners wishing to see the CSGN retained and strengthened in NPF3. This will include hosting another CSGN consultation event in June to gather partners’ views.

Governance Review – In February 2013, the lead partners instigated a review of the CSGN to ensure that governance arrangements are fit for purpose. The recommendations from the review are being considered and it is intended

that any changes will be in place by April 2014.

In the meantime, the CSGN Partnership Board has recently signed off a new work plan for 2013 – 2016 which sets out clear milestones for the next three years. I am confident that, with the on-going support of the lead partners, Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), and with our local authority and other stakeholders that the momentum achieved this year can be sustained. Working together we have begun the process of delivering the CSGN on the ground, thereby helping transform Central Scotland.

Finally, I would like to record my gratitude to all of my fellow board members for their ongoing and thoughtful support. I would particularly like to take this opportunity to thank Rebecca Maxwell of Stirling Council, Cllr Eddie Philips, East Renfrewshire Council and Cllr Peter Convery of South Ayrshire Council who retired during the year.

Keith Geddes

Chair, CSGN Partnership Board

CSGN Board Members from left to right: Andrew Bachell, David Henderson Howat, John Bury, Helen Zealley, Keith Geddes, Iain McTaggart, Sheila Beck, Stuart Tait, Andrew Mickel.

Vacant & Derelict Land (VDL) Advocacy in the preceding year, meant that the ‘greening’ of vacant and derelict land was reintroduced to the criteria for the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Fund from 2012-13. At least two authorities received support from the Fund to help to restore sites to green end uses.

Two VDL projects supported through the 2011-12 CSGN Development Fund received awards:

Glasgow City Council’s Stalled Spaces Initiative won the Community Involvement category of the 2012 Scottish Award for Quality in Planning; and

Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust and City of Edinburgh Council’s Temporary Greenspace Study won the 2012 Landscape Institute Award for Strategic Landscape Planning.

£218K of CSGN Development Funding was awarded to five VDL projects:

Forest Research began site investigations and trials to demonstrate the benefits of restoring typical brown-field sites to woodland for woody biomass production. This research will be complemented by an advisory service and a series of targeted workshops to disseminate the results.

The Irvine Bay Urban Regeneration Company developed proposals to enhance the natural environment and create/improve path networks around the partly vacant 350ha Riverside industrial site on the edge of Irvine, and created a community garden on a derelict gap site in Stevenston.

Stirling Council prepared path and woodland development plans for the 43ha former landfill site at Polmaise. The detailed plans will enable applications for funding for implementation to be submitted.

Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust developed proposals and began greening a prominent VDL site within the Western Harbour at Leith and identified other project work at Craigmillar.

East Renfrewshire Council developed proposals for the Barrhead Green Network, and began reclamation of a site which will improve access and create a 1.7ha woodland.

Green Network BusinessesWest Dunbartonshire Council received £31.5K to audit the woodlands and improve the path network in the Vale of Leven Industrial Estate to the north west of Dumbarton. The industrial estate is set within the historic estate landscape of Strathleven House, an A listed Palladian mansion.

Over the year, the CSGN Support Unit worked with 10 businesses to develop Your Green Business Opportunity case studies to demonstrate to other businesses that investment in GN can help to meet business targets.

‘ Creating an environment for sustainable economic growth’

A place for growth

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A place for growth (continued)

Employment & TrainingIn 2012-13, FCS allocated £699K (supplemented by £77K of partnership funding) to enable seven organisations to provide training opportunities of a minimum of 10 weeks duration. 226 young people benefitted from a placement during the year.

Six schemes were awarded £659K (some over 3 years) through the 2012-15 CSGN Development Fund to support employment and training:

The Dalmarnock Centre has established a new social enterprise to deliver employability and green skills training in forestry and woodland creation and landscape maintenance. In the first year, ten unemployed people from disadvantaged communities within Dalmarnock, Rutherglen and Parkhead have been provided with training and work experience, and secured qualifications in a range of practical skills, whilst improving local greenspaces.

The Cassiltoun Trust delivered the first year of a two year employability project within Castlemilk Woodlands in Glasgow. Through the project, 19 local unemployed people in this deprived area of Glasgow received work experience, training and skills development, through participation in a programme of work to manage and enhance the local woodlands. Approximately 4km of paths and steps within the woodlands have been maintained or improved as a result of the project, leading to increased use of the woodlands by local people and a reduced incidence of anti-social behaviour. Participants have moved on to employment, education or gone on to gain further qualifications.

Fife Council’s Employability & Skills Team and Building Services set up the Fife Core Path Implementation Team recruiting young unemployed people between the ages of 16 and 24. So far, four young people have been employed and received training in a range of outdoor skills. Together they have worked on 45 core paths, covering over 93km of the network, including reopening overgrown and damaged paths and carrying out a range of surface and signage improvements.

North Ayrshire Council created a local path network on vacant former industrial sites to connect local sites in and around Kilbirnie to encourage greater physical activity and active travel. The improvements were delivered via a three month intermediate labour market project, which saw five young unemployed people provided with practical and vocational training and work experience. The physical improvements included: 1.1km of paths upgraded and widened; 1,000 native trees planted; 2ha of wildflower meadow created; delivery of path infrastructure, like seats and bins; and a number of fly-tipping and litter patrols undertaken in partnership with the local community.

The Falkland Stewardship Trust has developed the “Woodlands on the Edge” project to bring neglected and underused woodlands along the south side of the Lomond Hills Landscape Partnership area. Following an audit of the woodlands, funding is being sought to establish an employability scheme to provide apprenticeships to assist unemployed people to acquire forestry and woodland conservation skills. The scheme will be focused on 16-25 year olds and over 25s from disadvantaged groups (including armed forces veterans who are re-skilling).

The David Livingstone Centre Trust began carrying out improvements to the grounds of the David Livingstone Centre in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire. Four young people were recruited to the Council’s Modern Apprenticeship programme and, so far, have been involved in repairing the Natural Play Area in the grounds and creating or restoring 500m of path.Ca

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Woodland CreationSince 2011, woodland planting in the CSGN has been stimulated by the introduction of a new Scottish Rural Development Programme planting model for the area.

Work started on a CSGN Woodland Creation Action Plan to identify opportunities for new woodland creation initiatives across the CSGN.

Good progress was made on forestry and woodland strategies by local authorities and partners to guide future woodland expansion across the CSGN area. Strategies were published for Glasgow & Clyde Valley, Edinburgh & the Lothians and the Central Scotland Forest area. The remaining plans should be ready by Summer 2013.

£122K of CSGN Development Funding supported other woodland creation activity:

The Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust began work on a 3-year programme of woodland creation and green network enhancement. The Trust is providing support and guidance to landowners and tenant farmers to help them take advantage of grant opportunities for woodland creation in both urban and rural settings. In year one, grant applications have been made to deliver 25ha of new woodland and 20ha of woodland management.

Glasgow City Council undertook an assessment of the value and ecosystem effects of approximately 1,000 ha of woodland in the City and surveyed approximately 15,000 trees within the City’s open spaces, parklands and cemeteries/crematoria. The results from this work will help the Council to plan the long-term, sustainable management of the City’s woodland resource.

‘ Creating an environment more in balance, one that will support Central Scotland to thrive in a changing climate’

A place in balance

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A place in balance (continued)

Urban Greening£25,000 of CSGN funding was made available to the Glasgow Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership (GCVGNP), matching funding from other partners, to enable three distinct but related Climate Change Adaptation Studies to go ahead looking at: Woodland Creation and Land Use Change at a Catchment Scale; Overheating in Urban Areas; and GIS Analysis of Hazards and Vulnerabilities in Urban Areas. Work on the three studies was completed in March. Project outputs are being used by GCVGNP to inform what and where the role of the Green Network and Green Infrastructure should be in a Glasgow and Clyde Valley Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.

Glasgow City Council was awarded £115,000 to develop multi-functional green network projects across the City, as part of a wider strategy for climate change adaptation. The sites identified include areas with high flood risk, greenspace deficits, VDL and water quality issues. Funding in 2012-13 supported design and consultation for sites at Camlachie in the Clyde Gateway area, Sandyhills Park and Castlemilk Park. A funding strategy has been prepared and investment from the Development Fund, the Council and other partners over the next 2 years will enable the plans to be implemented.

The Scottish Green Roof Forum produced an information leaflet on green roofs to enhance understanding of living roofs and encourage their use in Scotland. Su

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Greenspace for Health & Well-being FCS, SNH, NHS Health Scotland and NHS Health Facilities Scotland continued to implement the Greening the NHS Estate programme.

A woodland management plan was developed for the grounds of Ailsa & Ayr Hospital. Work on site is under way including remedial tree safety work, thinning, hedge planting, and creation of two new woodland paths with accessible seating and rest areas.

The Royal Edinburgh Hospital was awarded funding from the Green Exercise Partnership for a path improvement project and to complete a woodland management plan for the hospital grounds.

Major works were completed by Central Scotland Forest Trust at the Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert. The woodlands have been managed and invasive vegetation removed from around Larbert Loch. A new lochside path and a network of woodland trails along with the installation of site furniture and signage all make the hospital grounds more accessible for staff, patients and local people. An onsite FCS Ranger is leading Branching Out

and Cardiac Rehabilitation activities in partnership with NHS clinicians, as well as hosting woodland fun days for families and tai chi sessions in the woodland. Funding has been secured to create a wooden viewing platform at the Loch.

Plans were developed for the grounds of Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow, with site improvement work to start in 2013/14. Looking ahead, a number of other potential NHS hospital sites and community health centres are currently being scoped in Fife, Scottish Borders and Glasgow Clyde Valley Health Board areas.

£27.5K of CSGN Development Funding also supported the following health projects:

PARC Craigmillar Urban Regeneration Company prepared a feasibility report for the delivery of the Park for Health Vision for the Craigmillar/South-east Wedge area of Edinburgh. This looks at how the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at Little France could be connected to the wider area, including the North Meadows. The report will be used by PARC and the City of Edinburgh Council in applications to secure funding to realise the project.

Edinburgh Cyrenians developed and consulted on plans for a new community garden at St John’s Hospital in Livingston. Implementation should begin in the summer of 2013.

Recreation & Active Travel Implementation of the 210 km (130 mile) John Muir Trail got under way in earnest in 2012. Land manager negotiations and work on path improvements continued throughout the year. At the end of the reporting period, the only negotiations still underway were with landowners between Strathblane and Balloch, where two options are still being investigated. Work remains on programme for the route to be open by Easter 2014. Work is also well advanced on a John Muir Trail website and information products such as a map-guide, interpretation and artworks, route merchandise and souvenirs. Signage and way marking are being delivered through Sustrans. Route launch arrangements are being developed through the 2014 Homecoming Working Group.

A place to feel good (continued) A place to feel good (continued)

‘ Creating an environment which supports healthy lifestyles and good physical and mental well-being’

A place to feel good

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A place to feel good (continued)

SNH developed and consulted on proposals for a strategic network of routes for recreation and active travel. It also funded Transform Scotland, in partnership with Deltix Transport Consulting, to prepare a strategic review of opportunities for promoting active travel in the CSGN, informed by key stakeholder discussions. This review will identify short-term priority tasks to 2015 and a longer term programme of work. Complementing this review, Paths for All has been developing a suite of 16 CSGN Active Travel Case Studies which will promote best practice within the CSGN area and across Scotland. The case studies will be launched in 2013.

£70K of CSGN Development Funding supported three access projects:

Govan Workspace Limited started work on a riverside path on the south bank of the River Clyde between Water Row and the back of the Old Govan Church, off Govan Road. This will recreate an historic right of way, lost when the Harland and Wolff Shipyard was closed in the 1960s, on a prominent derelict site adjacent to the church, and opposite the new Riverside Museum.

The City of Edinburgh Council has installed two Active Travel Information Hubs at Westerhailes and Oxgangs to promote and encourage active travel. The hubs utilise a 3D model of the City of Edinburgh and show local paths and cycle networks, visitor attractions, local amenities, parks and greenspaces. They also suggest local walks and cycle rides and provide updated information on events and activities.

Clackmannanshire Council improved the amenity and biodiversity value of the southern end of the Devon Way, immediately adjacent to Alloa town centre. Thickets of native trees and shrubs, as well as standard trees, were planted by local school children to enhance this traffic-free access route from Alloa town centre and railway station to the Healthcare Centre, leisure centre and on to the Hillfoots.

Community Growing As part of the 2010 CSGN Baseline research, we undertook a Community Growing Spaces Audit to map the extent of community growing within the CSGN area and to identify areas which might benefit most from community growing projects. Findings from the report were presented at an SNH Sharing Good Practice event in May 2012 and disseminated widely.

In late 2011, SNH, Scottish Government Food, Drink & Rural Communities Division (SGFD&RCD) and the CSGN Chair agreed to support the Scottish Allotment and Gardens Society (SAGS) to produce an Allotment Design Guide. The Support Unit appointed a consultant on behalf of the Steering Group and SAGS to help them develop the guide. The Consultant and SAGS presented early information about the guide at the SNH Sharing Good Practice event on 17 May 2012. The guidance will be of use to planners and community groups looking for information on site development for food growing projects. The guidance will be launched by the Minister when he makes his opening address at the annual SAGS Conference in June 2013.

£521K of CSGN Development Funding (including funding from SGFD&RCD) supported five growing projects. Ten smaller projects also received grant through the 2011/12 CSGN Community Project Fund.

The Urban Roots Initiative has transformed an acre of vacant land in Toryglen, Glasgow into a thriving community market garden and orchard. The land was made available by Glasgow City Council and the CSGN grant has allowed a coordinator to be employed to develop and implement site proposals in partnership with the local community and volunteers. In the first year of this three year project the “Polmadie Plots” have been developed, creating seven new allotment plots for local people. Twenty volunteers have been recruited to ©

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help with the development and maintenance of the site and ten local schools have participated in environmental projects on site and in their own grounds. Produce from the plots has already been sold in a local shop, the first Blossom Festival attracted over 300 visitors and 61 people participated in a range of training and information workshops.

The Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust expanded their community growing development programme into East and Midlothian from Edinburgh City. The project has provided support to 13 local community groups to develop three new and aid five existing community gardening sites.

Forth Environment Link delivered a further year of activity under the Forth Valley’s Orchards initiative.

Outputs from the project included: £10,000 distributed to 32 schools and community groups across the CSGN area to plant 400 new fruit trees under the Orchard Grant Scheme; support to landowners and managers of existing orchards to develop business models to expand their commercial activities; six individuals completed a certificate in business enterprise; training and networking were events held to support schools, orchard owners, managers and volunteers; and a very successful orchard weekend was attended by around 400 people.

The Rural Development Trust began a programme of work to maintain, develop and expand the network of orchards within the Clyde Valley area. Working with the Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership, the project has delivered a series of education, awareness raising and training events about orchards to help new and existing orchards develop into sustainable enterprises. The first annual Clyde Valley Fruit Day was held in October 2012 and attracted approximately 2,000 visitors. Five new school orchards were supported and a programme of training in orchard management established. Preparatory work was undertaken for a number of initiatives that will take place during 2013-14, including: a programme of events; the development of a new grant for landowners to undertake orchard establishment, development or diversification; and the development of new enterprises based around Clyde Valley orchard produce.

Greener Kirkcaldy has created the Ravenscraig Community Orchard on overgrown land within the Ravenscraig Walled Garden in the town. The orchard will be used to host skills-development courses and community events and the intention is to use the new space as a resource for engaging members of the local community to grow, harvest and use their own fruit. In the first year the site has been cleared and planted with fruit trees and bushes. Sixteen volunteers have been recruited and trained, and events and visits have been involved local groups and schools.

A place to feel good (continued)

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Greenspace for Living Thirty-four small projects were awarded funding of up to £2,000 in the 2012-13 Community Project Fund, which was again supported by FCS.

FCS sponsored a Community Woodlands Award for the CSGN area in the Scotland’s Finest Woodlands Awards 2012. The first prize of £2,000 was won by Central Scotland Forest Trust and West Lothian Council for their work at Polbeth and Parkhead woodlands in West Lothian. The runner-up prize of £1,000 was won by the Friends of Plean Country Park, near Stirling.

£104K of CSGN Development Funding was awarded to five projects:

The Sustainable Communities Initiative is developing the Widowsland Ecovillage in Burntisland. Funding has been used to undertake a woodland and habitat survey, write a management plan and prepare funding applications to support delivery of the group’s plans for the management and development of the site as an education resource for the community.

The GCV Green Network Partnership advanced the development and implementation of the Seven Lochs Wetland Park on the boundary of Glasgow and North Lanarkshire at Gartloch-Gartcosh. In 2012-13, funding enabled the Seven Lochs Wetland Park Vision and Masterplan to be finalised; detailed implementation plans for two key areas to be prepared; consultation with the community to be undertaken; and a number of community engagement and volunteering events to take place. Delivery of some of the elements of the masterplan has begun with 11ha of raised bog now being actively managed and two new wetlands created. In addition, five applications for project delivery funding were prepared and submitted.

‘ Creating an environment that people can enjoy and where they choose to live and bring up their families’

A place to belong

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The Gorbals Healthy Living Network has delivered a programme of greenspace improvements in the Laurieston area of the Gorbals. A community placemaking programme engaged local residents in identifying priorities, developing proposals and then implementing local environmental improvement projects. Three workers employed through the Commonwealth Jobs Fund have transformed four open spaces into community gardens and growing spaces, local volunteers have also been trained and workshops on food growing and cultivation have been held for local people and school children.

Working with local communities, businesses and landowners, Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) has developed plans for an integrated green network in Barmulloch, encompassing the Red Road housing scheme. Following an environmental audit and public consultation, a masterplan has been prepared which identifies a programme of phased improvements that can be made to the green network locally over the short, medium and long term in this severely deprived part of the city. With a major programme of demolition planned for the area, the future of local greenspaces and derelict land was uncertain, but the vision and practical improvements identified in the masterplan has enabled the local community, Glasgow City Council and GHA to identify a number of ‘quick wins’ to establish some momentum for delivery as part of wider economic development and regeneration proposals for the area.

Midlothian Council has developed greenspace improvement plans for six areas in the deprived parts of Dalkeith, Mayfield/Easthouses and Gorebridge. Community consultations and site investigations have informed the proposals for each site, and a number of funding applications have been made to support delivery. Early improvement work has been undertaken on some of the sites, including upgrading paths and sowing a 1.3ha wildflower meadow.

A place to belong (continued)

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Greenspace for Learning & PlayThe SNH project Teaching in Nature supports teacher-led professional development in outdoor learning at local places of importance for nature, such as NNRs, LNRs and regional parks. Over the year, SNH has established projects with 35 teachers in East Ayrshire, Fife, Stirling, North Lanarkshire, West Lothian and Inverclyde and, working through Grounds for Learning, 10 teachers in East Lothian and Midlothian.  

With SNH grant support, Grounds for Learning (GfL) has continued to deliver a range of activities in the CSGN area, including training and Continuing Professional Development, the identification and write-up of best practice cases studies across the CSGN area; and the delivery of Sharing Good Practice events on greening school grounds which have been attended by over 100 teachers. With support from FCS and SNH, GfL also took staff from the CSGN area on a study tour to look at play facilities in Berlin. Scottish Government funding has also supported work on natural play environments, with 10 projects developed in the CSGN area.

The 2012-13 CSGN Learning Outdoors Fund, supported by FCS, made awards of up to £350 to 225 schools and nurseries with the total awarded amounting to £75,492. Funding to buy waterproof clothing was one of the main requests this year. Linked to this fund, FCS delivered two CPD events for teachers on the Education Scotland 3 -18

Places Project. This project encourages schools to use their grounds and local spaces for learning.

£54K of CSGN Development Funding was awarded to two projects:

The Friends of Glasgow Botanic Gardens developed a fully costed design proposal for the creation of a new ‘Tree Hub’ and Tree Trail in the Glasgow Botanic Gardens that will act as a gateway to Scotland’s National Tree Collections. The Hub will be used to ‘Connect People with Trees’ as part of a wider education strategy. A successful application to the 2013-14 CSGN Development Fund will allow the project to be delivered.

East Ayrshire Woodlands is creating a series of greenspace journey trails leading from currently vacant, derelict or neglected sites, to Forest School sites within existing woodlands throughout Ayrshire. Following an audit of almost 40 sites a shortlist was drawn up and community consultation undertaken to decide which locations should be prioritised for improvement. Patna Community Woodland in East Ayrshire was chosen as the first site for practical improvements to take place. So far, the paths have been upgraded with three living willow structures, three gateway features, new signage and interpretation, six new carved benches, and the creation of three new wildflower meadow areas. Work on other sites in North and South Ayrshire will take place in the second and third years of the project.

A place to belong (continued)

Effort in 2012 was focused on Integrated Habitat Networks and Landscape.

The main piece of development work undertaken in 2012 was to begin preparing an innovative, landscape-scale, multi-partner, multi-site LIFE+ project application. Its aim is to improve ecological coherence across the CSGN through habitat creation, restoration, connection and enhancement. The project will focus on creating and improving habitat quality and connectivity of the following main habitat types: peatland/blanket bog, wetland, freshwater and open mosaic habitat. There are themes of catchment and natural flood management, balancing competing demands, maximising multiple benefits, maintaining and enhancing carbon-rich soils, as well as improving access and awareness, and getting people out into the outdoors. If successful the project will involve and provide training and experience for numerous volunteers, and directly create 6.5 full time equivalent new jobs. Detailed costings and partner contributions were defined by mid-February, which allowed the bid to be finalised in March and April. Partner signatures will be sought in May in readiness for the June submission.

Integrated Habitat Network (IHN) Mapping included providing Arran data thus ensuring full coverage for North Ayrshire Council. Two further habitats; Acid Grassland and Heathland, were also mapped.

SNH produced a wider IHN dissemination plan which was consulted on before being brought into action. IHN sessions have been held as part of the national conference for the Institute of Ecologists and Environmental managers (IEEM) and a national CPD day for the Landscape Institute (LI).  Six half day sessions on IHN were also held; two in partnership with IEEM; one in partnership with Institute of Chartered Foresters; and one in partnership with the LI.  In addition, IHN promotion strategies were agreed with the Green Network partnerships and sessions delivered with planners in Ayrshire, Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire. The first IHN forum was held in March 2013 to bring together around 40 IHN users from local authorities, agencies, NGOs and consultancies.

Peatland Habitat Action Plan – Work is underway by SNH to develop a pilot peatland resource plan for the Ayrshires. This pilot plan has helped inform the development of a peatland action plan for the whole CSGN area. The first stage of this - mapping of the peatland resource - was completed in March and further work to develop the Action Plan will follow in 2013-14.

‘ Creating an environment where nature can flourish’

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Open Mosaic Habitat Mapping and Analysis – A specification for Open Mosaic Habitat mapping and functional analysis was agreed with Buglife. Work on mapping got underway at the end of January 2013 and is programmed to finish in July 2013. The project will complete the remote assessment of sites on the VDL register for Open Mosaic Habitat and will produce guidelines for planners on how best to manage and release this resource over time.

Landscape Action Good progress has been made with the redevelopment by SNH of the Place Book Scotland website, with a launch planned for August 2013 to help promote awareness and interest in the landscapes of CSGN. 

The Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS) was awarded SNH grant to work with 50 communities in the CSGN area to help them develop local landscape objectives. APRS is now seeking match funding to take the project forward.

£118K of CSGN Development Funding was awarded to three projects:

RSPB Scotland has been working with partners to develop the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative. This aims to conserve and restore important features of the Inner Forth area from Stirling Bridge to Blackness Castle. In the first year of this three year project, a detailed baseline habitat survey has been completed and a study was undertaken to identify priority locations and opportunities for woodland planting and management. This demonstrated how designed landscapes could be conserved and enhanced. Both studies have promoted dialogue with local landowners and communities that will see delivery projects developed in coming years.

East Renfrewshire Council created 27 new ponds, suitable for amphibians, along National Cycle Networks routes 7 and 75 between Paisley, Linwood, Lochwinnoch and Bridge of Weir. The project has created 900m2 of new open water habitat to support locally threatened species such as the Palmate Newt and 2.5ha of mosaic habitat has been enhanced, which will be maintained in the future by Sustrans and its local volunteer groups.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust employed a project coordinator to develop the Cumbernauld Living Landscape initiative. Over the next three years the project will deliver: woodland planting and management; peatland management and restoration; invasive species removal; the integration of Sustainable Urban Drainage Schemes and other Green Infrastructure elements into sustainable placemaking proposals; and collaboration between partners on a programme of community involvement, volunteering and training/skills development activities. In the first year, the coordinator has formed a strong partnership, which has endorsed the project plan, and a number of delivery projects are in development.

A place for nature (continued)

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CSGN Support UnitHillhouseridgeShottskirk RoadShottsNorth LanarkshireML7 4JS

Tel: 01501 824190Fax: 01501 823919Email: supportunit@centralscotlandgreennetwork.org

www.centralscotlandgreennetwork.org