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ALL REPORT APPENDICES - 07 July 2017 Interpretation Strategy for Glens for the Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme

in association with

Page 1 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Appendix 1 - Summary of community project proposals

(taken from expanded summaries document)

Title: On the Artists’ Trail #GG02

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Integrate permanent art Tour design and content Staffing/volunteer input in Landscape inspiring art storylines proposal refers to graphics, exhibition at Trail leaflet design and content Landscape contributing to research, script writing and Galleries with key relevant sustainability (visitors to heritage App design and content image sourcing buildings and sites sustaining economy) Tour to guide visitors around Panel design and content

immediate townscape Refer to outliers Trail leaflet App Key information panels Blue plaques

Page 2 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Alive #GG04

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Promote Loch Ken as a Festival development Project Officer may require Natural and Cultural Heritage as additional (inter alia) resources for sustainability destination Interpretation and public interpretation training (volunteering, life-long learning Create single point of contact for engagement ought to figure in and wellbeing sustaining society) comprehensive activity promotion to local people information, linking to individual Landscape and the heritage Interpretation and public businesses resources it provides are not well- engagement ought to figure in known Organise festivals to increase Management Plan public profile Landscape contributing to Online facility either as social sustainability (visitors to heritage Rewrite Management Plan to media or website, or other sustaining economy) reflect changes since 1986 Traditional printed materials and

signage proposed Proposed online and traditional interpretation offers opportunities to pursue management goals in revised plan Linking events to other projects (i.e. Dark Skies, Fishing, Wildlife)

Page 3 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Children of the Biosphere: A Seasonal Gallimaufry #GG08

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Children’s Club participants Exhibition Two staff to qualify as Forest Landscape inspiring art storylines School leaders by end of project. will create and curate content Natural and Cultural Heritage as to tell their story of the seasons resources for sustainability (life- Exhibition or multiple mini- long learning and wellbeing exhibitions in and around sustaining society) Glenkens area.

Up-skilling Playgroup staff who will train as Forest School leaders

Page 4 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Glens Sust (Sustainable Development Education in the Galloway Glens) #GG10

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Raise awareness and Education resources and workshops CCC Education Advisor 11 days to Heritage, conservation and land improve understanding provide a means to engage the support project delivery is written into management storylines community through interpreting the proposal of the local Landscape contributing to resources environment with local sustainability (visitors to residents and Experience of using project area’s heritage sustaining economy) schoolchildren natural resources for engagement with Natural and Cultural Heritage as Develop education local young people should inform resources for sustainability resources project development elsewhere in (volunteering, life-long learning area Provide and support and wellbeing sustaining workshops/education society) visits over 2 years Crucial role of communities for environment (citizen science, habitat improvement, advocacy)

Page 5 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Community and Heritage Hub #GG13

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Redevelop Old Smiddy as Early stakeholder engagement Volunteer training is significant Natural and Cultural Heritage as contribution to project. Proposal resources for sustainability heritage hub Identification and gathering of refers to volunteer personal (volunteering, life-long learning Provide engagement with and heritage resources development plans and and wellbeing sustaining society) exploration of the area’s heritage Pilot activities, including evaluation. It is assumed that the including former use as Smithy Landscape and the heritage promotion facility will be volunteer- resources it provides are not well- Multi-media suite operated, and that volunteers Linkage to Drystane Dyking known Meeting room, conference and/or project #GG55 through the youth will need training in fundraising, Landscape contributing to shared office spaces project heritage resource identification and gathering. sustainability (visitors to heritage Workshops space for traditional sustaining economy) skills Volunteer Ambassadors will become Volunteer Trainers Traditional lifeways storyline Exhibition space Intergenerational transfer of Resource library and archive traditions, skills and stories could Refreshment facilities be an engaging theme to be used more widely (i.e. Gaelic Place- Names of #GG47, Peat Culture #GG82)

Page 6 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Kirkcudbright Dark Skies Visitor Centre #GG19

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Develop Johnston School as Interactives including the mobile Staff will presumably need Landscape contributing to gateway to Galloway Glens and planetarium significant training sustainability (visitors to heritage sustaining economy) Dark Skies Park Interpretive displays and Local businesses (especially Custom-built venue with exhibitions, including visitor accommodation providers ) may Natural and Cultural Heritage as interactive visitor resources and information benefit from workshops to assist resources for sustainability (life- additional visitor facilities with marketing long learning sustaining society) Talks and seminars and guided Rotating content with day-to-day events, including promoting activities: displays, exhibitions, partners’ events talks and seminars, guided Training and learning events events Additional event hosting

Page 7 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Parton Kirk and James Clerk Maxwell “ And Through the Dark, the Brilliant Light” #GG21

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Establish a Integrate within overall heritage and James Clerk Maxwell storyline history trail (?) permanent Citizen Science storyline (link to Maxwell Exhibition Enhance visitor experience Victorian hobbyists compiling within Parton Kirk weather records, is this traceable Encourage visits in the map data for this area??) Potential for new Kirk facilities to Landscape contributing to accommodate other exhibitions/displays sustainability (visitors to heritage sustaining economy)

Page 8 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Ken Words - Linking Landscape and People: New writing from, and about, the Glenkens #GG26

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Encouraging new writing about Education walks and skills Writing skills workshops are Landscape inspiring art storylines workshops to engage people with facilitated through expert tuition Glenkens landscape Landscape contributing to the landscape in the project proposal Develop first annual Ken Words sustainability (visitors to heritage festival Publications engaging people Volunteers are referred to in sustaining economy) with the landscape project proposal but their Education/writing walks Natural and Cultural Heritage as training/skills requirements are Dissemination of project resources for sustainability Hold writing skills workshops not clear. We assume this is for information through online (volunteering, life-long learning the creation of the poetry shelter Publish new written work channels and wellbeing sustaining society) in cooperation with two other Disseminate project information Catstrand literary festivals projects in Dalry (Watson’s Birds Landscape and the heritage Poetry Shelter in the Garden of 2016/17 will inform plans for this and Burns and Birds) resources it provides are not well- Barone project (and may also be used to known inform other Galloway Glens

projects)

Further festivals to be held annually

Page 9 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Connecting Community and Landscape #GG28

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Connecting people to local Initial engagement as part of Volunteers are referred to in Heritage, conservation and land landscape and heritage development phase project proposal but their management storylines training/skills requirements are (landscape as an underlying Deliver programme of Activities or ‘mini-projects’ to not clear. If participants are to dynamic which community can engagement events engage using working model set carry out the work to deliver manage or must react to, i.e. out in proposal. Key component Increase benefit and impacts of festival/exhibition then they will enclosure and loss of traditional of all activities will be meaningful other Galloway Glens project require some training lifeways) involvement Engage young people and those Landscape contributing to Festival/exhibition (possibly excluded from mainstream sustainability (visitors to heritage touring) promoted opportunities sustaining economy) regionally/nationally. Work for Intergenerational work this would be carried out by Natural and Cultural Heritage as Collect oral histories project participants and include resources for sustainability work by professional (volunteering, life-long learning Showcase project activities and craftspeople and information and wellbeing sustaining society) results about Galloway Glens heritage Landscape and the heritage Involve participants from Possibility of volunteering across resources it provides are not well- communities in design and the programme known delivery, and embedding evaluation Digital / physical resource for factual information, oral Foster pride and connections to histories, visual and creative landscape and heritage, and work increase awareness of benefits and opportunities

Page 10 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Connecting people with their environment: creating enduring legacies #GG30

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Themes or Storylines Requirement

Develop Dalry Bird Town offer Proposal refers to trails Promotion through local Landscape contributing to incorporating waymarkers, businesses will require training sustainability (infrastructure Create managed wild garden for bird interpretation panels, and app. enabling connections of visitors and nature observation, monitoring and Unclear what if any volunteer and residents to heritage recording, and for public education with Interpretation should form a key involvement there is – sustaining economy) pathways, sculptures, landscape part of Watson Bird Garden assuming that there will be observation point and eventually a mini planning. some at least with collection Natural and Cultural Heritage as classroom. of oral histories this will resources for sustainability (life- Oral history project should consider require some training on long learning and wellbeing Formalise an existing trial (only now how the material may be used sound recording/editing, and sustaining society) available as brochure) to follow Core across interpretive outputs now and interviewing Path. Install signage at path start/end, in future. Landscape and the heritage and discrete signage at appropriate resources it provides are not Opportunity to interpret area as a points. Create trail App by Chris Rollie to well-known means to promote Glenkens as a accompany existing brochure destination Crucial role of communities for Formalise 9-stop car and cycle trail environment (citizen science, (exists only as brochure) through habitat improvement, interpretation panels in each layby. advocacy) Encourage uses to depict and describe Heritage, conservation and land scene in their own way. Apply all media management storylines types. Develop app by Chris Rollie. Oral history project for use in future exhibitions and events ‘Heritage conservation futures’ debates to discuss the future of the Glenkens landscape.

Page 11 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Dalry Community Heritage and Regeneration Project #GG31

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Town trail - 20 interpretation Interpretation Panels Resilience Shed may require Landscape contributing to training for volunteers / sustainability (visitors to heritage panels at key locations, and Educational events are suggested employees relating to storage, sustaining economy) visitors guide leaflet as an activity in the project maintenance and repair of Permanent public exhibition to proposal Natural and Cultural Heritage as equipment inform of depth of local history resources for sustainability (life- Guide leaflet for visitors. Volunteers are referred to in long learning sustaining society) (if funds allow) statues/sculpture The proposal notes the potential project proposal but their to interpret pilgrims, Heritage, conservation and land to link into wider trail around training/skills requirements are covenanters, knights and past management storylines Loch Ken not clear. Volunteer time is worthies (landscape as an underlying assumed to be for site clearance, Potential to create the dynamic which community can or ‘Resilience Shed’ in which case training may be permanent exhibition as web has to manage, i.e. flooding) resource to widen access, using required Religious heritage storylines the wealth of pictures described. Interpretive writing and planning Selected images could then for 20 boards support interpretation on trail panels

Page 12 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Raiders Road Deserted Settlements #GG32

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Better understanding of 3 Engaging local community and Survey and recording training Landscape and the heritage encouraging participation resources it provides are not deserted settlement sites Possible archaeology training well-known Archaeologically investigate sites Improving understanding during excavation and/or surveying Landscape contributing to Engage with local community and sustainability (visitors to encourage participation in Improving understanding heritage sustaining economy) cultural heritage through additional interpretation not referred to in Natural and Cultural Heritage as Provide training in survey and proposal – i.e. exhibition, online resources for sustainability recording training material, education resources (volunteering, life-long learning Publish results as report and wellbeing sustaining Disseminate results to Forestry society) Commission to inform Archaeological and Historical future site management storylines

Page 13 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Tolbooth Tales: the story of Law and Order in the Stewartry #GG42

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Transform small permanent Create range of interpretive Staff training and knowledge Landscape contributing to gallery to celebrate host panels enhancement are referred to in sustainability (visitors to heritage project proposal sustaining economy) building itself Inform original artworks Engage new audience while Law and Order storylines AV (or audio) to interpret archive retaining art gallery and material Kirkcudbright storylines supporters Replica items for loans boxes and Traditional lifeways storyline handling collections

Activities and workshops for school and adult groups

Page 14 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Dee Treasures #GG43

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Improve interpretation of lower Illustrative material production Potential volunteers training Landscape and the heritage Dee valley’s archaeological (significant volunteer time input requirement for researching, resources it provides are not well- heritage provides potential sub-project for sourcing and preparing known public engagement) illustrative material for use with Identify key sites Landscape contributing to interpretation Trail leaflet design and content sustainability (visitors to heritage Research and produce illustrative Volunteer training to prepare sustaining economy) material App design and content project materials Archaeological and Historical Produce trail leaflet Panel design and content storylines Produce trail app Research, design and install information panels Layby improvements and signage

Page 15 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Community Heritage and Living History Project #GG46

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Create permanent exhibition at Exhibition at Crossmichael Parish Volunteers are referred to in Landscape contributing to Crossmichael Parish Church Church project proposal but their sustainability (visitors to heritage training/skills requirements are sustaining economy) Create database facility for family Promotion of database facility not clear research and Crossmichael Natural and Cultural Heritage as Work experience scheme resources for sustainability Employment training and work Part of wider trail throughout proposals include ‘office skills, (volunteering, life-long learning experience scheme Glenkens customer service, computer and wellbeing sustaining society) Pop-up events database organisation and Landscape and the heritage implementation, plus marketing Graveyard tours resources it provides are not well- and advertising skills’ – some known training for volunteer trainers probably required Traditional lifeways storyline Intergenerational transfer theme if ‘Living History’ project is funded

Page 16 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: The Galloway Glens Regional and Universal Mapping Project (GGRUMP) #GG45

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Employing web and other Public engagement to encourage Volunteers will be sourcing, Landscape and the heritage channels to promote huge participation cataloguing and digitising maps resources it provides are not well- known variety of available mapping Public engagement to Web skills Collation and digitisation of disseminate information via Natural and Cultural Heritage as relevant maps website and other channels resources for sustainability (volunteering, life-long learning Develop project-specific Interpretation should guide and wellbeing sustaining society) (Galloway Glens) website to selection of online text and include relevant mapping, text images to support web maps Archaeological and Historical and images storylines (possible link to citizen Develop a website that is science? – see Parton Kirk) Disseminate information through designed for the Galloway Glens website and talks area Planned exhibition as part of dissemination, also walks, talks and discussions

Page 17 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: The Gaelic Place-Names of the Glenkens #GG47

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Use place-name evidence to Greater understanding of Gaelic Landscape and the heritage inform understanding of cultural heritage via workshops resources it provides are not well- project area and local research known Employ a FT toponomyist to Greater understanding of area Heritage, conservation and land research maps and document landscape and connections management storylines sources between cultural and natural (landscape as an underlying heritage dynamic which community Conduct limited local research to manages or reacts to, i.e. confirm pronunciations A series of meetings/ talks/ traditional lifeways) workshops should be held to Conduct workshops with schools involve local people Archaeological and Historical and Glenkens History Group (tbc) storylines (which proposal gives to collect unrecorded names Include interpretative material as: Ecology and landscape; explaining place-name Produce report to Glasgow agriculture and transhumance; significance at key heritage sites University standard fauna; medieval hunting practice; Liaise and work with Survey of habitation and social Scottish Place-Names (SSPN) organisation; justice and authority and culture)

Page 18 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Forgotten Voices / Native Tongues #GG48

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Record 3 age groups to chart Increase understanding of Scots Build young people’s skills in Landscape and the heritage disappearance of words and dialect as cultural heritage of the audio and film recording and resources it provides are not well- their replacements, and to area through the AV output editing (4 volunteers) known establish a social history of the Increase understanding of Volunteering skills Intergenerational transfer of area and individuals Galloway Glens area cultural cultural traditions, skills and heritage through the AV output stories Increase interest in the use and study of the local Scot’s dialect Increase interest and knowledge of the cultural history of the Galloway Glen area Promote volunteering which assists potential students with UCAS applications.

Page 19 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Drystane dykes of the Galloway Glens demonstration #GG55

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Build a During initial engagement Construction of demonstration dyke Landscape and the heritage under instruction from professional resources it provides are not demonstration During work to research, survey and dyker/trainer is written into proposal well-known drystane dyke to record the different dyke construction commemorate 2 styles Story-gathering and other activities will Landscape contributing to anniversaries provide opportunities for informal sustainability (visitors to Interpretation will explain social history Engage with local learning and skills development heritage sustaining economy) and styles of dyke peoples through dyke Natural and Cultural Heritage as construction in this Opening of demonstration dyke (in resources for sustainability area publicly accessible location) is also an (volunteering, life-long learning interpretive opportunity Build demonstration and wellbeing sustaining dyke with volunteers Engaging local people to gather the society) under expert stories “provides opportunities to Heritage, conservation and land supervision celebrate and interpret the relationship management storylines between people and the countryside Promote better (landscape as an underlying over many generations.” understanding of dynamic which community can dykes in the area manage or must react to, i.e. enclosure and loss of traditional lifeways)

Page 20 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Muirdrochwood Community Woodland #GG56

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Provide local access to Woodland trails Training and education within Natural and Cultural Heritage as the forest sector is an outcome. resources for sustainability (life- woodland for education, Educational shelter recreation and employment long learning and wellbeing Engagement sustaining society) Purchase woodland Crucial role of communities for Develop parking facilities, environment (advocacy) woodland trails, outdoor educational classes for rural skills training and school visits, and leisure activities. Main forest area continues to operate commercially to help sustain the 2 smaller amenity areas.

Page 21 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Barhill Woods Kirkcudbright #GG58

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Bring Barhill Woods into Nothing identified at this stage in 1 PT warden position will be Natural and Cultural Heritage as community management; to the project proposal created resources for sustainability (life- long learning and wellbeing improve wellbeing and health However, there is ample scope for Although volunteers don’t appear sustaining society) of locals and visitors engagement, and for improving in the proposal it is assumed that Prevent degradation of scenic sustainability through developing there will be some training Crucial role of communities for value and presenting effectively the requirement for volunteers at environment (advocacy) trails and woodland to visitors some stage of this project Secure as community asset and and locals Tourist Resource, to improve Kirkcudbright as a destination Suggestion that outdoor classroom can provide courses – Improve social inclusion, opportunity to meet wider involving all in planning and management objectives in decision-making, to ensure encouraging volunteering and benefits are available to all age information dissemination (i.e. groups INNS) Restore Ancient Woodland as far Website provides opportunity to as possible engage public and meet management needs

Page 22 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Connecting Town and Country #GG63

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

New paths to encourage visitor Interpretation and wayfinding Volunteers are referred to in Landscape contributing to access form part of consultation process project proposal as match- sustainability (infrastructure and detailed analysis funding, but training/skills enabling connections of visitors Detailed analysis of 3 new path requirements are not clear. We and residents to heritage routes linking to Proposal highlights community assume that this equates to the sustaining economy) natural and cultural heritage engagement and support as event costs, and path enabling destinations outcomes. Public awareness Landscape inspiring art storylines and clearance works. If so there event is an interpretation Upgrading 1 path route to DDA is likely to be a training Heritage, conservation and land opportunity compliance requirement here. management storylines Landscape Art competition may Installation arts design project to Opportunity for volunteers to provide an opportunity for provide 4 wet weather shelters acquire new countryside and community engagement as well disguised as abandoned heritage landscape sustainability as interpretation agricultural equipment and management skills through Community engagement phase participation in enabling and will provide steer on what assets preparatory path construction local community wish to interpret work

Page 23 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Exploring the Glenkens #GG68

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Improving access to path Visual mapping project Equipment use training (in Landscape contributing to network opportunity project costs) sustainability (infrastructure enabling connections of visitors Recruit and train (if necessary) Route maps opportunity could Men’s Shed training and skills? to heritage sustaining economy) volunteers to clear existing paths link into visual mapping Photography skills opportunity Natural and Cultural Heritage as Make replacements boardwalks, Mapping skills resources for sustainability bridge repairs and signs in Men’s Men’s Shed works could provide (volunteering, life-long learning Shed an interpretation opportunity in Train volunteers to clear paths and wellbeing sustaining society) form of signs and other Visual mapping by ‘Connecting in Online skills to create waymarkers Heritage, conservation and land Retirement Group’ photography downloadable route maps management storylines section Opportunity for interpretation at garden and parking facilities Create web-downloadable route maps for prospective users Improve garden and picnicking facilities and parking areas

Page 24 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Kirkcudbright Bay Views – revealing hidden stories through improved access and interpretation #GG69

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Volunteer surveys to provide Volunteer survey and assessment Survey and recording training Landscape contributing to given by experts from SCAPE sustainability (infrastructure material for range of new Self-guided trail booklet (also Trust enabling connections of visitors interpretation in Bay downloadable pdf) and residents to heritage Volunteer survey and assessment Archive and Research skills for Original interpretation at key sustaining economy) of heritage features and volunteers as part of Bay booklet viewpoints viewpoints and original interpretation at key Landscape and the heritage Web content production viewpoints resources it provides are not well- High-Quality Self-guided Bay trail known booklet x 10,000 Public engagement activities are Interpretive writing training proposed (booklet, web content) Footpath network improvement Events to reach wider audience Original interpretation at 4 key proposed, including expert-run viewpoints workshops Web content for sharing with partners/ communities

Page 25 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Galloway Glens Canoe Trail #GG73

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Improve launch/land facilities Improved access to natural and cultural Workshops to help local Landscape contributing along River Dee and Loch Ken, heritage businesses offer canoeing to sustainability options to tourists should be (infrastructure enabling and re-open historic route Opportunities for heritage interpretation at considered connections of visitors Provide trip planning information launch/land sites to heritage sustaining to paddlers Project Officer will require Opportunities to reduce conflict between economy) interpretation training Reopen historical waterway paddlers and anglers Heritage, conservation (Carlingwark Lane) Carlingwark Lane (Canal) is a potential and land management This creates a new 22-mile opportunity to interpret this area’s history storylines canoe/kayak-touring route from Production of information and St Johns Town of Dalry to interpretation on Canoe trail is a key milestone in project proposal Visitor information to promote 12 proposed interpretation panels provide routes planned to bring a wider space to pursue management objectives range of visitors to Galloway (i.e. ‘under the Scottish Outdoor Access Glens project area Code’) Trail guide provides opportunity to introduce wider Galloway Glens offer (i.e. wildlife), management objectives (i.e. avoiding disturbance to important areas and species, invasive species and Scottish Outdoor Access Code) Launch event can ‘link with other Galloway Glens projects’

Page 26 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Se7en Dams Project (White Water Kayaking in the Galloway Glens) #GG74

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Development of Tongland and Probably limited to promotion of Workshops to help local Earlstown Linn to suit white the Galloway Glens project area businesses offer canoeing water paddle sport users options to tourists should be considered

Page 27 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Red Squirrel Conservation #GG75

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Direct intervention “Education and Display” All done ‘in-house’ by Glenkens Red Heritage, conservation and land Squirrel Group? management storylines in squirrel Citizen Science opportunity populations and (landscape as an underlying education dynamic which community can programme manage (i.e. invasive species) Removal of greys Landscape contributing to sustainability (visitors to heritage Population sustaining economy) monitoring Crucial role of communities for Supplementary environment (citizen science, feeding of reds habitat improvement, advocacy) Education Wildlife storylines (squirrels) programme

Page 28 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Greenland White-fronted Geese in Galloway Glens #GG76

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Awareness-raising Proposal notes: Heritage, conservation and land management storylines Satellite-tagging and tracking of Schools visits (landscape as an underlying this special population (GWF) Awareness-raising event can be dynamic which community can Engagement and education for used to introduce wider project manage (i.e. habitat loss and local children, community and agenda to participants effects on biodiversity) visitors. This will use web-based Goose-viewing Platform Landscape contributing to interpretation of satellite- sustainability (visitors to heritage tracking Interpretation sustaining economy) Engagement of key land Crucial role of communities for managers to conserve priority environment (citizen science, natural heritage via agri- habitat improvement, advocacy) environment and whole farm advisory plans Wildlife storylines (GWF) Awareness raising and direct experience of GWF, using Galloway Glens event to provide talks and guided visits to view wintering GWF population Improved long-term interpretation through interpretation dedicated to GWF and enhanced goose-viewing platform at RSPB Ken-Dee

Page 29 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Black Grouse habitat creation and enhancement #GG77

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Create and enhance black Should interpretation form part Project Officer training (i.e. in Heritage, conservation and land grouse habitat of management plans for key lek volunteer management) management storylines sites? (landscape as an underlying Employ Project Officer Possible opportunities for dynamic which community can Proposal refers to dedicated volunteers to develop tree Targeted management plans for manage, i.e. habitat loss and interpretation planting and drain-blocking skills key ‘leks’ effects on biodiversity) Engagement of volunteers in lek Creation and enhancement works Landscape contributing to survey and other project activity Survey and monitoring of sustainability (visitors to heritage ‘Talks, dedicated interpretation, population sustaining economy) guided lek viewing and advisory Crucial role of communities for Volunteer coordination seminar’ environment (citizen science, Advisory seminar habitat improvement, advocacy) Interpretation and promotion of Wildlife storylines (black grouse) black grouse and management work

Page 30 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Ken-Dee Marshes nature reserve access interpretation and habitat project #GG78

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Further improve access and On-site interpretation panel(s) Volunteers are referred to in Heritage, conservation and land project proposal but their management storylines interpretation on site New interpretive leaflet training/skills requirements are (landscape as an underlying Vegetation management, path Opportunity to engage volunteers not clear. We assume this to dynamic which community can link improvement, habitat with wider work of RSPB, and mean the access, habitat and manage, i.e. habitat loss and improvement for particular other volunteering or work vegetation management which effects on biodiversity) species. opportunities in Galloway Glens may require some training Landscape contributing to New interpretation panels on area sustainability (visitors to heritage improved path section sustaining economy) Improved interpretation Crucial role of communities for elsewhere environment (citizen science, habitat improvement, advocacy) Wildlife storylines (willow tit)

Page 31 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Threave Nature Reserve #GG80

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Implement management plan Inform visitors about Volunteer engagement refers to Heritage, conservation and land to improve site conservation, “complexities and importance of opportunities for training and management storylines engagement and interpretation wetlands and their benefits to development: rural skills; nature (landscape as an underlying people, wildlife and the reserve management; wildlife dynamic which community can Wildlife habitat enhancement surrounding area” monitoring/surveying; wildlife manage, i.e. habitat loss and Visitor-facing interpretation identification workshops, biodiversity; estate planning and Improve connections with the including bat population agri-environment) Improve opportunities for visitor local community, especially monitoring; conservation work; involvement through activities including Landscape contributing to visitor management, visitor engagement and practical sustainability (visitors to heritage Enhance natural flood interpretation and education; nature conservation/rural skills sustaining economy) management influence and persuasion; (i.e. hedge-laying and drystone marketing; fundraising; and Natural and Cultural Heritage as Demonstrate ability of farming dyking) and environmental management promotion. resources for sustainability Also citizen science (volunteering, life-long learning to work well Outcomes says ‘Provide and opportunities, and and wellbeing sustaining society) develop a realistic programme for encouragement of volunteers training with identified needs and Crucial role of communities for through further learning or equipment’ environment (habitat development improvement, advocacy) Interpretation also has a role to play in putting across the management plan and its aims

Page 32 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Galloway Glens Land Use Poster #GG81

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Provide educational poster on Provide understanding of land Heritage, conservation and land land use use issues, problems and management storylines solutions

Page 33 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Peat Culture: profiling the biocultural heritage of Galloway Glens peatlands #GG82

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Exploring peatland’s roles in Increasing understanding of Heritage, conservation and land landscape, culture and living connections between natural and management storylines heritage cultural heritage via project work (landscape as an underlying (documentation, art research and dynamic which community can Document biocultural peatlands fieldwork) and outputs manage or must react to; esp loss heritage in Galloway Glens of traditional lifeways, Artist-facilitator to specifically Anthology of peatland’s biodiversity, and protection by engage public contribution to living heritage as designation) booklet Online resource – could be Wildlife storylines (peat hosted via central Galloway Glens Publicise project via artwork, bioculture) site? online resource, artcards, the Anthology, and possible further Exhibition at the end of the outputs via Peatlands project Restoration project Using artwork generated Extend knowledge of cultural, throughout project to create natural and living heritage of momentum and continuing peatlands engagement

Page 34 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Peatland Connections #GG83

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Landscape-scale peatland Engagement, including public Water-quality monitoring and Heritage, conservation and land restoration events in Year 2 (pre-restoration) peat/vegetation surveys as part management storylines and Year 2/3 (during/after of citizen science (landscape as an underlying Public-stakeholder engagement restoration). Local desires could dynamic which community can

Demonstration peatland be better reflected in future manage, i.e. habitat loss, restoration project management of area. biodiversity) Development of peatland Citizen Science – aimed at Landscape contributing to restoration prioritisation tool general public, with expert sustainability (visitors to heritage Exhibition paleoecological interpretation. sustaining economy) Exhibition – to collate and Natural and Cultural Heritage as interpret results of citizen survey, resources for sustainability images of restoration work under (volunteering, life-long learning way, maps and images used to and wellbeing sustaining society) inform management decisions, Crucial role of communities for workshops and examples of environment (citizen science, decision tool application. This habitat improvement, advocacy) would be integrated into the ‘Peat Cultures’ project art to add width to the information display. This would be worked up for Year 3, with the intention to host locally, in Kirkcudbright, at a national peatland/conference event, and at Scottish Parliament

Page 35 Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme – Interpretation Strategy

Title: Black Water of Dee Restoration Project #GG85

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Returning a population of ‘Volunteer days’ to present Habitat surveys; electrofishing Heritage, conservation and land breeding salmon to the BWD methods and objective will need surveys; identifying and counting management storylines interpretation to encourage trout redds; water-quality testing; (landscape as an underlying Form a volunteer team to plan involvement crayfish surveys “etc” dynamic which community can and deliver habitat improvement manage, i.e. habitat loss, and Citizen Science surveys Presentation of this project to Instream and riparian habitat biodiversity and invasive species) partners and participants works Involve a volunteer team to Landscape contributing to organise and deliver salmon- Presentation of this project to “Training and equipment will be sustainability (visitors to heritage stocking programme future partners that could learn provided” sustaining economy) from this experience Use this project data and Natural and Cultural Heritage as experience to inform other, resources for sustainability similar, projects (volunteering, life-long learning and wellbeing sustaining society) Crucial role of communities for environment (citizen science, habitat improvement, advocacy) Wildlife storylines (salmon)

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Title: Birds, Burns and Ballads #GG86

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Theming disparate elements of In/around wildlife structure Invasive species control Heritage, conservation and land management storylines Dalry’s heritage: Robert Burns, Using the CCTV and boxes as Workshop training (landscape as an underlying ballads and wildlife material dynamic which community can Wildlife-viewing structure Workshops and nest-box scheme manage (i.e. invasive species, Community nest-box scheme, provide opportunities to engage habitats) with some swift nest-boxes community through Landscape contributing to filmed via CCTV interpretation sustainability (infrastructure Community Awareness and Web-page appears in the PR row enabling connections of visitors engagement workshops, of the costs to heritage sustaining economy) including storytelling, children’s Artworks, including sculpture and Crucial role of communities for and craft workshops creative signage environment (citizen science, Sculpture, artworks and creative habitat improvement, advocacy) signage Robert Burns storylines Improve existing paths with new Wildlife (swifts, invasive species) links for flow and continuity storylines Invasive species control

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Title: Galloway Glens Heritage Experiential Programme #GG87

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Develop programme of Opportunity to present other Training on structuring, Natural and Cultural Heritage as authentic experiences to Galloway Glens projects to marketing and promoting resources for sustainability market to local and visiting participants to see where they activities would be provided to (natural materials as economic markets might support or benefit from participating practitioners resources and cultural resources these as artistic inspiration) Bring together practitioners – Training courses on running countryside skills, food and drink Promote greater understanding activities for public will include Landscape and the heritage production, craft workers, and appreciation of the Galloway insurance, health and safety. resources it provides are not well- artisans and others Glen artisans and heritage. known Training on how to structure and Develop speciality taster Programme of activities to run workshops Landscape contributing to sessions, and link with cultural ‘promote and market the sustainability (visitors to heritage Training on how to meet health and natural heritage sites to Galloway Glens area’, internally sustaining economy) and safety regulations foster wider packages and and externally, through activities Artisan storylines partnerships and ‘heritage site’ venues

Training provided to participating practitioners and to local guides

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Title: Forrest Estate Footpaths Project #GG89

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Repairs/improvements to Limited: We assume that there are Landscape contributing to walking routes. volunteers taking part in some of sustainability (infrastructure Consider revision of existing the works. If so there is likely to sustaining economy) Mainly heavy plant work. guides (currently books and be a training requirement here walking websites) River stabilisation, drainage, re- for route repair and surfacing, installation of Consider interpretation as part of improvement. pedestrian gates, waymarking waymarking and orientation Workshops to help local and tree pruning especially where the new using businesses offer more walking pedestrian gates are concerned options to tourists should be NB Waymarking budget is only considered. about 2% of overall costs. ‘This project would be an opportunity to showcase the best of the area, the best of the Glenkens’

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Title: Crossmichael to Castle Douglas Path #GG90

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Complete the pedestrian and Provides a route into (alongside) Landscape contributing to cycle pathway route along A713 the natural heritage of this area sustainability (infrastructure enabling connections of visitors Promotion relates to Kirkpatrick and residents to heritage McMillan from , the sustaining economy) generally-accepted inventor of the bicycle. Landscape and the heritage resources it provides are not well- known

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Title: Dalry – Connecting everyone to our heritage #GG91

Summary Interpretive Opportunities Training and Skills Requirement Themes or Storylines

Signage, interpretation, shelters ‘Captive audience’ at viewing Landscape contributing to and trails in and around Dalry structure/area sustainability (infrastructure that allow users to better enabling connections of visitors CCTV footage provides ‘dynamic understand the natural and and residents to heritage online content cultural heritage of the town and sustaining economy) its surroundings. Dalry town hall as interpretive / Landscape and the heritage heritage hub can link in with resources it provides are not well- other Galloway Glens projects known Proposed conversion of web-only Intergenerational transfer of trails into physical form cultural traditions, skills, stories Oral history project

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Appendix 2 – Current interpretation audit

What interpretation is there?

Interpretation facilitates and enriches audience engagement with the heritage of a place. A review of existing interpretation (undertaken between 24 April and 19 May 2017) indicates a need to co-ordinate approaches to interpretation, and to design. We do not intend for this section to comprise an exhaustive review of interpretation around the project area, but to provide an illustration of the current provision of information or interpretation of its heritage. Interpretation focussing on local community audiences is scarce. This reflects the strategic aim of most producers to attract - and to provide activities for - visitors. Interpretation seems to have been written primarily for Scottish audiences. Interpretation panels seem to proliferate. These are scarce relative to the large project area, however. The panels observed tended either to congregate at major visitor hubs (Clatteringshaw, Castle Douglas TIC). Others occur singly at locations specific to trailheads, or to heritage assets. The natural heritage comprises the open landscapes and wildlife within it, as well as the dark skies asset. The natural heritage component is well treated; and this appears more co-ordinated through landscape and other partnerships. The cultural heritage corpus appears as wholly separate interpretation episodes. The project area has a strong collection of stone buildings (including churches), and traditional village layouts surrounded by isolated satellite farmsteads. There are some fantastic individual stories that present compelling narratives1 and incredible assets2. It has perhaps not been feasible hitherto to consider an overall story.

1 i.e. James Clerk Maxwell, Robert the Bruce, Covenanters 2 i.e. Galloway Viking Hoard, Balmaclellan Mirror

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Format Location Message Audience Comment Image

Downloadable Various Interpretation of Visitors Encourages walker audience Trail Leaflet natural and cultural using natural heritage assets Special (Galloway Red heritage – clear star interest Kite Trail is the kite Partnership) Walkers

Fingerposts Mossdale Area-specific natural Visitors Themed brown sign parking ( and heritage for Galloway Red Kite Trail Special Galloway Activities (walking interest Adjacent to core path route Council) trails) green fingerpost “…key Walkers public access routes ”

( Council)

Indoor Clatteringshaws Natural heritage Visitors Strong design throughout Interpretation Visitor Centre (stargazing) Special Hierarchy well-used (Forestry Cultural heritage interest Commission) Activities (trails, stargazing)

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Format Location Message Audience Comment Image

Indoor Tolbooth, Area-specific local Visitors Example shown is one of Interpretation Kirkcudbright cultural heritage many throughout the Special (Tolbooth, museum. Cultural heritage interest Kirkcudbright) Well-illustrated but text-heavy

without hierarchy

Memorial WWI War Memorial Local (Carsphairn) People

Visitors

Memorial Bennan Forest Area-specific Local Deliberately low-intrusion (Forestry cultural (forestry) people interpretation Commission) heritage

Memorial Parton Kirk Local cultural Local (Parton Kirk) heritage People Cultural heritage Visitors

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Format Location Message Audience Comment Image

Panel (author Balmaclellan Natural heritage Visitors unknown) Walkers

Panel (Forestry Clatteringshaws Natural heritage Visitors Commission) Visitor Centre? Cultural heritage Activities (stargazing)

Panel RSPB Ken-Dee Area-specific local Visitors Strongly-themed structure (Galloway Red Marshes cultural heritage design and materials Special Kite Trail Natural heritage interest A nearby notice board Partnership / provides space for more Sulwath Some management Walkers management messages Connections) aims (invasive species, safety, access)

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Format Location Message Audience Comment Image

Panel New Galloway, Area-specific local Visitors Strongly-themed structure (Galloway Red lower car park cultural heritage design and materials. Special Kite Trail Signposts visitors to RSPB Natural heritage interest Partnership) Kenmure Holms and Walkers Partnership website

Panel Kirkcudbright Area-specific local Visitors (Kirkcudbright Parish Church cultural heritage Special Parish Church) interest

Panel (Sulwath Castle Douglas Area-specific natural Visitors Larger of two panels (see Connections) TIC heritage Robert the Bruce trail below Walkers also) Some signposting Panel is themed (embossed Area-specific pediment) cultural heritage

Panel (Sulwath Castle Douglas Area-specific Visitors Counterpart panel to above Connections) TIC cultural heritage Explore the Ken/Dee Valley panel above Trail Map signposting visitors to the central of 3 trail routes

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Format Location Message Audience Comment Image

Panel (Sulwath Castle Douglas Area-specific natural Visitors Galloway Red Kite Trail Connections) TIC heritage Special And interest Castle Douglas panel Panel is themed (embossed pediment)

Panel (Sulwath Clatteringshaws Area-specific Visitors Part of the Robert the Bruce Connections) Loch cultural heritage central trail Walkers

Panel and Mossdale Area-specific natural Visitors Galloway Red Kite Trail Panel Sculpture heritage and Sculpture combination at Special (Galloway Red Mossdale, adjacent to themed Activities interest Kite Trail brown sign parking for (birdwatching) Partnership) Walkers Galloway Red Kite Trail Colours appear to have faded

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Format Location Message Audience Comment Image

Panel and Mossdale Area-specific natural Visitors Sculpture heritage Special (Galloway Red Activities (walking interest Kite Trail trails) Partnership) Walkers

Panel at North of Area-specific Visitors Colours appear to have faded Monument Laurieston cultural heritage Special (monument interest erected 1932 by subscription; panel Galloway Raiders)

Public Art Carsphairn Natural heritage Visitors Panorama mountain ‘map’ (Carsphairn Visitor Centre set into ground

Visitor Centre)

Public Art Carsphairn Cultural heritage Visitors Relict agricultural equipment (Carsphairn Visitor Centre

Visitor Centre)

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Format Location Message Audience Comment Image

Public Art Clatteringshaws Natural heritage Visitors Strongly locally-themed, (Forestry Visitor Centre using local cup-and-ring mark Cultural heritage Commission) iconography to interpret landscape and/or stargazing?

Public Art Kirkcudbright Activities (art) Local On boat, the Epic refers to (Kirkcudbright People trail winning national award Local cultural Art and Crafts and Thistle to regional award heritage Visitors Trail) for best visitor attraction

Public Art Balmaclellan Local cultural Local Balmaclennan Community (sculpted by heritage People Council and local people John Corrie, restored the statues, and Cultural heritage Visitors 1840; panel by relocated them here Sept community 2000 council 2000)

Trailhead Panel Dundeugh Hill Local cultural Visitors Focus on local heritage (Dumfries and heritage Walkers Galloway Natural heritage Council)

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Format Location Message Audience Comment Image

Trailhead Panel Knockgray Local cultural Visitors Focus on local heritage (Dumfries and heritage Walkers Galloway

Council)

Trailhead Panel Kirkcudbright Local cultural Visitors Focus on local heritage (Dumfries and heritage Walkers Has employed local artist to Galloway Management aims provide panel surround Council) (safety) incorporating public art into the trailhead

Trailhead Panel Balmaclellan Local cultural Visitors Focus on walking routes (author heritage Walkers Incorporates themed art unknown) Activities (art) (carved benches)

Triptych Panel Clatteringshaws Natural heritage Visitors (Forestry Visitor Centre (stargazing) Special Commission) Cultural heritage interest Activities (trails, stargazing)

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Authenticity

The following photographs illustrate ways in which the project area exhibits authenticity through its local character. To a visitor, the project area possesses authenticity almost exclusively through its strong natural and cultural heritage offer. It does not have to try hard to demonstrate its authenticity.

Carsphairn Carsphairn

Kirkcudbright Loch Ken

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Management Needs The following photographs illustrate ways in which various management needs are communicated. The communication of management needs principally uses temporary and/or permanent signage.

Mossdale Public health Castle Public health (walking) Douglas (walking)

Carsphairn Community RSPB Ken- Public safety engagement Dee

RSPB Ken-Dee Public safety; access code

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Trails and Leaflets

Across the Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme area there is a large quantity of trails and other leaflets. These are produced by a variety of organisations. Some examples are presented below:

Format Message Audience Comment Produced by

‘Treasures’ Leaflet Area-specific Cultural Heritage Visitors Stewartry, Kirkcudbright Local people Special interest

Galloway Forest Park leaflet Natural Heritage Visitors Forestry Commission Scotland and fold-out map Some signposting Local people Encourages responsible enjoyment Walkers

The Galloway Ranger 2017 Natural Heritage Visitors Forestry Commission Scotland (newspaper) Lots of signposting Local people Area-specific Cultural Heritage Activities

Kirkcudbright Kirkyard Trail Area-specific Cultural Heritage Visitors Kirkcudbright Community (leaflet) Council

Visit Kirkcudbright (booklet) Area-specific Cultural heritage Visitors Brief mention of natural Kirkcudbright Forum heritage Activities for visitors Some info for local people

These Four Walls: Building Area-specific local cultural heritage Visitors Seems to be mainly for local Carsphairn Heritage Group Memories of a Community people Local people (leaflet)

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RSPB The Galloway Kite Trail Natural Heritage Visitors Mentions the Greenland RSPB (with Forestry Commission (leaflet), paired with Kids’ white-fronted geese (cf Scotland and Dumfries and Some area-specific signposting Special interest Kite Quest (handout) #GG76) Galloway Council, funded by Activities (kids’ handout) Walkers Sulwath Connections HLF)

Proud Supporter of Galloway Seeking support for Biosphere Partnership Local people Galloway and Southern Ayrshire and Southern Ayrshire charity Biosphere Partnership Biosphere (leaflet)

Galloway and Southern Explaining Biosphere Local people Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Ayrshire Biosphere, Biosphere Partnership Scotland’s First (leaflet)

Explore the Biosphere - Loch Natural Heritage Visitors Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Ken and the River Dee (Trail Biosphere Partnership Area-specific Cultural Heritage Walkers trail map-leaflet)

The Southern Upland Way Natural Heritage Visitors Mentions ‘history’ – one word Scottish Borders Council, South (map-leaflet) Lanarkshire Council, Dumfries Activities (walking trail) No specific mention of and Galloway Council project area other than on Encourages responsible enjoyment maps

Dumfries and Galloway - 12 Natural Heritage Visitors No 5 is in project area Visit Scotland walks with an arty twist Area-specific Cultural Heritage Special interest (booklet) Activities (art) Walkers

Fishing in South West Natural Heritage Visitors Fishpal.com (EU and Dumfries Scotland (leaflet) and Galloway Leader Activities (sport offer) Special interest programme 2007-13) Encourages responsible enjoyment

Dumfries and Galloway’s Area-specific Cultural Heritage Visitors DGfoodanddrink.com Food Trail (leaflet) Activities (food and drink) Special Interest

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Events and Festivals There are few events and festivals around the project area. These are very focussed - a specific visitor offer, a site or town, or a specific visitor activity (i.e. Kirkcudbright’s ‘Art and Crafts Trail’ festival, Knockengorroch World Ceilidh).

Black Pearl Beach, Kirkcudbright Art and Crafts Trail © http://www.artandcraftstrail.com/gallery

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Appendix 3 - Challenges and opportunities analysis

This table summarises the key challenges and opportunities for interpretation of the Galloway Glens as perceived by the consultant team. The analysis is based on information obtained through meetings with the Client and selected stakeholders, the workshops, background research, the audit and the professional experience of the consultant team gained through work in other areas and awareness of good practice elsewhere.

N.B. the challenges and opportunities columns are to some extent independent. I.e. the opportunities are not necessarily a direct complement to the adjacent challenge.

Issues Challenges Comment Opportunities Comment Interpretation offer Lack of co-ordination – Develop a co-ordinated overall many organisations doing approach through the different things in different Landscape Partnership ways scheme Lack of clear identity The area lacks a clear ‘Soft’, ‘approachable’, diverse Galloway Glens has many compared with other areas USP in contrast to more offer could contribute strong attributes within a of Scotland well known parts of to/provide a special identity compact and accessible area Scotland (the Highlands, the Hebrides, Perthshire and the Tay river) Lack of overall narrative The current offer is very Impressively rich natural and The cultural offer is hidden at concept disjointed cultural offer, tied together present and has through an overarching opportunities for narrative concept. development. Lacks the drama of other Diversity and richness of the classic Scottish Landscapes offer compared with other (e.g. Highlands, Hebrides) areas, including varied landscape, wildlife, rich history, creative arts,

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Issues Challenges Comment Opportunities Comment innovative engineering, strong characters

‘Biosphere’ concept is more Difficult to use ‘Management’ of the Opportunities to engage to do with management ‘Biosphere’ concept as a landscape and its natural and visitors and local people (e.g. than designation and is a key interpretation or cultural heritage could be an Citizen Science) complex concept. marketing ‘hook’ important interpretation theme. Develop a Galloway Glens Needs good design website as a focal point for overarching interpretation and visit information, with key downloadable documents Nature interpretation Wildlife offer good but How does this area Rich and spectacular wildlife Opportunity to link these seems lacking in co- compare with other (red kites, ospreys, swifts) elements through a common ordination – a series of kite/osprey watch also otters, salmon, trout theme of accessibility – highlights locations ‘getting up close’ to nature Glen Ken/Loch Ken appears to offer unique opportunities for close up observation of Kites and Ospreys Kite and Osprey watching well developed – strong offer Opportunities to develop A permanent ‘springwatch’! other wildlife opportunities – swifts? Salmon? and provide co-ordinated approach using web cams Dark skies offer well developed and presented by

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Issues Challenges Comment Opportunities Comment Forestry Commission Diverse landscape of hills, bogs, forests, woodlands, rich pastures, pretty villages, rivers and lakes Cultural interpretation Cultural offer is very Potentially very rich cultural ‘spotty’ and poorly co- offer mixing strong ordinated historical/archaeological themes with strong individual/character stories Current interpretation Opportunity for tends to be for Scottish interpretation to place audiences (difficult for characters and events in a outsiders to relate to wider wider British and European contexts e.g. Robert the context. Bruce Trail, Covenanters) Some big opportunities not Diversity of people occupying Journeys/movements is a being interpreted (Hydro and moving through the area potential strong theme for scheme, archaeology, (Romans, Christians, Irish, wildlife and for cultural Kirkudbright fishing and Anglo-Normans, Vikings etc; heritage maritime history?) pilgrims Existing Kirkudbright art Opportunity to develop the and cultural offer is very art and cultural offer further different to the rest of the across the Galloway Glens area area Some very interesting and Historical/archaeological strong monuments/historic elements could include: buildings but poorly prehistory and early interpreted in an unco- mediaeval (hoards, ordinated way settlement sites) The Lordship (Douglases) etc Independent spirit is a

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Issues Challenges Comment Opportunities Comment and their keen independent potential strong theme – runs spirit is a strong opportunity through the Lordship, Robert – there are some very fine the Bruce, Covenanters, buildings and monuments to Levellers stories support this story, poorly interpreted at present Covenanters could be strong story if contextualised 20th century engineering and design (the hydro scheme, James Clark Maxwell) Kirkudbright artists Strong individual characters and stories – St Ninian connection, the Douglases, Robert the Bruce, Old Mortality, James Clark Maxwell, Kirkudbright artists Heritage hubs Lack of co-ordinated Strength of community approach to heritage hubs interest – no clear linkages to an overall narrative concept Potential for overlap Diverse range of hubs between the various hubs Lack of appropriate Opportunities for training interpretation and and skills development exhibition skills Younger people not Citizen Science approach engaged? could be good for engaging local people, especially the young

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Issues Challenges Comment Opportunities Comment Guided walks programme Opportunity to develop walks poorly developed and programme with trained lacking trained guides guides Some major gaps in heritage hubs (Castle Douglas, New Galloway) Outdoor panels Proliferation of panels, with Some very strong and some poorly interesting designs with local maintained/faded connections – Kite trail for instance, and Forestry Commission interpretation Lack co-ordination Develop a more co-ordinated This might not be feasible as approach to delivery and it would require a high degree maintenance of outdoor of co-ordination across the panels diverse organisations. However, some agreement on branding would be helpful Leaflets & literature Wide variety produced by Focus on one or two key print Needs good design many different elements: a map of the area organisations, lacking in co- illustrating key stories and ordination where to find about them, places to visit, things to do; a walking / cycling guide Walking & cycling routes Lack of clear series of These off-road routes Forest trails and the Southern mainly off-road, circular 3 – tend to be popular with Upland Way provide spinal 6 mile way marked walking the target visitor markets routes to develop a network routes, outside of the of circular routes? forested areas. Parts of Southern Upland Develop appropriate, mainly Way are challenging and off-road walking routes not especially attractive.

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Issues Challenges Comment Opportunities Comment Accessible landscape – not too challenging if appropriate walking routes available Biosphere trail, exploring management of the Biosphere Audiences/markets Lack of clarity over target The diverse and rich natural The offer needs to be markets and how and cultural offer could have packaged/branded/marketed interpretation offer relates strong appeal to several of appropriately and supported to these the market segments by appropriate infrastructure identified by Visit Scotland. (interpretation, trails, information etc) Regional strategy says little about target markets Kirkudbright visitors seem a Opportunity to promote the very different market to artistic/design aspects of the those that might explore upper valleys to Kirkudbright the upper valleys market (Design of hydro scheme, local artists, James Clark Maxwell, Samuel Rutherford Crockett) Little information or interpretation focused at local audiences Tourism The area lacks strong brand Develop a clear brand built brand/marketing identity around the narrative concept No sense of arrival – Castle Opportunity to develop Douglas is the natural Castle Douglas as a hub for ‘arrival’ point, but it is not information, interpretation clear whether Castle and orientation. Douglas is interesting or

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Issues Challenges Comment Opportunities Comment not It seems as if the various Work in partnership to attractions run by different develop a website as a organisations are targeted ‘gateway’ to the Galloway at a wide range of niche Glens, proving interpretation visitor audiences, lacking in and visitor information co-ordination

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Appendix 4 - Galloway Glens LPS Heritage Hubs Workshop

The workshop took place at Crossmichael Village Hall 16 May. It was chaired by Vyv Wood-Gee.

Participants

Project/organisation People attending Balmaclellan Community and Heritage Hub Brian Jones, GCAT Crossmichael Community Heritage and Living History Project John Nelson Richard Middleton Jane McCarthy Dalry Heritage Project Jim Reid Andy (?) Parton Kirk Paul Hodson Eddie Yates Tolbooth Tales, Kirkcudbright (DGC) Anne Ramsbottom Galloway Glens Landscape Partership Scheme McNabb Laurie (Development Officer) Vyv Wood-Gee (Consultant) Minerva Heritage (Galloway Glens Interpretation Strategy) Lisa Keys Nigel Mills Heritage (Galloway Glens Interpretation Strategy) Nigel Mills

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Hub projects overviews Hub projects came forward as a result of a call-out for proposals at the start of the GGLP project. There is an opportunity to link the hubs through a trail. One aim of the meeting is to think about how hub proposals might fit with a wider Interpretation Strategy.

1. Parton Kirk: make better use of the building. Insert a mezzanine floor to house an exhibition about James Clark Maxwell. Match-funding search not started. Chinese, American and other foreign visitors come looking for information about Maxwell. Currently there is nothing. A 3-mile circular walk was developed around Parton 3 years ago. There are 2 good viewpoints to the surrounding landscape. Parton is a pretty village. 2. Balmaclellan: refurbish the ‘Smiddy’. Also stories around covenanters (Old Mortality). Multi-use venue for local people, schools, visitors. Local use and regeneration of the village (a bit off the beaten track). Local history – dialect, people etc. Want to work in partnership with Biosphere people, e.g. A central hub for the area? Owner happy to discuss terms – 20 year rent-free lease? Or purchase? Currently have a ‘man shed’ for people with traditional skills – they are interested in transferring to the Smiddy. Over 50% of people responding to 2 local surveys showed that support local heritage centre. 40% said they would volunteer. A multi-media approach is envisaged, to appeal to children. 3. Crossmichael: Church Hall (there was a possibility of village hall, but Church are happy with the church hall proposal). Aim is to have a permanent archive exhibition & graveyard tours. People came from as far away as London for a recent exhibition through which they raised £1,000. Many people come and research family tree/origins. Want to have a website to facilitate search. People want to know and see where families actually lived. Families often have ‘inflated’ ideas about their origins (looking for a hall, but find it was a rented hut!). Want to help bring new life for churches. 4. Dalry: targeting schools and schoolchildren. Swifts – we aim to have a closed circuit camera so visitors can watch the Swift families (project link – osprey, kites etc – a sort of permanent spring watch!) Nationally known bird artist lives in the village. Village is also on the Southern Upland Way. Possible link to Robbie Burns & Tamoshanter. Also a motte in Dalry. Aim to use the town hall as an info centre. Create an AV centre – 4 screens around the walls. Tell the story of the Pentland rising illustrate with local artefacts (associated with Covenanters story). Also Donald Watson pictures. Noted need to provide tourist information if the village hall is closed.

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5. Tolbooth tales – Tolbooth arts centre. Current exhibition on Kirkudbright artists. This will close when the new gallery opens. Want to keep the Tolbooth alive. Use the archives from when the Tolbooth was law court to illustrate life and the legal system of the time. One case in particular provides detailed information about the court operation, operation of the legal system local people, etc. Give the tollbooth a chance to tell its story. Tolbooth could provide an info point for all the GG hubs 20,000 visitors.

Telling the Galloway Glens Story Participants were asked to note down what makes Galloway Glens unique or special. Participants noted: · A journey through time. Discover the lives of people in rural Scotland · History of area not well known nationally and so can be exploited regionally by main spine (A713) · The religious history > the ubiquitous presence of the Kirks. · Historical impacts on the landscape as a whole (ie the entire Ken-Dee Valley), notably Clearances, ‘Improvement’, Forestation · Area full of history. Romans lived here and in Crossmichael – Vikings because it is main route N/S and E/W. Kings and Queens passed through, Burns stayed here. Old Mortality and Jeannie Deans, Walter Scott heroes have several connections here and in valley & Crossmichael · Captain Hook is hiden in Crossmichael graveyard. ‘the hook telleth no tale’ & Galloway Glens is a ‘good experience’ for all generations · ‘Wee Book Hoose’ · What we all owe to JCM [James Clerk Maxwell] in our present lives. Education · Wildlife, eg R Kite etc · Osprey landing for fish in L Ken/R Dee only yesterday. Along whole of L Ken · Galloway Glens ‘Hidden Gem’ in terms of physical landscape, and ‘wide openness’ · The impact the people & heritage of the area has had on Scotland and the UK’s history

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· They are is open, friendly and its people are story-tellers · Soft landscape

Participants were then asked to notes down specific Galloway Glens stories. Participants noted: · ‘A journey through time’. The story of people in rural Scotland – antidote to the townsfolk. Need central information point for people to pick up information, then local hubs tell their stories. Lots of links. Shared stories. · ‘A natural trail’ in the Glen Cairns that links stories and hubs – trail runs along west and east sides of Loch Ken – up and down the Glen Ken. Natural and cultural heritage. Ties together elements including religion and geology. Theme of change – changing times, changing history, changing viewpoints · ‘The area is so full of history’ - - the Romans, Vikings, Burns, Old Mortality, Walter Scott’s heroes. · ‘ arrival and departure theme – journeys, of people and animals’ ‘Comings and goings’ theme – for animals as well as people · ‘Captain Hook’ (Crossmichael) · ‘Soft Landscape; soft people; soft storytelling’ (Easy Scotland; Galloway is Kind; links to the future – coming and going in the past, but also in the future? What comings and goings does the future hold? Scotland in miniature (but the Trossachs say that – and Arran). Soft and diverse. Scotland without the rough edges - ‘GG – Scotland made easy’ – a tapestry – ‘Easy Scotland’ · ‘James Clark Maxwell’ – lots of people do not know about him, even in Parton · Other connections to ghosts, slavery….. · ‘The impact that the people of this area have had on Scotland, on the UK and the World’ · ‘The landscape, the light, is stunning’ · Key elements of change – lowland clearances and afforestation (written in the landscape) · (Lowland clearances are very specific to the area – different to the highland clearances) · Religious history – written indelibly in the consciousness of the area – huge impact of the Kirk

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· ‘Galloway is kind’ · ‘Doors open Days’ are popular in the area - part of open and welcoming nature of Galwegians (different to Annandale)

Target audiences Participants were asked to consider target audiences for the Galloway Glens. Participants noted:

Audience Characteristics

Families Existing / Visiting Child-led NE England and Northumberland Cheap (Affordable) <> Affordable Retail Bringing a couple of small bikes Campsite accommodation Cheap, accessible, dry accommodation Accessible Travel by car Under cover Need car stops – Parking, Interest and Engaging and Interactive, Food & Drink, Toilets

Retired people Existing / Locals and Visitors

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Audience Characteristics Lots in the local area, with time and mobility Looking for things to do and interest & more content Repeat visitors and regular visitors who come back year after year - also local retired people receive lots of visits from family (VFM) Visitor footfall includes many retired people Visitors to GG sites come from outside – 50+ Local born and bred people don’t tend to visit GG sites Potential resources as a volunteers base Potential resources as Guides/Ambassadors Keen interest in the area (i.e. Glen Kens story, a local retired group into filming) Retail opportunities House-bound retired are not an existing audience

Outdoors Pursuits Activities: Walking, Canoeing, Long distance Southern Upland Way walkers – tend to be head down and not visit things – different walking market Need somewhere to stay Info to plan their activity: what to do and where to stay

Special interest Wildlife watchers – especially birds (Kites, Osprey, Switfs?) groups: Fishing very popular but tends to be a closed market

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Audience Characteristics Fishermen come to the area for competitions but don’t really engage with the surrounding area

Family historians An important market, esp for English speaking foreign visitors – Canadian, American but also elsewhere in UK Improved experience & stay longer Local, national and international Sources of info and where to find Want to see the real thing – i.e. the actual places their ancestors came from, graves, houses They have a connection Retail opportunities

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Appendix 5 – Galloway Glens LPS Partner and stakeholder workshop This workshop took place on Thursday 15 June and was led by Lisa Keys, Minerva Heritage Ltd and Nigel Mills, Nigel Mills Heritage.

Participants · Karl Munday National Trust for Scotland

· Richard Polley National Trust for Scotland

· Peter Norman D&G Council

· Anna Johnson D&G Council

· Adrian Pringle D&G Council

· Callum Sinclair SNH

· John Nelson Crossmichael Community Heritage Project

· Nic Coomby Coastwise project

· Cliff Robertson Castle Douglas Rotary Club

· Martha Schofield Martha Schofield Design

· Clair McFarlan Solway Firth partnership

· Sean O'Toole DGC

· Andrew Ward Kirkcudbright Initiative

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· Andrew Bielinski RSPB

· Lucy Hadley Galloway Forest District - FCS

· Jane McCarthy Crossmichael Community Heritage Project

· Richard Middleton Crossmichael Community Council

Also in attendance, representing the Galloway Glens LPS team was:

· Karen Morley, Dumfries and Galloway Council

Galloway Glens – what makes it special? Participants were asked to note down what makes the Galloway Glens special. Participants noted:

· Changing Geography and change over time · Management – ‘unspoilt’ it is not · Galloway Glens is ‘Scotland’ ‘Soft’ – soft-hearted people; soft landscape; soft rain · Unspoiled – keep the old names (you are sitting beside the Dee! Loch Ken further up · A tranquil place, unspoilt, quiet, relaxing · Gentle Scottish landscape with intriguing stories and special wildlife · The particular diversity of wildlife, north meets south · Access to Loch Ken and loch itself · A beautiful untapped scenic area · A route from Artists Town to Bird Town, taking in every habitat and special species on the way · Water connects everything · The flooded valley – Loch Ken always looks like it is brimming over the surrounding landscape · We’ve got it all – shame not many people know about it!

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· Wild land to coastal scenery connected by the river all very close together · The meeting of land and sea along a changing coastline · Where special water, land and people work and combine together · Contrasts - landscape; water · An ever-changing valley from source to sea · Connection with the land and history and people. And life

Target Audiences Participants were asked to suggest audiences for the Galloway Glens. Participants were then split into four groups and asked to suggest who the top four audiences for interpretation were (1 was considered most significant, 4 least). Participants noted (arranged in priority order):

People who live and work here (local folk unaware) 1 1 1 (one annotated Y.P [=Young People?]) Day Visitors 1 People from England (Visitors) 2 People from Scotland (Visitors) 2 People from Ireland (Visitors) 2 Activity/Water/Sports Users 2 Nature watchers 2 3 3 4 Arts and Culture seekers 2 3 3 Family Historians 4 Repeat Visitors 4

‘New’ Settlers Land Owners Retirees Unemployed Overseas Visitors

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Tourists coming from other areas Families with Children Walkers Artists Businesses

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Audience Profiling Participants were then asked to consider the profile of their top four priority audiences. Participants noted:

People who live and work here Purpose of visit/ Looking for Likes Avoids engagement Explore their place Informed access Information Obstructions Walking Exceed expectations Cycling Where to go directions Sightseeing Friendly Kayaking Welcoming Hunting Shooting Fishing Scenic Drive Wildlife watching Heritage, Arts and Culture Seekers Purpose of visit/ Looking for Likes Avoids engagement Heritage Hunter Castles Points of Interest close together Noise Historic houses T&P – Good food Bustle Local sites Accommodation Poor Parking Historic Walks Interpretation Traffic Jams Story Guided Tours/ Walks Quality Craft/ Memento Arts Afficionado Galleries Cakes Studios Unique Art Artists Purchasing Exhibitions Nature watchers Purpose of visit/ Looking for Likes Avoids engagement

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Uniqueness Galloway Glens Big 5 Like-minded visitors Crowds Intimacy Dark Sky Underdevelopment Urbanisation Accessibility Biodiversity Good support facilities (food, accommodation, drink, shopping) Cost Diversity of locations Diversity of scale Tranquillity UK and R.O.I. Visitors Purpose of visit/ Looking for Likes Avoids engagement No purpose other Ideas and Inspiration, something not Inexpensive Expensive than holiday (with done before kids) New Long travel Accessible Close to transport links Ready experience Friends and Family Quality time with local product and Personal experience Visitors attractions experience Low-key/informal Simple thing in outdoors Natural Environment Easily accessible Discrete info Busy areas Variety of experience Quiet Honeypots Solitude / unique / personal experience Key species and landscapes/ places Expectations Artistic and Cultural Authenticity / local Quality New Easily accessible Shared experience Feel they know what to expect

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Telling the Galloway Glens story Participants were asked to work in four groups to note down significant stories from the Galloway Glens and to note down where best to tell these. In order to facilitate discussion, four topic areas were discussed as follows:

Wildlife and Nature

Storyline or topic Place at which to tell story Ospreys and other raptors Current [L’ation? Water?] @ Threave Geese (Greenland) Ken Dee Marshes and other parts of Loch Ken Invasive Species (crayfish) Tree diseases Dalbeattie Saw Mill Landscape Night jars (rarity) Red squirrels and kites Ken Dee Marshes and other parts of Loch Ken Bats Bitterns Ken Dee Marshes and other parts of Loch Ken Golden Eagles Galloway Forest Park – new project to help numbers Great Crested Newts Wild Flowers Plant trails Enhancement of other ‘activities’ Info aimed at users Shooting/fieldsports Encourage best practice, land management story Threave Nature Reserve SSSI Current [L’ation? Water?] @ Threave Ken Dee – Marshland SSSI - Scientific Wildlife walks Otter’s Pool (RR) Human/Wildlife conflict [Working?] use of land – Threave land mangent [=management?] (nutrient enrichment) Peat Bogs Clatteringshaws / Visitor Centre Loch Dee Fish Route of river – hydro/stopping places / lack of fishing [tickets?] salmon and pike stories Genetic [storry? = story?] re brown trout Salmon

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Geese Ken Dee Marshes and other parts of Loch Ken Woodland/Forestry Coastal Mud flats Coastal woodland Distribution frontiers / north/ south ranges Sky lines Key viewpoints – connection to core paths / access projects Salmon Otter’s Pool (RR) Arctic Char Sparling Pike Biosphere Status Biosphere communities Red Deer A712 (Queensway) Wild Goats

Places, Sites and Buildings

Storyline or topic Place at which to tell story Kirkcudbright artists Kirkcudbright Threave Estate Threave Roman roads, mottes, camps (Kenmuir), Crossmichael Heritage Centre Glenlochar (lots up valley), Military Road Power stations +Fish Ladders + Lochs Tongland Planned Towns / Woodhead CD Castle Douglas, Laurieston, Parton Ferm Towns Polmaddy / Polharrow, Raiders Road Churches/Graveyards Kirkcudbright, Kells, Whole Glen (website) Viking Hoard Old railway lines / viaducts Railway line (Mossdale – Gate House Junction) Old roads / military road Polmaddy Loch Ken Laybys around Loch Ken (with canoe route) Not on site

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Silver Flowe Not on site Johnston School / Catstrand Lochinvar – just up from Dalry Bothies Galloway Forest Park Listed Buildings Kenmure Castle Churchyard Kells Repurposing old structures Ken Dee Marshes N.R. Bruce’s Stone Galloway Forest Park Secret Cages Galloway Forest Park Dark Sky Park Galloway Forest Park / Johnston School Forest Park Galloway Forest Park Forest Drive Galloway Forest Park

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People and Communities

Storyline or topic Place at which to tell story Hydro Construction Dam and power station sites Fishing communities / Kirkcudbright Harbour, coast, Kirkcudbright + Rivers Religion – covenanters and church Church / graveyard – , Dalry, Kells Adam and Eve stones Agriculture – changes, through the ages, Threave, Carsphairn, Galloway Forest Park / Raiders Road levellers, abandoned farms Agricultural shows Info – when on to visit Forestry – planting Galloway Forest Park/ Raiders Road / Clatteringshaws Lost towns/ New Towns – their evolution Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbright, New Galloway Lifeboat men / wrecks Kirkcudbright coast Murder hole? Kirkcudbright coast Artists Hornel etc… Kirkcudbright – viewpoints in the region John Buchan Railway Line WWI and WWII Castle Douglas - British Legion Saving Private Ryan Castle Douglas - British Legion POWs Crossmichael Castle Douglas - British Legion Levellers Castle Douglas Vikings New Galloway John Paul Jones Lead Miners Carsphairn Lords of Galloway Ross Island Murder The Story of Castle Douglas Town Old Mortality Alexander Murray Donald Watson James Clark Maxwell

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Myths, Legends, Hearsay

Storyline or topic Place at which to tell story New Galloway v Dalry Burgh status New Galloway / Dalry Mons Meg Threave Castle Covenanters’ Caves Carsphairn St John was at Dalry At his chair, Dalry Cannibalism / Sawney Bean? Carsphairn Witches New Galloway Captain Hook buried in the ‘Michael Crossmichael Smuggling (Raiders Road) Coast Raiders Road/Kirkcudbright Slavery built Castle Douglas Castle Douglas Tam O’Shanter Family Stories Amazing graveyard, Kirkcudbright museum, Carsphairn Horsefair Free electricity when Tongland built Any power station Galloway Mermaid Kirkcudbright? Headless Piper (of Patiesthorn) Parton? 39 Steps / Railway Line Viaduct over River Dee John Paul Jones Kirkcudbright Watson/Scott (Threave) Dalry Wells / Holly [=Holy?] site Carsphairn (eg) Offerings into Wet Areas Castle Douglas SR Crockett Laurieston

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Audiences and Media Finally, participants were asked to think about interpretive media according to priority audience characteristics.

Audience Media Why? Heritage, Arts, Interpretation Panels Factual info Culture Likes audio guide Likes augmented reality Re-enactments Families Young People Roleplay Costume Guides (local) Brings history stories to life Film/Video Events including non-historic New audience music/plays

Audience Media Why? People who live and Local press work here D&GWGO – internet Community Geocaching (competitions) Community App – iBeacons / Geolocation GGLP Specific web/app sites Educational links (GLOW) Westsound Radio Social Media Community Notice Boards Local Events Local audiences – e.g. Lochside Theatre

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to put on local ads of what’s going on in GGLP

Audience Media Why? Nature Watchers Stuffed animals! Remote viewing cameras Guiding by experts – has to be unique Hides Give opportunity Big 5 – habitats / place – map/trail/leaflet (trails for 5 species, 5 habitats, 5 attractions) Tranquility map / Dark Skies / Species

Audience Media Why? UK and R.O.I visitors Quality publications (booklets, Keepsake postcards) Websites How people find things out Digital trails / downloads People guides / tastes etc People want activities Transmedia activity Enhances visitors experience Short films/audio Exhibition centres Visitor nodes Orientation

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What did attendees take away from workshop? Participants were asked to leave a final comment about the development of the Interpretation Strategy. Participants noted: · Essential that the strategy does not try to be all things to everyone!! (but you know that already) · Economic – visit, stay, spend, invest; 2. Learn & Appreciate, Youth and Families; 3. For local visitors; 4. Explorers · Very complex to get right! · Dumfries Ayr – Young Folk, Naturalists, Transport, Disadvantage · Area needs to project quality experience and service. Innovation · Looking forward to this develop · Consultation and Engagement. Process of interest. Please contact Ingrid Gemmell. Sean O’Toole. Thank you · Consistency of product throughout Galloway Glens · Haven’t tapped into the healthcare agenda – apps for exercise (with or without an additional ‘motive’) in the Galloway Glens · A very interesting afternoon. Thank you · Forgot to say interpretation should be inspiring AND look to the future – change is a constant · Local young families = constant. Active/sports users = available money. Arts + Culture. Nature. Sightseers · 1 People who live and work here. 2 Day visitors. 3 Tourists. Ambassador training. This story – my place · People who live here · Help fire imagination · As someone who studied concept design / digital storytelling today has been great! (I currently work on my own). I’d be happy to be involved further. There are people who know a lot more local interesting facts than me – a way for them to communicate them to you could be good? · Family history. Tourists. Walkers. Outdoor enthusiasts. History trail enthusiast · Really enjoyed afternoon – and didn’t expect to! Got us all thinking and discussing straight away. Produced a whole load of information – hope it’s useful! · 1 Locals – D&G population. 2 UK Tourists in 3 hour drive. 3 [left blank] · Don’t forget millenials and their interests · The prioritisation of potential audiences needs further thought before using to inform direction · Keep it simple · Need to engage local people. Thank you, enjoyed event. · Interesting mix of paid to volunteers

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