A STRATEGIC VISION FOR THE UPLANDS

A SCOPING EXERCISE

CAVEAT These observations are based, primarily, on experience in the uplands of southern and central Scotland - the Lammermuir, Moorfoot and Tweedsmuir hills of the Southern Uplands and the Pentland, Campsie, Lomond and, particularly, the Ochil Hills of Central Scotland.

Drew Jamieson, September1 2016 WHERE ARE THE UPLANDS?

1. What broad characteristics should we use to define the uplands? Some possible approaches are summarised in the annex to this note.

Broad characteristics of the “uplands” The characteristics of the “uplands” depend, to some extent, upon the perspective of the viewer. • The positive approach might describe the characteristics of the uplands as “opportunities” to enjoy : • Rugged, varied and inspirational scenery. An open landscape of peaks, hills, moors and water - for viewing and • photographing • A varied and interesting climate - for winter climbing, skiing, adventure-sports, white water canoeing and rafting. • An interesting geology - Ancient rocks, glacial processes - GeoPark.

• Ancient relic woodlands - Caledonian pine forests etc. • An iconic biodiversity - with designated EU Habitats and Species - blanket bog, unique raptors, black grouse, Atlantic salmon.

• A living rural landscape - farming, forestry, water supply, renewable energy, field sports. • A quiet, peaceful and remote area, without much traffic. Friendly communities and historic houses and castles.

2 • The negative, perhaps more realistic, approach might characterise the “uplands” as areas of degraded ecosystem, as described by McVean and Lockie (1969): “A well-farmed and thoroughly domesticated countryside and untouched, natural terrain with its vegetation and wildlife complexes intact can both be deeply satisfying. But an inherently infertile region devastated by deforestation and repeated burning, largely depopulated and then opened to heavy and uncontrolled sheep grazing is a distressing sight to anyone with some appreciation of ecological principles.” D. McVean and J. Lockie Ecology and Land use in Upland Scotland. 1969

These, more negative, characteristics might include:

• High relative relief - with steep slopes making working the land difficult. • Challenging climate - with low temperatures, high precipitation and high winds. • Low soil fertility - related to underlying geology and historic land use.

• Poor vegetative cover - the result of felling, burning, grazing over generations. • Limited biodiversity - despite iconic species and habitats, as a result of historic land use and mis-management. They are also characterised by social issues resulting in rural multiple deprivation;:

• Unequal land ownership - large estates, tenant farms, crofting. • Limited range of economic activities - hill farming, forestry, quarrying. • Economy subject to volatile market forces and subsidies - livestock. • Poor communications - public transport, internet and mobile.

3 • Low population density. • Declining population. • Limited access to supporting services - schools, health services. • Relatively low household incomes. Options for Defining the Uplands. Each of the various criteria suggested in the Annex to the covering letter have limitations for defining the “uplands”. Altitude - The term “uplands” would imply some elevation and probably some break in slope between the surrounding “lowlands”. This might be a different metric from “altitude”- which is measured as a distance above mean sea level.

! The Ochil Hills: High relative relief and marked elevation. Almost sea-level to 700+ metres.

4 Limit of Enclosed Farmland - While this would define “rough grazing” and “outbye land or outfield” it might split the economic unit of individual hill farms. Hill farms usually include both infield and outfield - using the infield land for lambing, fattening and finishing sheep when not grazing the hill above the “head dyke”. The limit of enclosed farmland would be less relevant in forested areas where the land is planted both above and below the head dyke. Vegetation Cover - This varies across upland areas. Climate - A “challenging” climate is certainly one of the criteria which characterises upland areas. Land Capability Classes - These usefully reflect multiple environmental criteria - altitude, slope, soils - but are specific for particular land uses - e.g. agriculture/forestry. Landscape Character Types - A range of LCAs have been used to characterise different upland areas. Remoteness - This is a relevant criteria for upland areas but difficult to describe and map. Ruggedness - This is relevant criteria for upland areas but difficult to describe and map. Local Authority Areas - This does not work in the uplands of the Central Belt. e.g. the Pentland Hills are split between four local authorities - Edinburgh, Midlothian, West Lothian and Scottish Borders. The Ochil Hills are split between Clackmannanshire, Stirling and Perth and Kinross. The Campsies and Lomonds are also split between local authorities. These split responsibilities are the biggest obstacle to achieving any”strategic vision” for the uplands of the Central Belt. Less Favoured Area Status - This is attractive as another “multi-criteria” designation, which takes account of “land of poor productivity; production which results from low productivity of the natural environment and a low or dwindling population predominantly dependent on agricultural activity”. Under current definition, the LFA map includes much of Scotland which would not be classed as upland under other criteria.

5 ! The 3 local authorities and the 2 major river catchments which divide the Ochil Hills.

Conclusion. There does not appear to any one existing criteria or designation which would satisfactorily define the “uplands”. It may require a multi-criteria definition and matrix mapping. There has to be some recognition of:

• elevation or altitude. • challenging climate • limited soil fertility • limited economic opportunities • poor physical communications • social issues - remoteness, population and economic metrics.

6 A “Functional” Approach

There may be some merit in defining “upland” areas in terms of their unique function. The most characteristic function of an upland (which no other type of area can provide) is the capture of precipitation and the regulation of runoff - ie; to act as watersheds. Because “uplands” imply land higher than the surrounding lands, they capture precipitation - as rain, mist or snow. They either store it as groundwater, in peat or in soils - or “shed” it through/ over grass, woodlands, moorland and streams. Alternatively, the runoff can be captured and stored in reservoirs - either as domestic supply for distant consumers - e.g. Southern Uplands/ Pentlands/ Ochils/ Campsies or for hydro-electric power e.g. Central Highlands, Northern Highlands. Those reservoirs themselves can provide assets for flood regulation.

! River catchments of the Ochils. (For River Basin and Flood Risk Management Plans.) 7 .!

Reservoir catchment areas and spring-water source area

1. Upper Glendevon. 2. Lower Glendevon. 3. Glensherup. 4. Glenquey. 5. Glenfarg (and River Earn abstraction.) 6. Waltersmuir (Wharry)*. 7. Cocksburn*. 8. Lossburn.* 9. Balquharn.* 10. Spring-water source area. (marked * = no longer drinking supply)

8 Other characteristics can be described around this basic “watershed” function:

• The role of woodlands and forests in runoff regulation;

• The opportunities for hill farming in runoff regulation;

• The opportunities for renewable energy generation;

• The opportunities for wildlife conservation and re-introductions;

• The opportunities for education, recreation and tourism;

• The opportunities for creating employment, stabilising population and protecting services.

9 WHAT BENEFITS DO THE UPLANDS PROVIDE TO SCOTLAND?

2. What are the key social, economic and environmental benefits that the uplands provide for Scotland?

• They provide watersheds for collecting precipitation and regulating runoff to multiple flood-prone rivers;

• They provide important economic resources for farming, forestry, field-sports, tourism and water supply;

• They provide locations for renewable energy: wind, hydro, solar, biomass;

• They provide important wildlife habitats;

• They provide important recreational resources;

• They provide important elements of Scotland’s culture and history.

• They provide important landscape resources, widely visible to major sections of Scotland’s urban populations.

Different beneficiaries - Different visions It may not be possible to establish a single “one-size-fits-all” definition or vision for all Scottish uplands. Even if there is agreement on the generic benefits of the uplands and their challenges, these benefits may be skewed between different beneficiaries in different areas. The principal beneficiaries of the uplands of Central Scotland may be different from the principal beneficiaries for the North West Highlands or the Southern Uplands. The most numerous beneficiaries for the Central Scotland uplands may be the high density, urban-based taxpayer, who view these landscapes on a daily basis, use them for day-visitor recreation and take a keen interest in the benefits of landscape, amenity and recreation. Their vision may be considerably different form the Tweedsmuir sheep farmer, the Lammermuir grouse manager or the factor of the sprawling infertile acres of a Highland estate. There may need to be more than one vision - for the Southern Uplands, the uplands of Central Scotland and the Highlands reflecting the different balances of benefits. 10 3. How can upland land use help to prevent or reduce the impacts of climate change?

Upland land use can help to prevent climate change by:

• adopting low-carbon farming and forestry practices;

• conserving and restoring peatland and carbon-rich soils;

• creating woodland and forest

• accommodating renewable energy generation - wind, hydro, solar, biomass, biofuels.

Upland land use can help to reduce the impacts of climate change by:

• Managing flood risk, including natural flood management, runoff reduction, peatland restoration.

• Increasing the diversity of habitats to provide resilience for species.

11 WHAT SHOULD AN UPLAND VISION INCLUDE? 4. A strategic vision could inform decisions about the balance between different land uses in different parts of the uplands. What are the key choices that an upland vision should address, and why?

Prioritise the Benefits:

The key choices are to what extent the different land uses can accommodate each other to create a balanced multiple land use vision. It is unlikely that there will be further opportunities to allocate different parts of the uplands exclusively to different land uses at a strategic scale. Even within existing designations in the uplands - National Parks, Forest Parks, National Nature Reserves, National Scenic Areas, Regional Parks and Drinking Water Protected Areas - the principles of multiple land uses and multiple benefits are the norm, with priority given to the specific objective of designation - landscape, conservation, recreation, water quality.

Certain benefits provided by uplands - eg watershed functions, natural flood management, water storage - are unique to uplands. Some other upland benefits e.g. farming, forestry, wind energy, military training - can also be provided by some other types of area. It could be important to prioritise those exclusive benefits and agree a set of principles for prioritising the other different land uses in the uplands. Annex A offers a summary of the various interactions between the some of the different land uses in the uplands.

12 Some key choices would be to what extent:

• Hill farming and forestry can support natural flood management;

• Changes in hill farming, forestry and wind energy can be accommodated within sensitive landscapes;

• Hill farming and forestry can encourage resilience for sensitive species and habitats;

• Field sports, particular grouse management, can be reconciled with raptor conservation;

• Deer management can improve the regeneration of vegetation and contribute to natural flood management;

• Fisheries conservation can be reconciled with natural flood management - such as “leaky dams”;

• Fisheries conservation can be reconciled with species re-introduction - such as beavers;

• Negative impacts of recreation and tourism - such as footpath erosion - can be managed within sensitive landscapes and ecosystems;

• Wild places and the wilderness experience can be protected from intrusive developments.

It is likely that within any local upland area, various land uses will have to compromise and accommodate each other. (The Subject Local Plan for the Pentland Hills Regional Park 1989-1994 provides an example.)

Annex B includes a draft potential “vision” being developed for the Ochil Hills. (I appreciate this is premature - but it is for discussion). The vision is aspirational. It tells us where we want to go. It doesn’t tell us how to get there.!

13 5. Are there any other topics or issues that should be included in an upland vision, and if so why?

• Protection of the historical landscape. An often overlooked aspect of social and economic history with lessons for the future of the uplands.

• Promotion of education and interpretation. A vital part of influencing present and future stakeholders, especially voters/ taxpayers.

• Recognition of uplands for cultural inspiration - music/poetry/literature.

• Extend planning control to certain farming and forestry developments - e.g. estate roads, farm buildings, extensive commercial forestry.

• Promote community involvement in decision making, including forestry proposals.

• Promote hi-speed internet and mobile coverage.

• Provide positive planning encouragement for small-scale non-farm businesses - especially IT/digital based.

• Continue to review land ownership to reduce inequalities and promote good stewardship.

• Strengthen links with urban users of upland areas e.g. Edinburgh -Pentlands; Glasgow - Campsies; Stirling/Falkirk/ Clackmannanshire/Perth - Ochils; Dundee- Sidlaws - to educate and promote the benefits and the challenges of the uplands.

6. Are there any topics or issues that should be excluded from an upland vision, and if so why?

Undecided at present.

14 HOW SHOULD THE VISION BE DEVELOPED? 7. Which stakeholders do you think it would be particularly important to involve, and how? Would particular approaches be needed, for example, to reach particular groups?

As part of on-going studies in the Ochil Hills, some relevant stakeholders were identified:

• Clackmannanshire Council • Scottish Land and Estates • Perth and Kinross Council • Scottish Water • Stirling Council • National Farmers' Union, Scotland • 17 Community Councils • Biodiversity Partnerships • Scottish Natural Heritage • Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust • SportScotland • Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust • Historic Environment Scotland • RSPB • SEPA • OLP - Ochils Landscape Partnership (now • Forestry Commission Scotland EPIC “Enabling Projects in Clackmannanshire, Supporting Communities “) • Woodland Trust Scotland • Friends of the Ochils • Scottish Government RPIP Directorate • Forth and Tay Fisheries Trusts • Landowner/Tenants representatives • VisitScotland

(other uplands will have similar but specific stakeholders)

15 Particular approaches would be required to involve:

• Individual land managers at local level.

• Local Community Councils.

• Unattached individuals/users e.g. walkers/cyclists/riders who are not attached to established groups/organisations.

• Voters and taxpayers who are going to have to fund any initiatives to create and maintain any “strategic vision”? They may need to be persuaded the the “uplands” require any strategic vision in the first place. They will also need to be persuaded that the results are worth it with measurable benefits.

16 8. What are your views on the process that might be needed to bring together the key interests and develop a shared vision?

On-going work on the uplands of Central Scotland has suggested a two-stage process of consultation/workshop events:

! Some uplands of Central Scotland

17 Possible Event 1 - “WHERE WE ARE NOW - ARE THERE ISSUES? IF SO, WHAT ARE THEY?”

This would pull together the experiences of the current upland professionals - Regional Park managers, planning officers, SNH staff, project officers, volunteers - to review the current activities, the issues, challenges and successes within their uplands - and assess any need for further action as envisioned in the Hills of Home initiative. This would require key personnel in:

• SNH • Campsie Hills; • SEPA • Kilpatrick Hills; • Pentland Hills Regional Park; • Ochil Hills; • Lomond Hills Regional Park; • Southern Uplands • Clyde-Muirshiel Regional Park; - and others.

If issues are identified - this would have to progress to - “How do we fix them?”

Possible Event 2 - “WHAT DO WE NEED FROM THE UPLANDS - THE ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS.”

This could be a “bottom-up” event, allowing the various specialists to lay out their stall about the benefits that the uplands ecosystem provides to their special interest or activity and their future needs. This could be expected to include input from:

• Landscape and amenity interests; • Biodiversity; • Hill farming; • Cultural heritage; • Flood management; • Recreation (various); • Woodland creation; • Tourism; • Commercial forestry; • Local communities. • Water supply; • etc. • Renewable energy;

The output from this sort of event could provide a baseline position which could identify the various “red-lines” for the different interests represented. Any future “strategic vision” would need to try to accommodate, resolve or mediate these diverse interests.

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9. Who would be best placed to lead this process?

Scottish Natural Heritage: Because of the multi-disciplinary nature of this project, SNH should be the lead organisation but would need to work closely with SEPA on flood management measures and other issues of the aquatic environment. Some form of Scottish Land Use Forum may be appropriate.

10. What form should a vision for the uplands take (visual or descriptive, maps, diagrams or text)?

A combination of all media - as required.

11. Do you have any other comments or suggestions?

Upland Management Plans. An upland area can be viewed from two alternative perspectives as:

• An upland massif forming a watershed for several watercourses or, • A series of river basins, separated by upland ridges and plateaux.

The first perspective is the more traditional one, reflecting the visible appearance of easily-identifiable upland mass above the lowlands. The second perspective reflects more recent priorities of river basin and flood risk management. Both perspectives view the same ecosystem. The recent focus in ecosystem planning has been on the water environment - implementing the EU Water Framework Directive with River Basin Management Plans and the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act. with Flood Risk Strategies. Both are based upon the “river catchment or river basin” as the unit of planning and management. Even the Tweed Forum Management Plan is based upon the Tweed catchment. The development of “Upland Management Plans” has been more limited. Regional Parks in Pentlands, Fife and Clyde-Muirshiel have developed their own Management Plans. The Pentlands started out with a Subject Local Plan but reverted to a Management Plan after the demise of the regional councils in 1996. Perhaps there is a case for more Upland Management Plans for specific areas of the uplands.

19 Landscape and Land Use Partnerships. A number of areas of Scotland, e.g. Southern Uplands, Inner Forth, have already developed landscape partnerships - voluntary groupings of agencies and landowners working together to achieve common objectives and funding. The second Scottish Land Use Strategy (2016-2021) contains policies for Regional Land Use Partnerships and Regional Land Use Frameworks - as well as the proposal for a Strategic Vision for the Uplands. These are new and developing areas and further work is required before rolling them out more widely but all three of these proposals could help to achieve better coordination in planning and management of the uplands - as part of a strategic vision.

• An Ochil Hills Land Use Partnership would progress better integration of land uses and better understanding of the issues of the Ochil Hills by bringing together local people, land users and managers into a regional partnership. It could also provide a vehicle for such landscape-scale projects as peatland restoration, natural flood management, native woodland creation and the re-design of legacy forests.

• An Ochil Hills Land Use Framework would:

• Help in the assessment of how changes in land use and land management - e.g. forestry and renewable energy - may impact on a broad range of ecosystem services of the Ochil Hills;

• Bring together the 17 communities and other stakeholders in the Ochil Hills to build understanding about competing interests in the use and management of the Ochil Hills;

• Involve the 17 local communities and other stakeholders in decisions about the Ochil Hills;

• Provide context and wider input to a range of local authority responsibilities such as development planning and flood risk planning in the Ochil Hills; and,

• Assist in targeting the use of finite financial resources e.g. SRDP funding, to where they may have most impact in the Ochil Hills e.g. peatland conservation, natural flood management, native woodland expansion, forest re-design, across the whole Ochil Hills range.

20 ANNEX A: Multiple Land Uses and their Interactions

Hill Farming interacts with peatland conservation, forestry, woodland creation, biodiversity, natural flood management (NFM), recreation, water supply, deer management, species re-introduction.

Forestry and woodland creation interact with hill farming, peatland conservation, biodiversity, NFM, recreation, water supply, deer management, species reintroduction. Carbon sequestration role.

Water Supply interacts with hill farming, peatland conservation, forestry, woodland creation, biodiversity, NFM, recreation, species reintroduction (charr - Megget/Talla and powan - Carron Valley).

Wind energy interacts with hill farming, peatland conservation, biodiversity, NFM, recreation, water supply, deer management, species reintroduction, landscape. Carbon reduction role.

Solar generation interacts with hill farming, biodiversity, recreation, landscape. Carbon reduction role.

Hydro electric generation interacts with hill farming, biodiversity (salmon), NFM, recreation, species reintroduction. Fisheries management, angling, landscape. Carbon reduction role.

Natural Flood Management (NFM) interacts with hill farming, peatland conservation, forestry, woodland creation, biodiversity, recreation, water supply, deer management, species reintroduction (beaver), fisheries management (salmonids).

Peatland Conservation interacts with hill farming, forestry, woodland creation, NFM, biodiversity, recreation, water supply, deer management, species reintroduction (beaver), fisheries management (salmonids). Carbon sequestration role.

Biodiversity conservation interacts with hill farming, peatland conservation, forestry, woodland creation, NFM, recreation, water supply, deer management, species reintroduction, fisheries management.

21 Field sports interact with hill farming, peatland conservation (muirburn), forestry, woodland creation, biodiversity, NFM (moorland management), recreation, water supply, deer management, species reintroduction.

Deer management interacts with hill farming, peatland conservation, forestry, woodland creation, biodiversity, NFM, recreation, species reintroduction.

Species re-introduction interacts with hill farming, forestry, woodland creation, biodiversity, NFM (beaver), recreation, water supply (charr/powan), deer management .

Fisheries management interacts with hill farming, peatland conservation, forestry, woodland creation, biodiversity, NFM (obstructions), recreation, water supply, deer management, species reintroduction (beaver/charr/powan/vendace/salmon).

Recreation interacts with hill farming, peatland conservation, forestry, woodland creation, biodiversity, NFM, water supply (reservoirs), deer management, species reintroduction.

Tourism interacts with hill farming, peatland conservation, forestry, field sports, angling, woodland creation, biodiversity, recreation, water supply, deer management, species reintroduction- (beaver).

Angling interacts with hill farming, peatland conservation, forestry, woodland creation, biodiversity, natural FM, other recreation, water supply, species reintroduction - (charr, powan, vendace, beaver.)

Landscape conservation interacts with hill farming, peatland conservation, forestry, woodland creation, biodiversity, NFM, recreation, water supply, deer management, species reintroduction - (beaver.)

Military Training interacts with hill farming, landscape conservation, forestry, biodiversity, recreation, deer management.

Many of these land uses are influenced by the inequality of land ownership, are subject to volatile market forces and subsidies, suffer from poor communications, support low population densities and provide relatively low household incomes - in upland areas.

22 ANNEX B : A Potential Vision for the Ochil Hills

On-going work on the Ochil Hills has suggested a vision where the different habitats harmoniously provide their multiple services, both for the ecosystem of the hills and for the population and settlements of the surrounding lowlands.

• Stable watershed systems with - • Natural flood management systems including - • Fully-functioning blanket bogs; • Productive and species-rich grasslands and - • Sustainable broad-leaved woodlands creating - • A healthy aquatic ecosystems of “good ecological status”. • A productive hill farming economy; • Regenerated biodiversity; • Productive and well-designed commercial forests; • Renewable energy, compatible with landscape and biodiversity objectives; • Attractive and inspiring landscapes, contributing to a “sense of place”; • Good recreational access, paths, parking and visitor information. • Providing education and interpretation of the natural, historical and cultural environments

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