CSGN Annual Review 2018/19 Contents Chair’s Foreword 01 An Initiative of National Importance 02 Scottish Government Commitment 03 CSGN Parliamentary Event 04 Green Infrastructure Policies in the CSGN 05 Not So Pretty Vacant Campaign 06 Scottish Forestry and Forestry and Land Scotland 07 Importance of Greenspace for Young People - CSGN Forum 08 Delivery at Scale 10 The Inner Forth Landscape Initiative 11 Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership 12 EcoCo LIFE 13 The Leven Catchment Project 14 The John Muir Way 15 Creating Local Assets and Benefits 16 CSGN Development Fund 17 Creating Natural Connections Initiative 18 Busby Primary Edible Vertical Garden 19 Local Authority Projects 20 Cover — The John Muir Way, Photo: scotlandbigpicture.com Chair’s Foreword 1 Concern over the environment is high The CSGN continues to make great progress Annual Review 2018/19 within communities, something we showcased at on the public’s conscience, and the our parliamentary event. Guests were able to meet political agenda is shifting with the some of the many partners who have delivered Scottish Government acknowledging ground-breaking projects over the past year, as well as local participants who are benefiting from a climate crisis, joined by many of our these projects, such as pupils from Larbert High local authority partners. School whose work at Carron Dams Nature Park was recognised at the Scottish Awards for Quality In this review we look back at how much we have in Planning. collectively achieved over the past year, and we I am also pleased that we are able to report on can see the ways in which the CSGN will continue the success of initiatives for a CSGN flagship to form part of Scotland’s climate challenge project, the John Muir Way. Funding was secured response. However, it is also quite apparent how to continue the innovative planting for pollinators’ much more we must do if we are to make the project, and we have seen the launch of a new CSGN vision a reality and ensure its contribution John Muir Way passport which seeks to bolster ScotlandCentral Green Network to meeting the climate challenges is as substantial and engage businesses based along the long as it can be. distance walking and cycling route. Evidence from The heightened interest comes as work is hotels indicates that the passport is bringing an underway to produce the Scottish Government’s increase in visitors into their premises, especially fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4). visitors from the USA. The CSGN is prioritised as one of 14 National I hope you enjoy this CSGN annual review and Developments in NPF3, which has been we look forward to our continued work together, instrumental to embedding the CSGN’s delivery in delivering a better future for central Scotland. policy and practice across central Scotland. We look forward to continuing conversations with our partners in the development of the new framework Keith Geddes and the CSGN’s stake in making central Scotland Chair a better place to live, work, visit and do business Central Scotland Green Network Trust in. Through the actions of a committed, skilled and diverse network of partners, we are delivering the largest greenspace initiative of its kind in Europe. Their valuable support and exemplar approach to working in partnership is delivering positive changes and enhancements to central Scotland’s landscape at scale. This year saw the EcoCo LIFE, Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership and Inner Forth Landscape Initiative programmes draw to a close. Their achievements are impressive and we have highlighted these in this review. It has been very encouraging to see action continue beyond the original scope of the initiatives as they transition into new ventures, carrying forward the legacies of the projects. An Initiative of National Importance The CSGN is transforming places for the better, actively supporting the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government. It is a real opportunity through policy, investment and shared action to create a legacy for the future, as well as seeing real change in our lifetime. It is much more than a ‘green’ initiative, the CSGN is helping to improve the social, economic, physical, cultural and environmental wellbeing. By targeting and prioritising areas where access to quality greenspace is limited, the CSGN is tackling inequality, making central Scotland a fairer, healthier and happier place to live. The CSGN makes central Scotland a more attractive place to do business in, promoting a stronger, sustainable economy. It also has the ability to strengthen communities, and seeks to engage them with Scotland’s natural environment and the many benefits it brings. All while contributing significantly to Scotland’s response to the climate emergency, helping to meet the climate change challenges we face. 1 — 2018 CSGN Forum, Roseanna Cunningham MSP Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform 1 Scottish Government 3 Commitment The CSGN is the largest environmental The CSGN featured in both the 2017/18 and Annual Review 2018/19 2018/19 Programmes for Government. This project of its kind in Europe, document is published every year at the beginning transforming places for the better, of September and sets out the actions the Scottish actively supporting the Scottish Government will take in the coming year and beyond. It includes the legislative programme Government’s Programme for for the next parliamentary year to drive forward Government. change across all levels of society. These actions have continued the government’s It is prioritised in the Scottish support for the CSGN through: the CSGN Government’s third National Planning Development Fund which reached its tenth year having distributed nearly £7m to over 160 projects, Framework (NPF3) as one of 14 commitments to increasing area available for national developments, helping to community growing, targeting greenspace improvements in the most disadvantaged areas, make this area more attractive to and supporting pollinator planting, including ScotlandCentral Green Network investors and residents. projects along the John Muir Way to create Scotland’s first pollinator-friendly urban corridor. NPF3 is a long term spatial plan for Scotland that sets out where development and infrastructure 2 — Pollinator planting is needed to support sustainable and inclusive along the John Muir Way growth. NPF3 was launched in 2014 – a report Photo: Becky Duncan, monitoring progress of its 30 key actions and 14 Open Aye cic national developments was published this year – and work is currently underway to develop the fourth framework that will lead to 2050. 2 4 CSGN Parliamentary Event Annual Review 2018/19 The Central Scotland Green Network In addition to displays covering the many themes Trust (CSGNT) held a parliamentary of the CSGN, eight partners exhibited the work they are doing with young people. Amongst reception with Alex Neil MSP at these were projects from greenspace scotland, Holyrood. Scottish Natural Heritage, the John Muir Trust, Cumbernauld Living Landscapes, Beechbrae, The event, Investing in Young People; Scottish Wildlife Trust and CSGNT. Young participants from these projects were also present Investing in our Environment, focused to share their experiences with guests. on the Year of Young People 2018, Mairi Gougeon MSP, Minister for Rural Affairs and highlighting the contribution our young Natural Environment, made a speech at the event people are making to greening the and, along with the event sponsor Alex Neil MSP, had the opportunity to present John Muir Awards to central belt through local and strategic six young people from the North Lanarkshire based action, and the benefits they enjoy New Stevenston Senior Youth Group. Central ScotlandCentral Green Network from the CSGN. Recipients of the CSGN Young Persons Travel Grant also attended the event to present an overview of the projects they visited after receiving 1 — John Muir Award their awards at the CSGN Forum. Their travels recipients with Alex Neil MSP took them to see innovative greenspace and green and Mairi Gougeon MSP, infrastructure projects in the UK, Europe and the Minister for Rural Affairs and US. Natural Environment 1 Green Infrastructure 5 Policies in the CSGN Glasgow Clyde Valley Green Network The quality of GI-relevant policies were assessed Annual Review 2018/19 against a suite of 23 GI policy assessment criteria Partnership published a study that based on a GI benchmark developed by the establishes the quality and coverage Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments of Green Infrastructure (GI) policies in at the University of the West of England in Bristol, and the Integrated Green Infrastructure local authorities’ Local Development Approach developed by the GCV Green Network Plans and Supplementary Guidance Partnership. within the CSGN area. The study found that when the best individual GI policies from the 19 CSGN local authorities are collated there is almost complete coverage of GI policy tools - although no single local authority has all aspects of policy in place. The study proves that it is possible to have strong comprehensive GI policies in statutory planning documents.and provides the prospect of collating the best policies ScotlandCentral Green Network as a suite of ‘model’ GI policies. The study’s results provide a useful starting point for constructive discussion about how 2— Greening in a comprehensive and robust GI policy can be new residential areas achieved with those who have an interest in visualisation seeing good, well maintained multi-functional green infrastructure integrated into new housing developments as significant contribution to the delivery of the CSGN. 21 6 Not So Pretty Vacant Campaign Scottish Land Commission SEPA Vacant and Derelict Land Taskforce Annual Review 2018/19 The Scottish Land Commission The Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey was first set up 30 years ago, yet the amount of and SEPA launched their innovative registered land has remained virtually static. There partnership and taskforce to transform are currently around 11,600 hectares, twice the Scotland’s approach to vacant and size of the City of Dundee, of derelict and urban vacant land in Scotland.