CENTRAL SCOTLAND GREEN NETWORK

PARTNERSHIP BOARD MEETING

12 MAY 2011 (a networking sandwich lunch will be available from 1.00pm)

MEETING : 2.00pm – 4.00pm

AT MACTAGGART & MICKEL OFFICE (TRAINING ROOM) 1 ATLANTIC QUAY 1 ROBERTSON STREET GLASGOW G2 8JB

1. Welcome and Apologies: Apologies from E Phillips and R Maxwell.

2. Minutes of Meeting of 17 March 2011 (attached)

3. Matters Arising (Paper 1)

4. Chairperson’s Report (verbal)

5. Presentation by Max Hislop (Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership)

6. Presentation on the John Muir Way by Ron McCraw (Scottish Natural Heritage) (Paper 2)

7. Developing Links with Business (Paper 3)

8. Engaging with Politicians post 5 May 2011 (Paper 4)

9. Update on the 2011 Development Fund (verbal)

10. Update on the 2011 Forum (verbal)

11. Activities by FCS (Paper 5)

12. Activities by SNH (Paper 6)

13. Activities by CSGNSU (Paper 7)

14. Any Other Competent Business

15. Date of Next Meeting -14 July 2011: Tour of Darnley Park (time tba). Followed by the board meeting at 2.00pm, East Renfrewshire Council, Civic Room 2, 211 Main Street, Barrhead G78 1SY

CENTRAL SCOTLAND GREEN NETWORK

Report to: CSGN Partnership Board

Date of Meeting: 12 May 2011

Subject: Paper 1

Item Matter Action No 3 Scottish Green Awards A table will be booked once the invitations have been sent out. 3 July meeting – tour of Darnley Country Park Directors to advise EP if they wish to attend the tour before the July meeting. 4 John Muir Way See board pack (Presentation & Paper 2)

4 Training and Employment – progress with Secretary of Holding letter received. KG/SR to begin planning State meeting for the meeting. 4 Local Authority meetings Being progressed.

5 Ian White’s presentation to be circulated to the Presentation emailed on 18 March 2011. Partnership Board. 6 Vision Document update Document will not be crystal marked.

6 Vision Document to be sent out privately (before 14 Work in Progress – CSGNSU. June) to consultees and MSPs. 6 Vision Document – a tailored letter to be sent to the Verbal update from CSGN Board. business community and local health boards. 7 Business Sector update See board pack (Paper 3)

8 Development Fund update Verbal update by FCS and SNH and confirmation by SNH on funding. 9 Forum Speakers See board pack (Paper 7)

9 Delegate numbers update See board pack (Paper 7)

12 Branding Report & Brand Guidelines to go on line. Documents are now on the website.

12 Branding thank you letters to be sent out. Completed.

13 Acronyms – authors to refrain from using acronyms in Actioned. their papers. 13 Next Steps See board pack (Paper 4). Paper on Single Outcome Agreements to be presented at the July board meeting. 14 MSP event To be progressed later in the year.

CENTRAL SCOTLAND GREEN NETWORK

Report to: CSGN Partnership Board

Date of Meeting: 12 May 2011

Subject: John Muir Trail update

Ref: Paper 2

Purpose of Report

The attached Appendix 2.1 is a draft proposal for the John Muir Trail (JMT) development. It is intended to consult key partners on this document following comments by the CSGN Partnership Board. The JMT proposal is presented within the context of the wider CSGN longer distance route network.

Recommendation

The Partnership Board is asked to:

· Suggest any changes to the proposal prior to consultation · Note and comment on funding needs to 2014 and next steps for route development

Introduction

In February 2011, SNH organised a workshop of local authority staff to discuss the development of a longer distance route network and a John Muir Trail within the CSGN. Delegates were supportive of the concept and SNH have since met with individual authorities and other key partners to discuss this in more detail.

The resulting proposal (Appendix 2.1) describes a preferred route option alongside benefits, implementation issues and opportunities, and outline costs. It demonstrates how the JMT would be an important spine route through linking into a wider network of longer distance routes (LDRs) within the CSGN, and how these routes would link to and strengthen Scotland’s LDR network. The proposal is very much a working draft and consultees will be asked to comment on the route alignment detail and provide more detailed costs for implementation.

Note: a more detailed JMT route map will be prepared for the consultation.

Key points about the propose route:

It is intended to qualify as one of Scotland’s Great Trails (a brand name for Scotland’s finest longer distance routes) and will benefit from collective promotion and marketing; It has been guided by established LDR success criteria (SNH, 2008); It is based on linking together existing promoted routes as much as possible; It will be easy-moderate to undertake, pass through many settlements, places of interest and Central Scotland’s finest landscape; and be accessible by public transport; It will suit both “end to enders” for multi-day journeys, offer attractive short sections and loops for day trippers, and provide economic benefits for communities and businesses; It will appeal to both walkers and cyclists; It is deliverable by 2014, but with ongoing improvements expected after this date.

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Sensitivities

Route name

East Lothian Council has requested that the route not be called the John Muir Way, the existing name for the established Dunbar to Musselburgh route, as this could confuse users. For this reason, the John Muir Trail is proposed.

End points

The proposed western end points are Broomielaw, Glasgow (John Muir’s departure point for the USA) and Balloch (symbolising his passion for National Parks). A third potential end-point at Greenock has been discounted on the grounds of insufficiently attractive route opportunities and potentially providing too many choices to users.

Role of the wider network

The proposed route would not pass through 11 local authority areas. Most LAs accept that the route must be fairly direct to be successful and that the current line fits well with the John Muir concept. However, it is the wider LDR network which will provide important structure to the CSGN overall, pulling together valuable route contributions from all 19 LA areas.

Next Steps

The planned next steps are to:

John Muir Trail

Consult local authorities and other key partners on the proposal (May-June) Undertake a detailed technical survey (June-July) Finalise proposal and prepare a costed action plan (July-August) Report back to CSGN Board (September) Establish project delivery group (October on)

Wider LDR network

Prepare network proposal (by July) Consult partners (August – September) Finalise proposal and prepare a costed action plan (September-October) Report to CSGN Board in November 2011

Author: Ron McCraw, SNH

Date: 21 April 2011

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APPENDIX 2.1 John Muir Trail proposal – WORKING DRAFT

CENTRAL SCOTLAND GREEN NETWORK

Proposal for: The John Muir Trail, from Dunbar to Glasgow and Loch Lomond

Introduction

1. This paper presents a project proposal for implementing and promoting an east to west long distance route from Dunbar in the east to Glasgow and Balloch in the west. The route would form an extension of the existing John Muir Way in East Lothian and be an important spine route supporting a wider network of longer distance routes within the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN). The route is proposed alongside benefits, implementation issues and opportunities and outline costs. This proposal has been developed through liaison with 8 local authorities, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority, British Waterways, Sustrans, and Historic Scotland. Comments are invited from partners.

Context

2. A key goal for the CSGN is to deliver a network of strategic walking and cycling routes for active travel and recreation (CSGN Vision, 2011). These routes are intended to contribute to improvements in health and wellbeing and quality of life, amongst wider social, environmental and economic benefits. The strategic routes network is proposed to be in place by 2030, with significant progress by 2020. This network will comprise of longer distance routes (LDRs) and managed places (country parks, nature reserves etc.) for recreation and specific facilities to encourage active travel by walking and cycling. Parallel work to strengthen local paths and managed places networks will be integral to creating this network. Targeted promotion of the network will be essential to encourage use by residents and visitors for both recreation and active travel. A key principle to underpin this work is to link together and promote existing paths and routes in order to maximise use of the developing infrastructure.

3. Such a proposal fits in well with wider SNH work on developing and strengthening an LDR network for Scotland. Information and insight into the existing paths and routes resource in the CSGN area has been developed from 2 recent pieces of SNH research:

· Developing the Network of Longer Distance Routes (SNH commissioned report No. 380, 2010) provided an audit of LDRs in Scotland, identified opportunities for strengthening the network and made recommendations for future development, management and marketing of the network. The report included coverage of the CSGN area.

· Planning for Outdoor Recreation and Active Travel in the CSGN (SNH 2010) identified opportunities for integrating strategic and local paths planning and delivery, and provision for managed places for outdoor recreation, into multi-functional green networks within the CSGN.

4. Nationally, SNH and partners have identified and branded a network of quality LDRs – Scotland’s Great Trails (SGTs) and a formal network launch is planned for June 2011, alongside a promotional campaign by SNH and Visitscotland. The CSGN area already has several longer distance routes (7 of these are SGT’s), parts of the National Cycle Network and other important link routes.

Longer distance route network for recreation

5. The main purpose for creating a CSGN longer distance route network is to increase participation in outdoor recreation by residents and visitors alike. This network should improve the range and quality of opportunities for outdoor recreation, increase public awareness and active enjoyment of nature, landscapes and heritage, and generate public interest in other paths and routes, and their connections to places of interest within the CSGN.

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APPENDIX 2.1 John Muir Trail proposal – WORKING DRAFT

6. Annexe 1 shows some of the key existing longer distance routes (LDRs) within the CSGN including 7 of Scotland’s Great Trails. These existing routes present a good resource for planning and implementing a more extensive and better linked network.

7. Promotional work on SGT’s nationally will improve general awareness of LDRs within the CSGN from 2011 and provide impetus for improving promotion of CSGN LDRs. Much can be achieved through highlighting the distribution, accessibility of, and linkages between, the many existing routes, and their connections to local paths networks and places of interest. The potential for strengthening this network is self-evident from Map 1 which shows an indicative LDR network following initial discussions with local authorities. Various opportunities exist to strengthen linkages both east to west and north to south. Some of the gaps have already been highlighted in SNH research (Peter Scott, 2010), including plans and proposals for some individual routes. Other factors to consider include opportunities created by core paths plan implementation, ongoing development of the National Cycle Network, and the promotion of Heritage Paths by Scotways.

8. The number and spread of settlements and places of interest across a large proportion of the CSGN area, combined with existing and potential routes, will provide a good basis for planning and establishing a recognised network. Making the network accessible and enjoyable to a broad range of participants, locals and visitors should, therefore, be relatively straight forward. In particular, the availability of good public transport within the CSGN area, by train and bus, should encourage day trips on many routes, as well as supporting end-to- end journeys.

9. The key issue in planning this network will be deciding its overall extent and density and which existing promoted routes and new routes and links should be included. It is essential that the network should be recognisable to support effective promotion, standing out (to users and managers) clearly as a layer of strategic routes against the denser background of all paths and routes, including local paths networks.

10. As a start point it is suggested that route selection should be based on those criteria routes used to establish Scotland’s Great Trails branded network routes, namely:

· be continuous, largely off-road, clearly identifiable and appropriately waymarked route between defined start and end points · be largely off-road (generally no more than 20-30% on road) · have potential for multi-day journeys by foot, bike and/or horse, or canoe · offer at least a basic range of visitor services, with information on the route, facilities and services available for users in appropriate formats · provide opportunities for appreciating the range of natural, cultural and historic interests within areas through which it passes · be maintained and managed with user experience as a key consideration

11. These criteria are derived from research (SNH 2008) which identified the key factors in making LDRs successful. The benefit of this approach is that it will drive up standards in LDR planning, implementation and promotion, ensure that route developers aspire to meeting these, and provide consistency with the approach to strengthen the national LDR network. Not all of the LDRs within the CSGN area are part of Scotland’s Great Trails, but areas for improvement are documented and known to the relevant route managers. In the future, proposals and plans for new routes should take account of these criteria in the knowledge that they will benefit from collective promotion and marketing once they are included within the branded network. It is the intention that the John Muir Trail will become one of Scotland’s Great Trails.

12. NB. This section provides the strategic content for developing the John Muir Trail. Work is ongoing with partners to prepare a detailed proposal for the longer distance route network and this will be consulted on in due course.

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APPENDIX 2.1 John Muir Trail proposal – WORKING DRAFT

John Muir Trail

Background and concept

13. The John Muir Trail proposal is considered by the Partnership Board and the Minister as an early priority for CSGN. It would make strong, multi-cultural links and connections across the area. It is proposed to open the route in 2014 to tie-in with the centenary of John Muir's death in 2014 and the Commonwealth Games and legacy work. Accordingly, delivery will need to be relatively light-touch, drawing upon the significant existing paths resource as much as possible.

14. The choice of John Muir for the route name has provoked debate, with some speculation on how a theme normally associated with iconic landscapes in the USA and beyond can be successfully promoted in Central Scotland. Given that John Muir was born in Scotland, it is ironic that his achievements and philosophy are not better understood and celebrated in this country. Central Scotland has much to offer at present in terms of fine landscapes and views and, with progressive environmental improvements through the CSGN initiative, the attractiveness of many areas can be further improved. The opportunity and challenge therefore is to awaken interest and respect for John Muir philosophy of the great outdoors through encouraging awareness and enjoyment of local landscapes and wild places.

15. It is proposed that the route begins in Dunbar, John Muir’s birthplace, and offers a choice of two end-points: on the Clyde in Glasgow (Broomielaw, from where he sailed to America) and at Balloch (Scotland's first National Park). There are potentially several route options for linking these start and end points and it would be tempting to include as many local authority areas, settlements and places of interest as possible. However, it must be recognisable and promotable as a single route and not be a network offering different choices – that is the role of the wider LDR network. The favoured option is, therefore, a fairly direct route across the Central Belt, including Edinburgh and Glasgow, passing close to major population centres, but offering strong links to the more northern and southern areas. This approach has been explored in more detail with the relevant local authorities.

16. The proposal offers an exciting route opportunity to link together the finest scenery, wildlife and historic sites and other attractions along the way, and to encourage local people and visitors to explore this local heritage, either through an end to end experience or to sample the route through day trips. The route should have as much appeal for cyclists as walkers, and also offer opportunities for more gentle sauntering (in keeping with the John Muir approach), as well as more energetic hiking. Economic opportunities for communities and businesses will be an important consideration for route planning.

Route planning

17. Planning work has been assisted by SNH’s research work (as above), core paths plans, and a local authority workshop in February 2012. Discussions have been held with:

· East Lothian Council · City of Edinburgh Council · West Lothian Council · Falkirk Council · North Lanarkshire Council · Glasgow City Council · East Dunbartonshire Council · West Dunbartonshire Council · Loch Lomond and Trossachs National park Authority · British Waterways · Sustrans · Historic Scotland

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APPENDIX 2.1 John Muir Trail proposal – WORKING DRAFT

18. Some site visits have already taken place to verify route gaps, obstructions and opportunities and to get a feel for how enjoyable route sections might be to users. Further site work will be required to progress detailed planning and implementation. A preferred route option has emerged from this initial work.

Route proposal

19. The preferred route is shown on Annexe 2, Map 2 with a stage by stage description at Annexe 3. In summary, the proposed route is:

Dunbar – North Berwick – Musselburgh – Edinburgh – South Queensferry – Blackness – Bo’ness - Linlithgow – Polmont – Falkirk – Bonnybridge – Kirkintilloch – route then splits offering 2 options:

v Glasgow option – Lenzie – Moodiesburn – Gartcosh – Easterhouse - Glasgow v Balloch option – Milton of Campsie – Strathblane – Mugdock – Balloch

The Annexe 3 descriptions are based on the main stages which link key settlements. This is indicative only and is not intended to be an approach for promoting the route - convenient stages for walking and cycling will need to be agreed with partners.

20. The route makes use of several existing routes (in whole or part): – John Muir Way from Dunbar to Musselburgh – Union Canal – Water of Leith Trail – Round the Forth – Avon Heritage Trail – Forth and Clyde Canal – Strathkelvin Railway Path – West Highland Way – Clyde Walkway – National Cycle Network - various sections

Both route options measure approximately 145km (90 miles).

21. Much of the route would comprise easy-moderate gradients on well surfaced paths, tracks and some stretches of public road. It would be suitable and attractive for both walking and cycling, and flatter and smoother alternatives for cycling would be available to avoid steeper or rougher sections. Options exist for detours to nearby hills, eg. North Berwick Law, Arthur’s Seat and Auchineden Hill. The 90 mile route could take around 5-7 days for walkers to complete and 3-5 days for cyclists, depending on experience and aspirations. Discussions will be needed with interest groups to gauge demand and opportunity for horseriding where appropriate.

22. The route offers a great deal of variety: On the ground there are gravel, grass and beaten paths, farm and forestry tracks, canal towpath, promenade, cycle tracks, hill paths, beaches and some sections of public road and pavement (though this has been minimised). Visually, the route offers coastline and sea, estuary, rivers and lochs farmland, woodland and great views of the Lammermuirs, Pentlands, Ochils, Campsies, Kilpatricks and Loch Lomond and Trossachs Hills. The route passes through Dalmeny, Hopetoun and Callander estates and close to Blackness and Dirleton castles and Linlithgow Palace. Other attractions include John Muir’s Birthplace Museum, Aberlady Bay, Bo’ness Steam Railway, Falkirk Wheel, Antonine’s Wall, several country parks (John Muir, Kinneil, Muiravonside, Drumpellier, Mugdock, Balloch Castle) and Lomond Shores Visitor Centre.

23. Compared with some longer distance routes, there are no significant stretches of isolation for the user. The route would pass through at least 12 major settlements with many smaller villages in between. The start and finish points and several intermediate points are well provided for by public transport, and availability of overnight accommodation, refreshments

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APPENDIX 2.1 John Muir Trail proposal – WORKING DRAFT

and other facilities should pose no difficulties. There are ample shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants along the way.

24. Both the presentation and detail of the route description need to be agreed with partners to reflect the right approaches to promoting the route and encouraging use. It is likely that many users would not be “end-to-enders”. Many feasible day trips are available, including linear routes and circulars when linked to local paths, and supported by public transport. These are a key selling point of this route, and will strengthen its appeal to a wide broad range of users.

Implementation issues and opportunities

25. While a technical survey will be needed to identify and specify detailed works and costs, discussions with local authorities and other partners have already highlighted some key route sections for improvements. These are summarised below along with indicative costs. Most of the route is usable for most of the way at present, but some sections are yet to be finalised where choices exist and some sections need to be created, improved or repaired. Some pathwork will be essential before promoting the route and some will be desirable in terms of further improving the route experience for users. Wider development opportunities exist for implementing key sections. Estimated costs for promotion are also provided.

26. Route sections which need to be finalised:

· Cycling options on the John Muir Way · Preferred routes through Dalmeny and Hopetoun Estates · Cycling option from Blackness to Linlithgow · Route through Bo’ness and Kinneil Country Park · Union Canal links to and from Callander Park · Sections of Antonine’s wall to be included between Castlecary and Twechar · Links to and from Kilsyth to encourage use for accommodation, refreshments etc · Section linking Gartcosh – Drumpellier – Easterhouse and Clyde Walkway · Best routes through Mugdock Country Park for walking and cycling · Preferred route through Auchineden Farm · Preferred route to Balloch after Kilpatricks Hill section

27. Essential path works required:

Path Creation and improvements, approximately 8km to link Gartcosh, Coatbridge and Easterhouse to the Clyde Walkway (at the Commonwealth Games). This work is being considered as part of the Seven Lochs wetland project feasibility study. Initial works could focus on priority sections to allow the route to be opened by 2014, based on improving existing paths and creating key links. Indicative cost, £150,000 total

Upgrading of 1.5km of route between Mugdock and Auchineden. Outline cost, £30,000

Creation and improvement of 5km forestry track over Dumbarton Muir, Kilpatricks Hills, to support tree felling operation by Forestry Commission. Scheduled for 2011.

28. Desirable path works:

Musselburgh, Blackness – Bo’ness, and Linlithgow Bridge areas Outline cost, £70,000

29. Miscellaneous small works to improve accessibility:

Outline cost, £50,000

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APPENDIX 2.1 John Muir Trail proposal – WORKING DRAFT

30. Promotions:

Initial products required for 2014 are likely to be route branding, dedicated web pages, hard copy leaflet and map, and waymarking. Interpretational Boards and a detailed guide book could be developed in the longer term at additional cost. Outline cost, £50,000

Estimated implementation and promotion costs to 2014 which need funded - £350,000

Discussion

31. It is considered that the proposed route would offer an exciting and novel route experience for many existing and new users. In particular, it should have wide appeal to those who have none or little experience of planning multi-stage journeys or indeed venturing out on longer day trips. Based on linking together a large number of promoted routes, the route would offer a safe and welcoming facility. With many attractions and varied landscapes along the way, it will be of appeal for both long multi-stage journeys and day-trips.

32. The CSGN is a long term initiative which reflects the time which will be required to transform many areas across the Central Belt into the Vision. Given the significant changes in physical infrastructure required to bring this about, including significant landscape, habitat and access improvements, it is expected that the appeal of the proposed route will increase further over time along with environmental quality.

33. The proposed route would serve wider strategic roles. It would offer a spine route for the CSGN strategic routes network and connect with and generally strengthen and bring greater cohesion to the wider LDR network across Scotland. Taking both this and the individual merits of the route into account, the relatively modest capital investment of circa £350K, needed to establish the basic route by 2014, is considered to offer good value for money. However, it is accepted that there will need to be a coordinated fundraising effort from the lead CSGN partners to successfully implement the route.

34. Opportunities for economic benefits for communities and businesses along the way are an important consideration in finalising the route options. The two main factors here are:

· maximising use of the route by local people and visitors · ensuring there are adequate opportunities for spend

35. The criteria for selecting Scotland’s Great Trails (previously at 11) are based on ensuring that the route is successful and these have been adhered to in developing this proposal. In addition, the route will be easily accessible on account of proximity to centres of high population and good public transport links (at start, finish and intermediate points). The route has ample accommodation and refreshment points at several settlements and attractions along the way.

36. The successful Fife Coastal Path has already demonstrated high demand for routes which are accessible and which offer only a moderate degree of difficult to undertake. The high usage levels, by “end to enders” and day trippers provide a significant boost to the local economy (in 2006, 480,000 – 580,000 users generated £24-29M). Figures for the recently established River Ayr Way demonstrate the importance of routes being of appeal to both end- to-enders and day trippers (annual use approximately 120,000 users per year, comprising 70% day tripper sand 30% end-to-end). This trend is mirrored in other routes, including the successful West Highland Way. It is intended that the proposed route will appeal to a similar market, and be even more accessible to the high numbers of people who live in and visit the Central Belt. The potential for high visitor numbers and associated spend are therefore strong.

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APPENDIX 2.1 John Muir Trail proposal – WORKING DRAFT

37. More generally, drivers for growth of longer distance route markets are very clear. These are: · Demographics and the active elderly · Sustainable lifestyles and active travel · Health and well-being · Social inclusion · Improved product development and targeted marketing

38. The many proposals for new LDRs demonstrate demand for LDR development and interest from the grass roots. For example, the Kelvin Valley Park has expressed early interest in Kilsyth and surrounds featuring as an overnight destination and offering visitor attractions, and it is expected that other communities will have similar interests.

Next Steps

39. Following feedback on this proposal, a full project plan and costed action plan will be developed. A number of questions are posed in the next section to help structure feedback and inform the plan. In the meantime, short-term priority actions are proposed as:

· Refining route sections details · Developing the action plan detail for all paths works and promotions, costs, funding needs and delivery timescales · Identifying key services and facilities for promotional purposes, eg. accommodation, refreshment stops, public transport, local attractions, and local opportunities for feasible day trips · Convening a project steering group · Investigating funding sources and fundraising opportunities · Consulting key landowners · Involving key communities as required

42. Consultation questions

1. Do you agree with the general route proposal, in particular: · Fit with LDR route success criteria (s.11) · Western end points

2. For your own area of operation, please comment on or add detail for: · Route section details, including cycling alternatives · Implementation issues, including costs, funding needs and planned work · Route sections used for horse-riding · Local attractions · Accommodation, refreshments, public transport · Suggestions for feasible day trips

3. Would you welcome a technical survey for route section in your area to document the route and provide detailed implementations costs, or do you already have this information?

4. Please provide brief notes of any planned developments which offer opportunities to enhance the proposed route.

5. Which landowners need to be consulted?

6. Are their communities which should be consulted, eg. to help promote local path links into the route and facilities for users?

7. What sort of waymarking would be most useful, taking into account that some route sections are already promoted on the ground.

8. How should the route be effectively promoted and marketed to users: dedicated web pages, leaflet and map, detailed guidebook, on-site interpretation at key points?

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APPENDIX 2.1 John Muir Trail proposal – WORKING DRAFT

Annexe 1 - Existing and planned longer distance routes in the CSGN

Scotland’s Great Trails

West Highland Way Fife Coastal Path Forth and Clyde and Union canals John Muir Way Clyde Walkway Ayrshire Coastal Path Southern Upland Way

Examples of other longer distance routes

South of Scotland Countryside Trails Forth to Clyde Cycleway North Calder Heritage trail Avon Walkway Nethan Walkway Strathkelvin Railway Path Paisley – Kilbarchan - Greenock Cycleway Greenock Cut Kelly Cut Kelvin Walk\Cycleway Clyde and Lomond Cycleway Buchlyvie - Aberfoyle Devon Way Alloa to Dunfermline Cycleway Round the Forth Avon Heritage Trail Water of Leith Trail Longniddry to Haddington Railway Path Penicuik to Musselburgh Cycleway Balerno to Flotterstone

Planned routes

King’s Highway (Stirling to Gartness to WHW) Hillfoots Way (Clackmannanshire) River Almond Path Edinburgh Waterfront – exists but not complete Inverclyde Coastal Path Carrick Way Weaver’s Way Coalfield Cycle Route

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APPENDIX 2.1 John Muir Trail proposal – WORKING DRAFT

Map 1 – Indicative LDR network following initial discussions with local authorities

Map 2 – Preferred route (yellow) showing Balloch option.

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APPENDIX 2.1 John Muir Trail proposal – WORKING DRAFT Annexe 2 (NB. Both maps will be more detailed for consultation draft; Map 2 will also show Glasgow option)

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APPENDIX 2.1 John Muir Trail proposal – WORKING DRAFT

Annexe 3 – Stage by stage route description (NB. Indicative only - Approaches to promoting the route by convenient stages will need to be agreed with partners.)

Route stage and Description (surface, settlements, places Contributing Key attractions Links to other routes length of interest, view points) routes and attractions 1. Dunbar North Route follows existing John Muir Way, mainly John Muir Way John Muir Birthplace North Sea Trail Berwick via East on grass tracks, gravel paths and quiet John Muir Country Park Link to Southern Upland Linton roads. Some steps and inclines, steepest North Berwick Law Way via JMW to 24km – 15 miles near Dunbar in vicinity of cliff tops, steep Dunglass, 13km climb up North Berwick law (optional). Cycling alternatives A199 parallel cycleway 2. North Berwick – Route follows existing John Muir Way on John Muir Way Yellowcraig beach North Sea Trail Musselburgh via variety of surfaces: gravel, grass and tarmac, Longniddry Bents NCN 1 Aberlady and sandy paths through dunes, pavements and Seton Sands Cockenzie quiet roads. Musselburgh Links 30km – 19 miles Cycling alternatives Yellow Craig cycle-able? Gullane – Aberlady path cycle-able? 3. Musselburgh - Route follows tarmac and gravel cycleways NCN 1, 75 River Esk NCN 1 Cramond via and towpaths into and through Edinburgh via Innocent Railway Arthur’s Seat Pentland Hills via Water Meadows and the Meadows with steep climb over Union Canal Edinburgh attractions Slateford of Leith Trail or Bonally Corstorphine Corstorphine Hill. Optional climb up Arthur’s towpath Viaduct Blackford, Braid and 22km – 14 miles Seat. Water of Leith Trail Craiglockhart hills nearby Cycling alternatives NCN 1: Murrayfield – Davidson’s Mains to avoid Corstorphine Hill 4. Cramond – Route follows quiet roads, estate tracks, Round the Forth Dalmeny Estate NCN 1 Linlithgow via South natural and gravel and tarmac paths, grass, route, NCN 76 Forth Bridges Fife Coastal Path Queensferry and foreshore and pavement. Steep rise and drop Fisher’s Brae Hopetoun House, Blackness St.Andrew’s Way Bo’ness from Bo’ness to Linlithgow Castle Bo’ness Steam Railway 24km – 15 miles Kinneil Country Park Linlithgow Loch and Palace Cycling alternatives NCN 76 on road between Blackness and Philpstoun and Union canal to Linlithgow to avoid foreshore section west of Blackness 5. Linlithgow – Route follows pavement, natural and gravel Avon Heritage Trail Avon Heritage Trail and Viaduct Bathgate Hills and Kilsyth via Falkirk and tarmac paths, large section of canal Union and Forth Callander Park and House Beecraigs Country Park

11 APPENDIX 2.1 John Muir Trail proposal – WORKING DRAFT and Banknock towpath, parkland and estate paths – fairly flat and Clyde canals Falkirk Wheel, Antonine’s Wall - (Cockleroy Hill) 27km – 17 miles throughout Roughcastle Campsie Hills (Tomtain Auchinstarry Hub Hill, Meikle Bin) Kilsyth town path network – Colzium House and Drumbreck March Nature Reserve Cycling alternatives Union canal directly from Linlithgow to avoid natural path and gradual climb on Avon heritage Trail 6. Kilsyth – Pavement, natural and gravel paths, canal Forth and Clyde Antonine’s Wall - Croy Hill - site of NCN 75 Coatbridge via towpath, quiet road - steep climb to Croy Hill canal Roman Fort North Calder Heritage Kirkintilloch and Stathkelvin Railway Gartcosh Nature Reserve, Trail Moodiesburn Path Drumpellier Country Park, Clyde Walkway 23km – 14 miles Summerlee Heritage Park, Monklands Canal Cycling alternatives Forth and Clyde canal from Kilsyth to Twechar to avoid natural paths and steep climbs on Antonine’s Wall 7. Coatbridge - Pavement, tarmac and gravel paths, quiet Monklands Canal Bishop Loch and Nature Reserve, NCN 75 Glasgow roads – fairly flat throughout Planned route Tollcross Park, Commonwealth Port Dundas and 16km – 10 miles through Games site, Clyde Walkway, Speir’s Wharf Easterhouse and 7 Broomielaw development, and canal lochs area to north of Glasgow Clyde Walkway River Kelvin Path Cycling alternatives 6a. Kilsyth – Pavement, natural and gravel paths, canal Strathkelvin Antonine’s Wall, Croy Hill - site of Campsie Hills Strathblane via towpath, quiet road - steep climb to Croy Hill, Railway Path Roman Fort (Cortmalaw) Kirkintilloch and long section of shared use path Kirkintilloch? Milton of Campsie Milton of Campsie? 16km – 10 miles Cycling alternatives 7a. Strathblane – Pavement, gravel and natural paths, farm Planned forestry Mugdock Country Park, West Highland Way Balloch via track, forestry track, minor public road - steep track over Kilpatrick Auchineden Hill and Whangie Three Lochs Way Kilpatricks Hill climb over Kilpatrick Hills Hills (optional), Balloch Castle Country NCN 7 16km – 10 miles NCN 7 Park, Loch Lomond Shores Visitor Centre Cycling alternatives Alternative through Mugdock Country Park

12

CENTRAL SCOTLAND GREEN NETWORK

Report to: CSGN Partnership Board

Date of Meeting: 12 May 2011

Subject: Developing Links with Business

Ref: Paper 3

Purpose of Report

This paper sets out proposed next steps following the business engagement meeting on 4 March 2011 which explored opportunities and challenges for business in respect of the natural environment.

Recommendations

The Partnership Board is asked to comment on the proposals and suggest what, if any, further or different action is required at this stage.

Introduction

Following the business survey which was carried out as part of the 2010 baseline monitoring work, Scottish Enterprise agreed to host a meeting of some of their sustainability advisers, representatives from Scottish Biodiversity People and Communications Group, members of the Partnership Board and invited CSGN stakeholders/partners to explore how business links could be developed.

This meeting took place on 4 March. Feedback was captured from the two workshops that took place and this has been used to formulate the proposed engagement action which is set out in the annex to this paper. Scottish Enterprise has continued to support this work and has provided input to this proposal.

It is worth noting that a bigger Communications/Engagement stage is getting underway (which will be reported on later in the year) and that this business action needs, ideally, to fit with the wider engagement work in terms of its programming so as to avoid duplication of effort or confusion amongst stakeholders.

Our view, which is shared by Scottish Enterprise, is that the research stage should get underway as quickly as possible as this would allow case studies to be photographed during the summer and allow us to identify and brief potential champions from within business to help with the subsequent engagement phase.

We have allowed £5,000 in the budget to take forward action. Whilst detailed costings haven’t yet been prepared, we feel this should be sufficient to cover photography, design and printing of materials, and further meetings.

Proposal

The proposal sets out actions around research, dissemination, developing communications and engagement.

It also highlights the desirability of identifying opportunities to take forward physical project delivery leading on from this work.

Conclusion

The proposal sets out a simple and affordable process for us to begin to engage with key representatives of the business sector.

Author Sue Evans, CSGN Support Unit

Date 21 April 2011

Annex 3.1 Developing Links with Business

Draft Action Plan

Note

This work sits as a subset to the wider Communications Strategy for the CSGN, which is currently in development. The Communications Strategy will deliver a targeted Engagement Plan and a supporting Communications Plan. The methodology for this work suggests the following to accelerate engagement with the business sector:

Proposed Steps

Research

1. Through the Scottish Enterprise (SE) Sustainability Advisors identify around 20 businesses which have already carried out greening activities at their business locations.

a. Capture the full story of the initiative/action from the development of the rationale behind the intervention through to how barriers were overcome, present usage and future ambitions. Survey key decision makers, maintenance staff and site users etc to gather this data and ensure useful quotes and experiences are captured.

b. Photograph these sites and people in the locations.

2. Through the SE Sustainability/Business Advisors and CSGN Board members identify around 10 business champions – individuals who are already acting ‘green’ and who are people of influence that the industry looks up to. (This could include representatives from businesses from the survey who have agreed to follow up participation).

a. Meet with and interview each champion. Get them on board, capture key quotes.

3. Working with SE staff, identify intermediary organisations, trade and business groups, journals/websites etc. which will be able to assist with dissemination. Map their activities and those of the regional CSGN partners, including capturing their future plans for campaigns and events to see where CSGN could ‘piggy-back’ off planned activity or share proposed activity.

Identify our sectors/our known contacts in these sectors/any gaps and prioritise our audience

4. With the champions and board members agree the communications approach and methodology and identify a shortlist of intermediary bodies (could be sectoral representatives, larger property managers, Scottish Business in the Community, Building Research Establishment, Business Improvement District managers, Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Scotland, Chambers of Commerce, Urban Regeneration Companies etc.) to engage with.

Disseminate the Business Survey

5. Prepare a summary of the business survey (flagging the 3 to 5 main green network findings) for wide dissemination.

Share the full business survey with organisations that will have a more detailed interest in the findings. (This should include the energy advice sector due to the findings about businesses’ poor understanding of green energy).

Develop Appropriate Communications

6. Develop a communications plan based on a simple campaign concept – a ‘call to arms’, a challenge to ‘do things differently’ in respect of green settings for business.

7. Develop supporting messages – what do we want? what can we do for them? – to engage with these organisations/sectors.

8. Market test our messages with critical groups. For example, by phone surveys or through hosting focus groups to capture their reactions to our messages.

9. Finalise our messages.

10. Prepare illustrated case studies and information aimed at each of our audiences which use the messages and capture narrative around value to the business, pride, reputation, improved or ease of sales, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) etc.

11. Provide training to SE Advisors (and CSGN staff [FCS/SNH/SU]) using the messages and supply them with case study information to take to businesses.

Begin Engagement

12. Use the Minister’s speech at the Forum in June to flag out intent in this area.

13. Roll out engagement with representative groups ensuring the Chair, board members and senior SE and CSGN staff all play an active role.

Monitoring and Evaluation

14. Review results after 6 months and 12 months and adjust campaign to reflect progress.

FURTHER ACTION

Project/Pilot Opportunities

15. Throughout this process we should seek to identify businesses/locations which would benefit from and are ready to instigate pilot or demonstration projects to showcase green network delivery.

16. Where these are identified explore with local/regional partners their capacity to support design development, funding bids and delivery.

CENTRAL SCOTLAND GREEN NETWORK

Report to: CSGN Partnership Board

Date of Meeting: 12 May 2011

Subject: Engaging with politicians post 5 May 2011

Ref: Paper 4

Purpose of Report

This paper sets out proposed steps to engage with the new Scottish Government and MSPs after the election on May.

Recommendation

The Partnership Board is asked to comment on the proposals and suggest what, if any, different or further action is required at this stage.

Introduction

Our priority going forward after the election will be to ensure the new Ministers, particularly the Minister for the Environment, and MSPs are aware of the Central Scotland Green Network as a national development in the second National Planning Framework and the contribution it is tasked with, making the future well-being of central Scotland, economically, socially and, of course, environmentally.

Engagement with the Parliament and the next Scottish Government will take place following an election where the main political parties have set out varying levels of intent around environmental issues. The most relevant points from each manifesto in respect of CSGN specific or green network elements, impact on CSGN partners and funding are set out in Annex 4.1.

While it cannot be certain what shape the next Scottish Parliament will take, it is more than likely that no single party will take overall power and that several parties will need to work together in power. This means that our engagement will need to be with a wide group of politicians.

The overarching aim of this communications work will, therefore, be to continue to build recognition of the CSGN; of what has been achieved so far and what is planned. To do this we will need to develop a set of targeted messages and have a plan to deliver them. Our proposal seeks to begin this process.

It is again worth noting that a bigger Communications/Engagement stage is getting underway (which will be reported on later in the year) and that the actions set out here need, ideally, to fit with the wider engagement work in terms of its programming so as to avoid duplication of effort or confusion amongst ministers, MSPs and their staff.

There is no specific budget to take forward this action. However, we should be able to fund materials and event costs from within the communications and events budgets.

Proposal

Annex 4.2 sets out actions around research, dissemination, developing communications and engagement with the new government and the area’s MSPs.

Conclusion

The proposal sets out a simple and inexpensive process for us to begin to engage with the Government and with the area’s MSPs after 5 May.

Authors Keith Geddes, Chair and Sue Evans, CSGN Support Unit

Date 20 April 2011 1

Annex 4.1 Party Manifestos

Scottish Conservative Manifesto – no CSGN specific actions

· place a formal obligation on Historic Scotland to promote tourism across Scotland. · encourage the use of multi-year funding deals for the voluntary sector, and require all public bodies to report what proportion of their funding is provided on such a basis. · abolish the Local Authority concordat. It will be replaced with a requirement upon councils to set out their own plans and report on progress. · give Councils a further financial incentive to share services, by amending the Council Funding formula. · abolish Regional Transport Partnerships, with the exception of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport body. · integrate the regulatory functions of the rural bodies in Scotland [Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, Marine Scotland, Food Standards Agency, and the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate] into one new agency called the Scottish Environment Regulator. · integrate the development functions of the rural bodies into one new agency called Scottish Environment Development. · create high-profile, Scotland-wide projects on which a significant number of those on community service can be employed, ensuring that community service is hard work for those sentenced to it, and consolidating the work of many of those involved in it into a benefit that is demonstrable to the Scottish public as a whole. · institute at least one further round of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund. · introduce national strategic planning guidance for onshore wind to prevent inappropriately sited or sized windfarms. · introduce a right to request disused publicly-owned land be put into use as allotments. · provide Civil Service support to create a new Social Enterprise, “Growing Scotland”, to run an online matching service for people seeking to form gardening cooperatives or to share/borrow plots. · promote sponsored bike schemes for our towns and cities to encourage greater participation in cycling.

Scottish Green Party – no CSGN specific actions

· introduce a new Common Good Act to introduce democratic Common Good Trusts, with the scope to manage the transfer of assets to community control, and to hold at least 10% of land in regeneration areas. · carry out comprehensive reform of Scottish Enterprise and other support for business to prioritise economic activity which serves the public good, including social enterprises, local food networks, and manufacturing of renewable energy infrastructure. · replace Council Tax and Business Rates with a Land Value Tax to create a sustainable economy. (A tax on land values would reduce the speculative holding of land. The owners of disused land and properties would face a levy giving incentives to the productive economic use of land, where local communities require it and where it’s consistent with planning rules.) · introduce a Green Procurement Bill to support localisation, small businesses and social enterprises, and to make Community Benefit clauses the norm in major public sector contracts. · build on the success of the Climate Challenge Fund by continuing to support community projects. The fund would be expanded to £25m a year. · ensure that by the end of the next Parliament active travel will receive at least 10% of the transport budget; walking and cycling must be a particular priority for school transport. · commit to largescale ecosystem restoration projects, including the provision of dedicated funds for peatland restoration. · review the Allotments Act to meet the needs of modern communities for local growing space, not only through allotments but also community gardens, city farms, ‘Landshare’ schemes and the transfer of unused public land into the Common Good. · support an increase in native woodland cover to 40% by 2050. · back community orchards. · reject the privatisation of the Forestry Commission. 2

· introduce a new School Grounds Enhancement Fund. · increase support for the Eco-Schools programme, setting challenging new targets for energy and resource management, local food procurement and local biodiversity. · deliver an entitlement for preschool and primary pupils to have at least 2 hours of outdoor education at least once a week and a commitment to developing opportunities for education in the outdoors and out of school, equivalent to at least one half day a week based on the Norwegian model. · ensure that playing fields and important play spaces are not sold off and lost forever. · oppose the sale of green spaces, such as open spaces and playing fields, which often takes place against the wishes of the communities who use them. · use the current audit of green space across Scotland to inform communities about what has been lost over recent years, and empower them to protect what remains. · communities to have the facilities they need to support healthy lifestyles and the community spaces they want for local places to flourish. · review the operation of the 2006 Planning Act with a view to restoring planning’s original purpose of achieving development which is in the public good, instead of placing economic growth above other priorities. · consult on a workable balance of appeal rights for developers and communities. · ensure that urban communities can assert a right to buy land and community facilities. · empower community councils to take on a legal role in decision making through planning and local urban design policy, including working towards greater localisation through democratic Common Good Trusts. · take action to prevent obesity by increasing awareness of the problem, promoting health in schools, and ensuring affordable access to physical fitness and recreation, as well as provision for active travel. · introduce health impact assessments into the planning system, and ensure that health is taken into account in all other Government policies. Policies which help tackle climate change in particular, like support for active travel, offer opportunities for a healthier society. · fully implement the Aarhus Convention, to ensure access to environmental justice with a funded system of environmental and land courts to complement a more rigorous approach to environmental crime. · give fresh impetus to the land reform agenda through the new Common Good Act and a Land Rights Law Centre to help communities assert their rights.

Scottish Labour - the only manifesto with specific support for the CSGN.

· 10,000 work placements for unemployed young people. · walking and cycling to become a more convenient, attractive and realistic choice for many short journeys. · retain the target of ensuring that 10 per cent of trips be made by bike by 2020. · ensure that active travel receives a higher proportion of the overall transport budget · promote the Cycle Friendly Employer Award Scheme, which recognises workplaces that put in place measures to create a culture of cycling. · work with partners to encourage bicycle banks – like those developed in London – and tube-style bikemaps, to promote the growth of cycling in our towns and cities. · introduce a National Play Strategy to ensure play gets the priority it deserves. · support active, healthy kids and expect schools to develop and support outdoor learning, making the most of the opportunities offered under the new Curriculum for Excellence. · reclaim public parks by rolling out ‘park ASBOs’. · ensure the Scottish Future Jobs Fund, the modern apprenticeship guarantee, procurement policies and community benefit clauses support employment opportunities for individuals who are the most removed from or disadvantaged in the labour market. · champion volunteering, beginning by restarting ProjectScotland. · continue to support urban regeneration companies in their efforts to transform those areas facing the greatest economic challenges. · support communities to take ownership of derelict land or rundown properties, to refurbish it or turn it into new, green space, reviewing and seeking to expand the range of funding opportunities available to enhance community-led regeneration. · establish a review of land management, to ensure management agencies properly maintain the land they own. · consider measures to free land being held in land banks. · ensure that government procurement makes effective use of community benefit clauses. · refresh the current volunteering strategy to update its priorities, to remove barriers to volunteering and to ensure that the necessary leadership is present to meet the demand for volunteering opportunities. 3

· increase the opportunities for productive volunteering options, not just in the third sector but also in the private and public sectors. · ensure that economic development becomes a statutory duty of local government. · ensure that local authorities can retain a proportion of the business rates raised through increased economic activity. · provide cities with new powers and responsibilities to drive growth and regeneration and create a new CityGrowth Fund. · introduce the reforms required to deliver the intended benefits of shared services, including strengthening the procurement guidance to facilitate agreements between public service organisations. · work closely with local government to carry out a ‘health check’ on the recent changes to the planning system, updating the National Planning Framework with wide input from industry, to ensure that it is delivering for Scotland. · maintain funding levels for the Climate Challenge Fund. · support new allotments and community gardens in both rural and urban areas, as a way of promoting affordable local food production. · through the Scottish Future Jobs Fund continue to develop the Central Scotland Green Network, with a focus on opportunities to promote environmental volunteering and training for young people. · explore the possibilities for restoring Scotland’s peatlands. · continue to support new tree planting as part of climate change strategy, looking particularly at tackling the obstacles to increasing tree and woodland cover. · support the proposals for a Central Scotland Orchard. · continue to support the development of renewables on the national forestry estate and promote opportunities for local communities to develop projects. · ensure that Scotland’s forests remain in public ownership. · review the groundbreaking legislation on land reform introduced in the early years of the Parliament, with a view to promoting new opportunities for communities to own and manage their assets. · look at the new Land Use Strategy, to ensure it helps to reconcile competing pressures for different land uses. · review food management funding, to ensure that defences can be put into place more quickly · given that Scotland is not currently meeting its biodiversity targets, use the opportunity of the 2012 Rio +10 sustainable development conference to refresh the Scottish Government’s sustainable development strategy. · create a new Commission for Rural Scotland to report on protecting rural communities. · develop a pilot measure of sustainable development, complimentary to gross domestic product. · continue to encourage long distance walking and cycling routes, and supporting the proposal for a John Muir Way from his birthplace in Dunbar to the National Park in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, to celebrate his centenary in 2014. · ensure that the review of support for farming considers how to deliver a range of benefits for communities, including the provision of good quality food, well-maintained land, a scenic and biodiverse environment, well-managed water quality and climate change mitigation. · continue to promote excellence in design and architecture, helping to foster civic pride and build world- class places in which people want to live and work. · seek to strengthen the skills and capacity of local authorities to promote good design, and ensure that quality and excellence are at the heart of the planning system.

Scottish Liberal Democrats – no CSGN specific actions

· deliver 40,000 new green jobs through our commitment to Scottish renewables and energy · develop an ambitious Scottish work programme, offering work experience, internships, apprenticeships or substantial volunteering opportunities for young people struggling to break into the jobs market, helped by convening a group of twenty leading employers in Scotland to seek their support. · drive forward Scotland as a world leader in the renewable energy sector, maximising the benefits of Scotland’s natural assets and skilled workforce to create thousands of new green jobs, cut emissions and put us on course towards our goal of a zero-carbon Scotland, · move the industry support functions of Scottish Enterprise into the Scottish Government, allowing Scottish Enterprise to be scrapped, cutting bureaucracy and reinvesting monies in the frontline. · create an Economic Development, Innovation and Tourism Department with a minister in the Cabinet to drive it forward. · replace VisitScotland and Scottish Development International with a new body – Scotland International – to promote Scottish industry globally, and promote Scotland around the world for tourism, creativity and research. 4

· establish an agency to manage the national finance products of Scottish Enterprise. Finance Scotland will be self financing but underwritten by Government, and will advise and co-ordinate national infrastructure and advise Regional Development Banks on financing projects or delivery. · the Scottish Futures Trust will be scrapped and the Scottish Investment Bank subsumed. · give the opportunity to the Regional Development Banks to work with partners on regeneration. · support the delivery of Enterprise Zones in Scotland, encouraging economic growth through a package of business support measures. · review the inspection functions of SEPA and consider if these can be transferred to local government to help combine inspections. · bring together the boards of Historic Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage and ensure they have clear objectives to support economic growth as part of their remits. · support a flexible and well-resourced planning and development regime to help speed up consents, reflect local views and allow quicker decisions for businesses. · make economic development a material consideration in the planning process to help get development projects off the ground more quickly. · convene a group of the 20 leading Scottish private sector employers and seek their support for a ‘2020 Challenge’ programme for graduates and others including work experience places, internships, apprenticeships or substantial volunteering opportunities. · seek the co-operation of every local authority and public body to offer work placements and work experience and volunteering opportunities for every unemployed young person who wants one. · require all publicly funded bodies to have employment policies to support hard to reach young people who find it difficult to secure long term employment opportunities. · ask every housing association in Scotland to follow innovative examples to offer young people work experience opportunities. · work with groups such as Project Scotland to support more young people and offer a wider range of opportunities, and support third sector employers to provide opportunities for young people to get work placements in the voluntary sector. · work to extend Training for Work and Get Ready for Work programmes and make sure that these add to the benefits of the UK Government’s Work Programme. · engage young people in designing new volunteering and experience opportunities. · examine the possibility of rolling out the Commonwealth Jobs Fund model currently underway in Glasgow to encourage employers to create new jobs for unemployed young people. · retain Scotland’s forests in public ownership and seek additional and innovative joint ventures for our great forests. · work with stakeholders to review the current forestry target and agree an ambitious forest planting strategy. · increase annually the net productive forest cover and support our timber industries but avoid disproportionate burdens on communities and protect good agricultural land. · make sure that forest waste can be used to generate electricity and heat for the local community where appropriate. · back joint ventures between state landowners and commercial or social enterprises such as in tourism and recreation with objectives for our national heritage bodies, Scottish Natural Heritage and Historic Scotland, to promote our natural and built heritage for economic and social gain. · use planning regulations to create an innovative Home On The Farm scheme for more affordable homes from disused and underused farm buildings, giving farmers a new income, ensuring farm succession and providing homes for local people. · work with communities and developers and operators to guarantee fair and meaningful community benefits from commercial renewable energy developments, including allowing communities that host projects to keep the additional business rates they generate. Seek to combine this with proposals for community land trusts, so land and housing can be bought and paid for by the energy generated within the development. · strengthen the Land Use Strategy with clear objectives and actions to fight climate change and help manage the competing demands on Scotland’s natural environment. This will include action to restore and protect Scotland’s valuable peatlands and woodlands and a sensible siting strategy for new renewable energy developments. · work with stakeholders to review the current forestry target and agree an ambitious forest planting strategy. · increase annually the net productive forest cover and support our timber industries. However, avoid disproportionate burdens on communities and protect good agricultural land.

5

· renew efforts to meet the 2020 biodiversity target, including by rewarding environmental protection by the farming industry to achieve a healthy countryside that produces food sustainably, is rich in wildlife and sustains rural businesses. · increase the proportion of the transport budget spent on sustainable and active travel measures, to help double the number of short journeys by foot and cycle. · deliver the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland and ensure that active travel infrastructure is at the heart of all housing and commercial developments. · encourage greater sharing of facilities between schools, colleges and the local community, supporting the creation of community campuses and sports hubs. This will open up the school estate at evenings and weekends for wider use by the community. · develop community land trusts to secure and develop land within remote or rural communities providing affordable local homes to help keep rural areas vibrant. · pilot Vandalism Action Areas. Where there is community demand this will require all public agencies and organisations such as Scotrail to combine to take a zero-tolerance approach to vandalism in an area. · take an holistic approach to the delivery of public services by giving people more control over budgets, putting all of the spending by different public agencies in an area together and giving local communities influence over how the money is spent in their area. This flexible funding will avoid duplication and overlap and will allow communities to determine their own local priorities. Services will be more accountable and responsive to the needs of the area. · incentivise public sector procurement which grows the local economy and develops social capital. · encourage greater use of community benefit clauses and social impact bonds. · allow communities to take over public assets and register an interest to acquire private assets of significant value to the community. · reduce the barriers to transferring local authority assets to community groups and voluntary sector organisations. · allow public bodies to sell assets below market value if there is demonstrable community benefit.

Scottish National Party – although launched by the SNP, the manifesto contains no references to the CSGN

· deliver 100,000 training opportunities each year for young Scots, including 25,000 modern apprenticeships · establish a £50 million Future Transport Fund to invest in new projects across the country designed to deliver improved connectivity and innovation in transport focusing on modal shift to help more Scots move to low-carbon and active travel options. · protect the Climate Challenge Fund supporting community-led initiatives to work to meet the target of a 42% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions · take forward a new Cities Agenda designed to create more jobs and deliver higher levels of sustainable economic growth in all Scotland’s cities · increase renewables target to 100% by 2020, ensuring 130,000 jobs are delivered in the low-carbon economy · take forward an approach which involves communities at an earlier stage and engages them more effectively in the design of developments · help unlock developments currently stalled due to infrastructure needs, improving the compulsory purchase process. · take forward £1.25 billion investment in new schools, with projects in every local authority area in Scotland. · introduce a Sustainable Procurement Bill to make clear the legislative framework for procurement decisions and support the greater use of social and environmental benefit clauses. · propose a Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill, which will make it easier for communities to take over underused or unused public sector assets, and include measures to enable communities to deal more effectively with derelict or unused property in their area. · continue to support the expansion of community renewables and look to move to a self-financing scheme based on a new support system that transfers grants to loans for those projects that are successful. · continue to support Scotland’s volunteers and look to encourage more Scots – young and old – to become involved in volunteering. · provide leadership on action to reduce litter and seek to promote schemes which are shown to work, bringing both economic and environmental benefits.

6

· continue to work with COSLA to open up the school estate over and above regular hours and, in doing so, deliver more sporting opportunities for children as well as the wider community. · support the expansion of local, small-scale biomass. · take action to protect and restore peatlands and significantly expand the forest estate with the planting of 100 million trees by 2015. · increase funding for the community-focused Climate Challenge Fund in the year ahead and maintain its funding over the next five years. · continue efforts to protect Scotland’s natural habitats and native species, · provide investment to improve Glasgow’s drainage and wastewater treatment and to deliver a new water treatment works for Edinburgh. · £50 million Scottish JESSICA fund will support a range of urban regeneration projects including renewal of derelict sites and more efficient transport schemes. · support efforts to establish a national chain of community-based food networks that link up local suppliers with catering outlets, cafes, hotels and retailers. · bring the legislation up to date to allow for the sale of surplus produce, and look at ways of extending the land available for allotments using unused or underused publicly-owned land. · further expand tourism opportunities around outdoor activity, food and drink and Scotland’s culture. · keep the Forestry Commission as a public-owned body and the forestry estate as an asset for the nation. · see the continued growth of woods in and around our towns and cities given the undoubted recreational and health benefits these provide. · see an increased proportion of planting of native species (in woodlands). · given the importance of ancient woodland, begin a consultation on actions to protect these highly biodiverse woodlands. · support the Forestry Commission as it takes forwards its plans to increase renewable generation on forestry land, and commend the community benefit proposals contained within these plans. In particular we support the expansion of small-scale hydro and more effective harvesting to provide more material for local, small-scale biomass. · in expanding forestry cover, promote integrated land use and seek to protect agricultural land. · establish a new Scottish Land Fund and set out proposals in this area by the end of 2011.

7

Annex 4.2 Developing Links with Ministers and MSPs Draft Action Plan

Note This work sits as a subset to the wider Communications Strategy for the CSGN, which is currently in development. The Communications Strategy will deliver a targeted Engagement Plan and a supporting Communications Plan. The methodology for this work suggests the following to accelerate engagement with the business sector:

Proposed steps

Research

1. Immediately after the election, collate a list of the area’s MSPs confirming who has been reappointed and who is new. (Overall it is estimated that 40-45 MSP’s could enter Parliament for the first time this year).

2. Track the formation of the government and, as quickly as possible, collate a list of the Ministers and the committees, again confirming who is new to post.

Early Contact

3. CSGN Chair to write to the Minister congratulating him/her on his/her (re)appointment offering an early meeting to discuss key issues (where useful aligned to manifesto pledges).

4. CSGN Chair to write a similar letter to each of the opposition environment spokespersons with an offer of a meeting.

5. CSGN Chair to write to the Convener of the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee offering an early meeting to discuss matters of mutual interest and offering a briefing to all members of the new committee to take place at the Scottish Parliament.

6. CSGN Chair to send a personal letter of congratulations to all new MSPs. This should include a copy of the Vision document if it is ready in time. This letter would contain an offer for the Chair to meet with MSPs to hear their views on green network issues or opportunities and to pick up on any relevant manifesto pledges.

Develop appropriate communications

7. Develop a communications plan based on a simple campaign concept.

8. Develop supporting messages – what do we want? /what can we do for them? – to engage with the politicians and their staff.

Follow up engagement

9. If not issued with the congratulatory letters, send out the Vision document.

10. Arrange for an event at the Parliament in the autumn.

11. Send new MSP’s copies of relevant CSGN communications on a regular basis.

12. Ensure briefings are issued to each party’s political researchers.

Monitoring and Evaluation

13. Review results after 6 months and 12 months and adjust campaign to reflect progress.

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CENTRAL SCOTLAND GREEN NETWORK

Report to: CSGN Partnership Board

Date of Meeting: 12 May 2011

Subject: Activities by FCS

Ref: Paper 5

FCS ACTIVITY UPDATE

Purpose of Report

This paper provides an update on FCS activity in support of delivery of the CSGN.

Recommendations

The Board is invited to note the activity by FCS in support of the CSGN. Further information on any of the items below is available on request.

A Place for Growth

Employability in the CSGN Area

FCS is continuing to work with the Wise Group and others to develop draft proposals for an employability programme(s) that would see young and long-term unemployed people undertaking training and work experience activities on the National Forest Estate, overseen and supervised by a third party provider. If successful, such a pilot could be scaled up and/or rolled out across the CSGN area.

Placemaking in the CSGN

FCS and SNH have provided a small amount of funding to greenspace scotland to enable them to scope out a ‘placemaking’ programme related to the CSGN. This will see greenspace scotland prepare detailed proposals for a programme of work with a small number of communities to integrate the green network into forward plans for their areas. It is anticipated that (if the proposals are acceptable and supported by FCS & SNH) greenspace scotland will work with Architecture and Design Scotland to undertake in depth work with 3-4 different types of community from across the CSGN area to prepare action orientated plans for developing the green network as part of a wider approach to placemaking and development. This will also help to address the lack of visualisation materials on what the green network means in practice that was highlighted at Board meetings in 2010.

A Place in Balance

Forestry & Woodland Strategies

FCS continues to support the preparation of forestry and woodland strategies that map the potential for future woodland expansion in the CSGN area. Early drafts of the strategies for Glasgow & the Clyde Valley and Edinburgh & the Lothians have now been prepared and will shortly be consulted upon. In addition, discussions have begun with Fife regarding the preparation of a new forestry and woodland strategy and plans are in place for the preparation of new strategies for Ayrshire and Stirling. It is anticipated that all of these will be progressed in 2011-12.

A Place to Feel Good

Greening the NHS Estate

FCS is working with SNH and NHS Health Scotland, through the Green Exercise Partnership, to develop proposals for a short-term ‘challenge fund’ that would provide up to £200,000 to area health boards for projects that green the NHS estate and optimise the provision of – and access to – woods and greenspace 1

for recreation, relaxation and therapeutic activity. This will build on the work that FCS has undertaken at Ninewells hospital in Dundee and the new Forth Valley hospital at Larbert. Funding from FCS is focused on the CSGN area.

A Place to Belong

Volunteering in the CSGN Area

FCS is currently exploring with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers a pilot volunteering initiative within the CSGN area. This would see BTCV overseeing the work of volunteers carrying out environmental improvements on land owned or leased by FCS. The aim of the project is to match people wanting to undertake environmental volunteering with BTCV, with suitable opportunities on the National Forest Estate - thereby creating a win-win for both organisations. There is also likely to be an element of training and skills development (possibly resulting in qualifications) for volunteers that will help to improve their employability prospects. The pilot is expected to begin in May and operate until the autumn. If successful the model could be rolled out more widely across the CSGN area and potentially with other landowners.

A Place for Nature

Developing Landscape Scale Habitat Restoration Projects

FCS is taking the lead in establishing a Scottish landscape-scale ecological restoration partnership project with the aims of promoting habitat restoration by: · developing common concepts, principles and guidance for stakeholders; · identifying, monitoring and promoting exemplar projects; · helping to identify funding sources and develop partnerships; and · identifying future projects and strategic planning

There are a number of new and proposed landscape-scale projects in Scotland and interest in developing the concept further. An initial workshop meeting was therefore organised to bring together stakeholders in these projects – including SNH, SEPA, SWT, RSPB and others. The meeting identified three strands of early action for 2011-12: · developing a shared vision of what is meant by landscape-scale restoration and what we want to achieve; · documenting and publicising existing and new pilot projects; and · reviewing and developing funding mechanisms

Work is getting underway on developing native woodland restoration projects and FCS is currently engaging with partners to identify and include projects for other ecosystem types. There are strong linkages to delivery of the CSGN, the national ecological network, and wider land use policy.

Establishing a Supportive Environment

Development Planning

FCS continues to coordinate support for the SESPlan Strategic Development Planning Authority on the drafting of the Green Network elements of the proposed plan. Drafts of the proposed plan have now been prepared which include strong reference to the green network. FCS has led on the preparation of a draft technical note, which maps the various interconnected elements of the green network, links these to the development strategy and highlights a range of green network related strategic opportunities and issues. Next steps will see the proposed plan and technical notes finalised and ratified by the 6 member authorities, and the preparation of an accompanying Action Programme.

We are also contributing to a follow-on project, coordinated by SEPA,that will identify projects that can deliver multiple benefits for River Basin Management Planning, Integrated Habitat Networks and the Green Network. Tendering for this project is being co-ordinated by the CSGN Support Unit.

FCS also continues to input to the preparation of Strategic and Local Development Plans across the CSGN area.

Author: Neil Langhorn

Date: 28 April 2011 2

CENTRAL SCOTLAND GREEN NETWORK

Report to: CSGN Partnership Board

Date of Meeting: 12 May 2011

Subject: Activities by SNH

Ref: Paper 6

SNH ACTIVITY UPDATE

Purpose of Report

This paper provides an update on SNH activity in support of delivery of the CSGN.

Recommendations

The Board is invited to note the activity by SNH in support of the CSGN. Further information on any of the items below is available on request.

A Place for Growth No update

A Place in Balance No update

A Place to Feel Good Greenspace standards No update

Simple pleasures Easily Found

The campaign aims to encourage people from all backgrounds to enjoy the outdoors close to home. The priority in terms of audience is on those not visiting the outdoors on a weekly basis but who could be encouraged to do so by simple information and activities. While a national campaign, it has a very strong CSGN focus. We have specific proposals for communication campaigns within Glasgow City and its proximity. We are seeking to extend our suite of route leaflets and develop campaign activity in Glasgow City, North Lanark shire, South Lanark shire, Renfrewshire and East End of Glasgow.

On 10 April, SNH promoted its Simple Pleasures campaign at the Ecofusion event in Edinburgh. Leaflets promoting green networks close to where people live were distributed. Another week long promotional event took place at Cameron Toll Retail Park in Edinburgh designed to capture new audiences.

John Muir Trail (See Update paper for CSGN Board, 12 May) A working draft route proposal has been prepared following discussions with key local authorities and other partners. Following Board comments, planned actions are : · Consult local authorities and other key partners on the proposal (May-June) · Undertake a detailed technical survey (June-July) · Finalise proposal and prepare a costed action plan (July-August) · Report back to CSGN Board (September) · Establish project delivery group (October on), key priorities likely to be: o Funding and implementation of improvement works o Funding, planning and preparation of promotional products: way marking, website, guidebook etc.

Long distance route network (See Update paper for CSGN Board, 12 May) Discussions are ongoing with local authorities on existing and potential routes and network gaps, implementation issues and costs, to inform the preparation of a network proposal. Next steps and likely timescales: · Prepare network proposal (by July) · Consult partners (August – September) · Finalise proposal and prepare a costed action plan (September-October) · Report to CSGN Board in November 2011

Core Paths No specific progress to report

Active Travel Still awaiting funding application to CSGN development fund form PFA

Health On–going activity to promote NHS greenspace with FCS and NHS Health Scotland, including liaison meetings with NHS Forth Valley and Lothian Health Boards, and an audit of NHS greenspace in Fife with the health board and the local authority.

A Place to Belong

Parks and Reserves Auditing work of the present resource is underway, building on previous research. More detailed work is also in progress on LNRs. Once in place, this will be used to plan approaches to LNR stakeholders to help them access funding for LNR establishment and management and to promote how LNRs can foster community involvement in the environment.

National Nature Reserve (NNR) Team is developing criteria to guide discussions with SNH and external partner staff to create a ‘long list’ of sites to be considered for NNR status. This long list will be used, in conjunction with existing datasets, to short list a smaller number of sites, say 5-6, for detailed consideration as future NNRs.

A Place for Nature Integrated Habilitat Network (IHN) · IHN officer recruited for CSGN – this is Deborah Sandals formally of Joint Projects Unit based in Stirling. Deborah will be working out of Clydebank and be line managed by Arthur Keller and working through the IHN and biodiversity work stream · A loose external IHN working group has been set up to give an overview of IHN activity – this comprises representatives from FCS, CSGNSU, SEPA and planners from Ayrshire (i.e. John Esslemont/Alan Edgar) to represent local authorities. Others will be added to the group on a need-by-need basis.

Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAP) No update to report

Non Native invasive species Discussions with key partners have been initiated and a bid for research funding is being prepared to support the project.

Deer Management Thermal imaging survey work to assess deer populations in and around Glasgow is complete and report is being drafted. Training for key SNH staff in influencing Deer Management In and Around Towns is being developed and will run in June.

Landscape Finalisation of the landscape audit report is in progress. Stakeholder workshop rescheduled for June.

Strategic Enabling

Development Plans SNH has completed its work with FCS to produce a 'Green network technical note' and strategic maps for South East Scotland- SES Plan, a number of key agency meetings have taken place with SES plan and Scottish Government representatives to discuss how CSGN will be taken forward in SES plan. At the Local Development Plan-LDP level meetings have been held with City of Edinburgh Council to discuss early drafts of a topic paper on green networks and the Strategic Environmental Assessment- SEA framework of objectives and environmental criteria as well as general main issues. SNH has responded to a Fife Council consultation on Supplementary Planning Guidance for New Developments and Greenspace (March 2011) and has attended a workshop on the SEA of the revision to the Community Plan.

SRDP, Grants/ Development Fund The Development fund projects for 2010-11 were completed with very little slippage, and payments were made on time. We have launched the programme for 2011-12 with a tighter focus, with a £250k contribution from SNH, together with £500k from FCS. SNH has also approved over £1m of other grants in the CSGN area.

CSGN Spatial Mapping A meeting has been arranged with FCS and the CSGN Support Unit in early May to discuss the spatial mapping actions listed in the CSGN action plan. The meeting will be used as an opportunity to discuss and agree mapping priorities and to co-ordinate the work of all three organisations in taking these forward over the coming months.

Author: Catriona Morrison

Date: 28 April 2011

CENTRAL SCOTLAND GREEN NETWORK

Report to: CSGN Partnership Board

Date of Meeting: 12 May 2011

Subject: Activities by CSGNSU

Ref: Paper 7

Purpose of Report

This FOR INFORMATION report provides an update on action by the Support Unit since mid March.

Recommendations

The Partnership Board is asked to note the action taking place.

Thematic Work The Unit has been active and making progress in the following areas:

A Place for Growth

Green Network Businesses – Following the 4 March ‘Central Scotland and the Natural Environment, Opportunities and Challenges for Business’ we have been working with Scottish Enterprise to shape follow up action. Proposals are set out in Paper 3.

Green Skills – The UK government has appointed two National operators to run its Government Work Programme. It is anticipated that Scottish providers, like the Wise Group, will be able to participate as subcontractors, although this is by no means clear. We will continue discussions with the Wise Group once more is known about their own circumstances. In the meantime, we have been exploring the potential for regional delivery partners, such as Ayrshire Woodlands and Central Scotland Forest Trust to play a role with local authority training teams.

A Place in Balance

Climate Change Adaptation – We participated in the augural conference of the Scottish Green Roof Forum in Edinburgh on 31 March. Our stand included a map of (known) green roofs in the CSGN area to allow delegates to feedback to us on other sites, planned roofs etc. We have made a number of useful contacts and anticipate that additional information will be made available to us.

At the end of March we also participated in a greenspace scotland workshop on the role of urban greenspace in tackling climate change. This work, sponsored by SNH, is likely to be useful to the Unit when it begins developing recommendations for the Board to consider late in the year.

A Place to Feel Good

Health Promoting Environments – The draft baseline survey into Hospital and Health Facility Grounds was completed by the end of March allowing CSGN Development Funding to be drawn down. We are finalising the report and working up recommendations which will be brought to the July meeting of the Board.

Growing Spaces – The draft baseline survey into Community Growing was completed by the end of March allowing CSGN Development Funding to be drawn down. We are finalising the report and working up recommendations which will be brought to the July meeting of the Board.

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A Place to Belong

Places for Life and Learning– The draft baseline survey into School and Educational Grounds was completed by the end of March allowing CSGN Development Funding to be drawn down. We are finalising the report and working up recommendations which will be brought to the September meeting of the Board. Alistair Seaman of Grounds for Learning has also agreed to make a presentation at that meeting.

Social Spaces – We continue to maintain links with the Built Environment Forum and the Antonine Wall Management Group. It is hoped that these contacts will be of use as we examine ways to encourage culture-led regeneration

A Place for Nature

Integrated Habitat Networks (IHNs) – Latest maps have been shared with the relevant partners and both CSGN Development Funded projects have been completed allowing funding to be drawn down:

IHN guidance – Web based guidance has been drafted and is now being looked over by a set of end user groups (e.g. planners, SRDP staff, land agents etc). Training events organised through the Planning Improvement Service are programmed to run in May.

Clyde River Basin Management Planning (RBMP) Delivery Project – The draft report was received in March and is being commented on. Subject to receiving feedback, the final should be available by the end of April.

Forth Sub-basin District RBMP & IHN project - Due to the success of the Clyde RBMP Delivery Project, the Forth Area Advisory group has decided to commission consultants to run the same process in the Forth sub basin district area. SEPA has already commissioned Forest Research to run Steps 1 and 2 of the Clyde methodology developed by Entec, and this project will build on that work, completing steps 3 – 5 and then performing the site based assessments and river restoration design stages. This project is being funded by SEPA, FCS and SNH, and the CSGU SU has been asked to coordinate the project. Tender submissions have been received (20 April 2011) and the consultants will be appointed on 4 May 2011. The project will run until the end of February 2012.

Species Action – The George Street Research report on CSGN LBAP Coordination has been circulated to partners and survey/workshop participants. The report records that respondents identified a range of areas where the CSGN could help LBAP activity around:

· writing plans and actions; · prioritising and planning projects; · delivery and funding; · lobbying and awareness raising; · coordinating and facilitating joint working; · coordinating and facilitating working with others; · assistance in working at a regional level.

In particular, respondents indicated they would welcome a Central Scotland information resource which would be accessible electronically and could include:

· a central library of contacts for local and national organisations; · a library of templates for writing plans and reports; · good practice examples of monitoring systems; · case studies of delivery and monitoring successes; · a list of projects planned and underway within the CSGN area, within Local Biodiversity Action Plans and also other organisations; · a list of funding sources and examples of successful funding bids.

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Feedback from participants who have read the report has been positive. A follow up meeting is required with SNH to agree next steps. This work was also supported through the CSGN Development Fund which has been drawn down. Strategic Enabling The Unit has been active and making progress in the following areas:

Championing the Vision

Branding – The report on the commission and the brand guidelines are available online. We have written to all those involved in surveys and workshops to formally thank them for their participation. Branded letter headed paper, compliments slips and business cards have also been supplied. (We will bring business cards to the board meeting for members who requested them).

CSGN Vision – Final drafting was completed on 30 March. After discussion with the Chair and lead partners the decision was taken that some of the changes required by Plain English changed the meaning of the text too much and could not be agreed too. As a result, the document will not receive a ‘Crystal Mark’. A design layout has been agreed with the Chair and the design firm is now commissioning photography to illustrate the vision document.

Whilst awaiting the published document, a text only version of the document has been made available online and FCS and SNH staff have also ensured that the Development Funded projects have the final text to allow them to incorporate this within their project reports.

Communications Strategy – A proposal is being finalised with greenspace scotland and Clayton Graham Communications to develop a Communications Strategy comprising stakeholder mapping and engagement and a communications plan. The work will commence in May with the bulk of the commission completed by mid July. A full report on the Strategy will be brought to the September board meeting. The work will be overseen by the Communications Steering Group. John Bury has very kindly agreed to represent the Board on this group.

Website – We have identified the ‘wire frame’ architecture for the website and Clayton Graham Communications have started to look at templates for a number of page types starting with the homepage.

In advance of the redevelopment of the website, we continue to review and update the content of the temporary site.

CSGN Forum – Arrangements are in place for the event on 14 June. As well as the Minister, there will be four main speakers and workshops about 8 of the CSGN Development Funded projects. We have commissioned display boards which will feature on the 2010 funded projects. The 165 registered delegates are about to be contacted with information about the final programme to enable them to notify us of their preferred workshop choices, catering and transport needs.

Royal Highland Show – Planning is also well advanced for the Royal Highland Show. The Forum display boards will be reused at the show. In addition, Central Scotland Forest Trust, the Lothians and Fife Green Network Partnership and a third (to be confirmed) partner will also have displays in the marquee.

Press & PR – A press coverage pack for the period mid March to end April 2011 will be issued prior to the meeting.

The Power of the CSGN – An early piece of work just about to get underway with greenspace scotland seeks to bring to life the concept of the Central Scotland Green Network by involving national, regional and local stakeholders in creating a green network map of key ‘assets’ and attractions, with outline action plans for realising the network. The consultation on the CSGN Prospectus and Work Plan, and anecdotal evidence, indicates that, whilst the CSGN is widely welcomed, people are struggling to see how the wider network relates to local issues and priorities and what it is that pulls together local and regional initiatives into a coherent holistic green network. This challenge is likely to be even greater when seeking to ‘sell’ the green network to the public and visitors.

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Working with local authorities and key agencies (including Architecture and Design Scotland) greenspace scotland propose to use a technique developed by the Project for Public Spaces in the USA. This technique is generally referred to as the ‘Power of Ten’1 and has been used with local stakeholders in a number of areas across the States. The underlying concept is that any successful region should have at least ten key attractions and that each of these should have a further 10+ things going on – thus clustering activity and interest. Work with local authorities has then looked at how these clusters interact and how they can be jointly developed and promoted. Greenspace scotland will use this technique, expanding it to look more explicitly at the ways in which community assets contribute to, and are connected by, the green network.

Establishing a Supportive Environment

Evaluation Report on the Prospectus and Work Plan Consultation – The report on the consultation process is now online. The Chair has sent a letter of thanks to each of the 54 formal consultees.

Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement – covered under Communications Strategy above.

Engaging with the regional partners – The regional partners will meet for a second time with FCS/SNH/SU staff on 9 May. This meeting will seek to agree a remit for and membership of the group.

Identifying and seeking ways to remove barriers

Funding and Delivery Strategy – The Unit will begin work on this strategy in July. In the meantime, the Head of the SU has continued discussions around creating some form of private sector mechanism to enhance woodland creation grants.

2010 CSGN Development Fund – Once we have received information from FCS we will be able to finalise display boards and develop content for the website. We will also develop an online document to capture the process, and a report on each of the 72 projects and their outputs.

Supporting and sharing good practice

Website Content – We will be working with FCS and SNH to ensure the content of the website lives up to the needs of the CSGN Board, partners and stakeholders.

Data Management

CSGN SU Work Plan – The amended work plan is available online.

Data Management – Draft protocols for spatial data management for commissioned work and new research have been circulated amongst data managers. A meeting to discuss spatial representation of the CSGN and spatial priorities has been arranged for 6 May.

2010 Baseline Report – Following a meeting with SNH and FCS staff we have settled on a list of up to 11 benchmark indicators. Results from these indicators represent a benchmark from which to measure CSGN progress over time across each of the five themes. They will also appear prominently in a report later in the year which will place the CSGN area in context and provide wider background information.

Resourcing – Timesheet records for the first quarter of 2011 show staff time equating to 4 FTEs being recorded against CSGN activities.

Conclusion

We have made significant progress with a number of key activities over the last two months.

In the next two months we need to:

1 http://www.pps.org/articles/the-power-of-10/ 4

· Print and launch the Vision document · Host the CSGN Forum · Attend the Royal Highland Show · Progress Stakeholder Engagement and the Communications Plan · Progress towards finalising and publishing the 2010 Baseline report · Develop the website

We will also begin to:

· Progress the power of CSGN (through greenspace scotland) · Develop a funding strategy, including pursuing investment funding to support a Carbon Programme. · Undertake spatial mapping for FCS and SNH to flag areas for strategic action against the themes · Pursue an employment programme · Programme in time later in the year to pursue action to review urban greening and action to align cultural heritage activity with the CSGN.

Author: Sue Evans, CSGN Support Unit

Date: 26 April 2011

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