EUROPE INVESTS IN

LEADER in Normandy, The Normandy Region and Europe invest in rural areas EDITORIAL BY HERVÉ MORIN, PRESIDENT OF THE NORMANDY REGION

THE EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT FUND (EARDF) IN NORMANDY PROVIDES A BUDGET OF MORE THAN 411M EUROS TO SUPPORT FARMERS, YOUNG PEOPLE, INNOVATION, INDUSTRY SECTORS AND LOCAL PRODUCTS IN ADDITION TO RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SUPPORT FOR RETAILERS, PUBLIC SERVICES, DEVELOPMENT, ETC.), VIA THE LEADER INITIATIVE.

The LEADER initiative enables each area to use European funding for priorities which have been decided on at a local level. The people behind the projects can benefit from local support, organised by co-ordinators in each of the areas in which LEADER is present, to help with the development and orga- nisation of each project. LEADER is the symbol of a new approach, going further than mere financial subsidies from the European Union. This system enables European funds to be managed locally to ensure local development, with decisions taken in consultation with local people by represen- tatives of local authorities and civil society figures in each LEADER area. In view of the challenges in terms of social cohesion and economic diversification in these rural areas, in Normandy, we’ve chosen to allocate the LEADER programme a total budget in excess of the 5.4% required by the European Union. The local develop- ment strategies of the 17 LEADER areas in Normandy aim to encourage thinking outside the box, test new forms of public services, invent new methods of production, distribution and consumption, develop new connections between different stakeholders, between towns and villages, promote new co-ope- ration and more. The different LEADER projects illustrate the vita- lity and creativity of Normandy's rural areas: health services, participatory projects, travelling libraries and shops with multiple functions. The LEADER initiative represents a direct, strong and tangible link between Europe, the Region and rural stakeholders. © Laurent Bicherel and the children of the École du Marais primary school in Norville (-Maritime) and the children Bicherel © Laurent NORMANDY AN OPEN, DYNAMIC REGION

Normandy has developed a reputation for its landscapes, countryside and unique light, made famous by renowned painters and writers, its fascinating history and its rich heritage such as the Vikings, Mont Saint-Michel and the D-Day beaches, and its cuisine and local products including , and cheese. Normandy has succeeded in making the most of its natural assets – the sea and the countryside – by developing a number of dynamic sectors: food production, the equine industry, boating and (in the near future) marine renewable energy.

KEY INFORMATION

Normandy has: • 5 departments: Calvados, , , , Seine-Maritime • 3.3 million inhabitants (6th biggest region in France) • a GDP of €27,180 per inhabitant (5th highest figure among French regions) • 18.6 million annual visits to tourist attractions (2014) • 2/3 of the area is used for agriculture

HOW THE LEADER PROGRAMME NOTE : Applications for financial aid are WORKS IN NORMANDY completed by the Normandy Region which is the Managing Authority of the European Agricultural 2 Rural Development Programmes (RDP) cover Rural Development Fund (EARDF). There are no the entire Normandy area: calls for tender for collaborative projects which can therefore be submitted on an ad-hoc basis to • The RDP for Calvados, Manche, Orne, the Managing Authority for completion. • The RDP for Eure and Seine-Maritime

There are 17 LAG (Local Action Groups) in Normandy. They are responsible for: • destablishing their rural development strategy and choosing projects; • supporting the people behind the projects, helping them to put together their applications; • choosing projects; • facilitating co-operation within the area and with other LEADER areas in France and Europe.

2 LEADER AREAS 2014 • 2020

GAL PAYS DIEPPOIS TERROIR DE CAUX

GAL DE SEINE EN BRAY

GAL DU COTENTIN

GAL SEINE- NORMANDE GAL DU GAL SCOT GAL NORMAND MÉTROPOLE PAYS DE GAL PAYS DU AU VIROIS GAL SAINT-LOIS GAL PAYS D'AUGE

GAL SUD CALVADOS

GAL D', GAL PAYS D', D’EURE ET D’ GAL PAYS D'AUGE ET D’OUCHE DE LA BAIE DU MONT-SAINT-MICHEL GAL PAYS DU BOCAGE

GAL PAYS D'ALENCON GAL PAYS DU ORNAIS

LEADER FACILITATOR CONTACTS

CALVADOS GAL Pays de Coutances SEINE-MARITIME ET EURE [email protected] GAL Scot Caen Métropole 00 33 233 76 79 66 GAL Seine normande [email protected] — [email protected] 00 33 231 86 91 90 GAL Pays de la Baie 00 33 235 37 23 16 — du Mont-Saint-Michel — GAL Sud Calvados [email protected] GAL de Seine en Bray [email protected] 00 33 233 79 40 32 [email protected] 00 33 230 31 00 09 00 33 232 97 56 14 — ORNE — GAL Pays du Bessin au Virois GAL du Pays Dieppois-Terroir de [email protected] GAL Pays du Bocage Caux 00 33 231 57 11 46 [email protected] [email protected] — 00 33 786 84 11 32 00 33 232 90 20 62 GAL Pays d’Auge — — leader.paysdauge@calvados GAL du Pays d’Alençon GAL d’Avre, d’Eure et d’Iton 00 33 231 57 18 40 [email protected] [email protected] 00 33 233 81 20 55 00 33 232 24 94 44 — — MANCHE GAL du Pays du Perche ornais GAL du Vexin normand [email protected] [email protected] GAL du Cotentin 00 33 233 85 80 80 00 33 607 16 34 28 [email protected] — 00 33 250 79 17 76 GAL P2AO (Pays d’Argentan, — d’Auge et d’Ouche) GAL Saint Lois [email protected] [email protected] 00 33 233 84 87 23 00 33 233 72 56 74

3 PRIORITIES FOR ACTION LEADER AREAS

Revitalisation ofEnvironmental town/villageArchitectural andcentres natural Transportheritage heritage Local productWood and eco-materialsRegional situationalEconomic analysis developmentTraining Tourism Culture Sport Health Circular economy/wasteEnergy efficiencySocial and services renewableAgriculture energy

PAYS D’AUGE EXPANSION LAG

PAYS DU BESSIN AU VIROIS LAG CAEN

CALVADOS MÉTROPOLE LAG

SUD CALVADOS LAG

Pays de la Baie du Mont St-Michel LAG

Pays du Cotentin LAG

MANCHE Pays de Coutances LAG

Saint-Lois LAG

Pays d'Alençon LAG

Pays du Bocage LAG

ORNE PAPAO Pays d’Ouche LAG

Perche Ornais LAG

Avre, Eure and Iton LAG

Seine en Bray LAG

Seine Normande LAG

Pays Dieppois LAG

SEINE MARITIME & EURE & MARITIME SEINE Vexin Normand LAG

KEY

Topic not included in local development strategy

Secondary topic in local development strategy

Topic which features strongly in local development strategy

Key topic in local development strategy

4 ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY TRANSITION

Although it is a major energy-producing region, Normandy is also a major energy consumer and a significant emitter of greenhouse gases. To promote the energy transition in Normandy, Local Action Groups use their strategies to promote the use of renewable energies, the creation of low-impact transport, projects to improve the energy efficiency of buildings’ and the development of green building processes.

A FEW EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS WHICH HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED

ENERTERRE, tackling fuel poverty CREATION of an anaerobic digestion unit

Cotentin / GAL du Pays de Coutances / GAL Saint-Lois LAG Pays du Bessin au Virois LAG

The Le Mouchel family farm, which specialises in milk production (150 cows and an annual production of 1.7 million litres), plans to create an anaerobic digestion unit. The farm, which already has three photovoltaic solar instal- lations, intends to use this unit to further reduce its green- house gas emissions and to produce renewable energy by using manure.

A NEW CYCLE path © Association Enerterre Caen Métropole LAG Based on an innovative system of mutual assistance, Enerterre helps low-income families to carry out work to improve their To encourage its residents to use their bikes more and to be insulation by means of participatory projects supervised by less reliant on cars, the town of will create a new professionals. A local exchange system records the time spent cycle path on the RD 514. This 3m-wide cycle path will connect and the contributions of every person (hours worked, equip- the Colleville roundabout and the water tower, passing along- ment lent, transport, etc.), to ensure a fair exchange. Anyone side the local garden, Le Jardin du Petit Bonheur. interested in environmentally friendly renovation work and volunteering can contribute to this initiative which prioritises work with local specialists. CAR-SHARING in a rural area

Pays du Bocage LAG STREET ART for better recycling! The town of made available an electric car-sha- Sud Calvados LAG ring service for its residents in September 2014. This short-term rental system enables users to make trips which are only feasible Decorating 15 bin shelters with graffiti to raise residents’ awar- by car. In addition to promoting an alternative and non-polluting eness of the importance of sorting and recycling rubbish: mode of transport, the project improves mobility in rural areas that’s the original initiative of the Confédération Syndicale des and ensures that everyone can use a vehicle to access services Familles in Condé-sur-Noireau, with the help of young people and to commute to work. The municipality wants to extend this from the 3 districts involved. When street art becomes a way service to the towns of Frênes and Saint-Cornier-des-. to develop social connections too.

5 LOCAL SERVICES

By 2050, if current trends continue, Normandy will have a significantly ageing population. This trend, with major social and economic consequences for the region, will require developments to infrastructure in terms of health, housing, transport, etc. The aim is to adapt services to the needs of the popu- lation by improving the quality of life in rural areas.

A FEW EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS WHICH HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED

CAFÉ’IN: a sociable initiative, A DIGITAL PLATFORM focused on recycling for “Le Baluchonnage”

Seine normande LAG Pays du Perche ornais LAG To encourage home care for people with Alzheimer's The Café’In initiative is a network of volunteers who visit disease or any other type of disability or dependency, the lonely, elderly people in Duclair’s 13 municipalities. But National Union for Home Care and Home Help in the Pays that’s not all: the team of volunteers also works to help d’Alençon Perche has developed a replacement service the people they visit to sort and recycle their rubbish (in for carers: “Le Baluchonnage”. A team of home helpers exchange for a coffee). Glass, batteries, light bulbs and work day and night shifts for round-the-clock care during plastic lids are then collected by Café’In, using an electric the carer’s absence. A digital platform can be used to post buggy. requests for cover and home helpers’ availability for work, making schedule management easier and helping to co-or- dinate carer/helper relationships (qualified staff selected by CADVANCE CARDIOLOGY consultations the National Union for Home Care and Home Help).

Pays d’Alençon LAG HOUSING FIRST, with young people’s involvement

Sud Calvados LAG

How can housing/training/employment issues, three essen- tial factors in social integration which are often treated in a fragmented way, be better integrated? How can young people become more involved in these issues? The Mission Locale branch in Falaise has found the answer: providing young people with free self-catered accommodation for

© Pays d’Alençon a limited period of time in exchange for minor renovation This is a new service offered by the hospital in Sées for work. The young person is supervised by a housing mentor people who have been diagnosed with cardiovascular during the renovation work and is given additional support diseases. Having acquired a cardiac ultrasound scanner to work on his or her plans for training and/or employment. and having secured a weekly visit from a specialist at the Alençon-Mamers intercommunal hospital, the hospital can now provide regular, quality monitoring for its patients.

6 CULTURE

Although rural Normandy has an exceptionally wide range of historical and heritage sites, its towns and villages may be thought of as less appealing. Cultural creativity is a way to revitalise town centres: innovative cultural projects can forge new links with local residents, develop tourism and attract new residents.

A FEW EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS WHICH HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED

THE BIBLIOTACOT 100 VILLAGES in Seine en Bray for “Ma Normandie” (“My Normandy”) Sud Calvados LAG Seine en Bray LAG

One hundred multidisciplinary and intergeneratio- nal concerts and shows, with some 5,000 participants (singers, dancers, musicians, singers, actors) of all ages, including primary and middle school pupils: that’s this project’s goal. The idea of “My Normandy, land of global culture” is to revive traditional culture in the broadest sense: tales, music brought back by Normandy’s sailors, Viking

© L'Atelier Médiathèque Condé-en-Normandie songs, compositions and more.

A decorated van, converted into a mobile reading area with a range of children’s literature, travels around Condé-en-Normandie, targeting young people. The aim is FOCUS on cultural activities to reach people who don’t use their local media library. It’s a new tool for cultural engagement: a fun, playful approach Pays du Bocage LAG to encourage children to learn to read and write. To fight against local towns’ loss of appeal (which leads to businesses closing down, resulting in vacant premises), the municipalities of the Pays du Bocage wanted to share expe- MEDIA LIBRARY NETWORK riences and find new solutions. Following a European-wide in the Pays du Perche Ornais call, a working group was set up, bringing together Local Action Groups from Northern Ireland, Poland, Bulgaria Pays du Perche ornais LAG and Portugal, the Pays du Bocage LAG and local partners (Bagnoles de l’Orne, Domfront, Flers Agglo, Tinchebray) to The 6 media libraries in the Pays du Perche Ornais now focus on the issue of how to revitalise small town centres. operate as a network. With the online publication of the The idea is to focus on cultural activities, using public libraries’ shared catalogue (books, DVDs, etc.), users can spaces and vacant premises to host occasional cultural view and reserve items on the internet. Other resources are events (concerts, exhibitions, etc.). also available online: newspaper and magazine subscrip- tions, language classes, videos, etc. Another new service: using jointly purchased digital materials to produce Web TV videos which promote writers, heritage and the area.

7 TOURISM

A key holiday destination, Normandy has natural, cultural, architectural and gastronomic heritage of international renown. Tourism is both an economic opportunity and a challenge for rural areas. The challenge: making our region more attractive while protecting natural areas.

A FEW EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS WHICH HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED

LA MAISON de la pomme et de la poire AN UNUSUAL GÎTE in an old school building

Pays de Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel LAG Pays d’Argentan, d’Auge et d’Ouche LAG

Having been obliged to build a new school, the municipa- lity of near Argentan decided to convert the old school building into a rural gîte. Dating from Jules Ferry’s time and ideally located in the heart of the town, the buil- ding has been fully renovated and decorated with a nod to its past life (old maps, posters explaining conjugations, coat racks, bunk beds). It contributes to the area’s holiday accommodation and can welcome families and groups of up to 15 people. © Marie-Hélène Labat NEW PARCABOUT TREE-TOP La Maison de la Pomme et de la Poire, a cultural and tourist attraction in the heart of the area which produces adventure equipment perry and Calvados Domfrontais, needed a makeover. Plans Pays d’Argentan, d’Auge et d’Ouche LAG to upgrade the site include a new museum and a new recommended route which will include 6 outdoor stops (origins, hedges, apples, pears and orchard meadows, hives, buildings) and 4 exhibition rooms, explaining the different stages of the transformation..

DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT of tourist offices

Pays du Perche ornais LAG

As part of the intercommunal tourism development plan © Base de loisirs St-Évroult Notre-Dame du Bois - Notre-Dame © Base de loisirs St-Évroult dans les arbres aventure Parc and the opening of new tourist offices, innovative digi- The outdoor activity centre in Saint-Evroult Notre-Dame- tal tools have been created: a website for visitors which du-Bois will be modernised with new Parcabout tree-trop presents the tourist and cultural attractions of the area in adventure equipment, to be installed in a forest area an appealing, practical way, along with accommodation and covering 1000m2. With its tree-top structures made of restaurants and interactive touch-screen terminals which are netting (trampolines, rope bridges, bridges, mazes), it will accessible 24 hours a day and can be used to access the be the first of its kind in the Orne department. website and all of its local information.

8 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Rural development aims to maintain and develop a local economy (shops, small artisan businesses, personal services, etc.), thereby generating long-term local jobs. To respond to this challenge, rural areas must be pioneers when it comes to innovation and the development of the community-oriented and circular economies.

A FEW EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS WHICH HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED

PRODUCTION DEVELOPING A LOCAL NETWORK of aromatic and medicinal plants for wooden construction and renovations

Sud Calvados LAG Pays d’Auge LAG

Launched by the Profession Bois association, this initiative aims to develop wooden construction and renovations in the Pays d’Auge by creating: • a network of local experts and stakeholders involved in the sector; • a guide to best practices when renovating old half-timbe- red houses; • a report on the use of this technique to build new homes. In addition to supporting new economic investments, this also helps to safeguard iconic Normandy landscapes and local expertise. © Ouest France

Although it’s not well developed in Normandy, the produc- tion of aromatic and medicinal plants is fast-growing. So the Terres de Simples farm decided to set up a workshop to produce and process aromatic and medicinal plants in the southern Calvados area. The objectives were to create a multifunctional workspace to welcome consumers and for sales on the farm, to promote local resources, to optimise energy savings, and to strengthen communication with regard to aromatic and medicinal plants. © Profession Bois© Profession

9 LA FÊTE DES MÉTIERS D’ART A MULTI-SERVICE RESTAURANT (Arts & Crafts Festival) on the Route des Chaumières

Pays de Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel LAG Seine normande LAG

Although the village of is very popular with hikers, it no longer had any shops. With the help of the LEADER programme, the municipality renovated a building which it owned in the centre of the village for a couple of restau- rateurs. They also offer locals and tourists a grocery store, a “multi-service” point, bread delivered daily and a tea room which is open at the weekend.

© Villedieu Intercom GRAINE des champs

An important event for craftspeople who come to exhibit Vexin normand LAG their creations and share their passion, the Fête des Métiers d’Art in Villedieu-les-Poêles is a symbolic project and an economic showcase. The aim is to go further, encouraging craftspeople to settle here by creating a dedicated area in the town centre with pop-up shops. The ambition is three- fold: to highlight craftsmanship and specialist expertise, to promote local businesses which continue these traditions (especially in the key industry of brass-making, for which the city is famous) and to encourage young people to consider careers in these sectors. © Région Normandie MAINTAINING local shops The Graine des Champs co-operative, which was created Avre, d’Eure et d’Iton LAG in Vascœuil in 2010, focuses on the sustainable economy, distributing products from 55 partner farms and artisan In , the municipality is continuing its work to producers. Closely involved in the village’s revival, it has encourage retailers to open local shops. After the success of also created an artisan cannery and developed a catering the launch of a bar-restaurant in premises belonging to the and takeaway service. The next step is to open a friendly, municipality in the village square in 2014, the town bought high-quality fast-food restaurant which uses local products. the vacant bakery and opened a multi-purpose shop (selling local products and bread and providing concierge services).

10 FOCUS

NORMANDY’S RURAL NETWORK

Normandy’s rural network has a dual role as an ambassador and as a key stakeholder involved in the implementation of the EARDF. It works: • to manage and connect people involved in rural development in Normandy, encouraging them to share their experiences • to communicate about European funds, providing information about funding opportunities and promoting funded projects • to provide technical support to the 17 LEADER areas in Normandy and to support the implementation of local development strategies and encourage innovative collaborative projects.

All of Normandy’s rural network’s projects are co-funded by the European Agricultural Rural Development Fund (EARDF).

WITH NORMANDY’S RURAL NETWORK, THE EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITIES AND THE REGIONAL PLANNING AUTHORITIES, THE NORMANDY REGION IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THE 17 LEADER AREAS TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THEIR PROJECTS.

If you want to find out more about LEADER in Normandy and Normandy’s Rural Network:

www.reseaurural.fr/region/normandie www.agence-dbcom.fr 09/2018

[email protected] 00 33 235 52 31 69 Conception & réalisation & réalisation Conception