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FEASIBILITY STUDY STONEHAVEN AREA GEOPARK Prepared by Elma McMenemy Marketing + PR in association with Robert Needham September 2008 CONTENTS Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 INTRODUCTION 4 Part One – The Geopark Experience THE BENEFITS OF GEOPARK STATUS 5-7 GEOPARK APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES 8-12 GEOPARK MANAGEMENT 13-17 GEOPARK INTERPRETATION AND PROMOTION 18-23 Part Two – The Case for Stonehaven and area INTRODUCTION & GEOLOGY OF THE HIGHLAND BOUNDARY FAULT 24-27 DESIGNATIONS AND SITES OF INTEREST 28-32 DEFINING THE GEOPARK BOUNDARIES 33-34 INTERPRETATING AND PROMOTING THE GEOPARK 35-37 INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE AREA 38-39 STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION 40-41 MANAGEMENT OF THE GEOPARK 42-44 POTENTIAL ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF THE GEOPARK 45-46 ESTIMATED COSTS AND POTENTIAL SOURCES OF FUNDING 47-50 KEY POINTS & RECOMMENDATIONS 51-52 Appendices BENEFITS OF RIGS GROUPS 53 LIST OF PEOPLE CONSULTED 54 ________________________________________________________________________ Feasibility Study: Stonehaven area Geopark Elma McMenemy Marketing + PR in association with Robert Needham 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report results from a short-term study, July – mid-September 2008, to assess the feasibility of an application for UNESCO Geopark status for the Stonehaven area, and is funded by Aberdeenshire Council (Kincardine and Mearns), the East Grampian Coastal Partnership and Stonehaven Business Association Tourism Group. AIMS see also page 4 The Study aims to investigate the possibility of developing an area of north east Scotland, centred on Stonehaven, to the standard required to achieve UNESCO Geopark status, and also to raise awareness of the quality and quantity of geological sites in the area and the potential for geotourism. WHAT IS A GEOPARK? See also page 5 A Geopark is “a geographical area where geological heritage sites are part of a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development.” It includes not only geology but also ecology (organisms’ relations to each other, and the environment in which they live), archaeology, palaeontology (extinct and fossil animals and plants), history, local culture and land use including agriculture – together, often referred to as “earth heritage”. THE CASE FOR A STONEHAVEN GEOPARK see also pages 33-34, 40-41, 45-46 Consultation has shown that it is possible there may not be geological interest at a high enough level to interest geologists. However, with quality, exciting high-level interpretation, it seems likely that there is more than enough geological, natural, historical and cultural interest in the area to engage both visitors and locals, merit further investigation and certainly further interpretation. It seems likely that the area – from the south bank of the River Dee estuary at Torry Battery, south along the coast to the cliffs south of Arbroath Harbour, and inland along the Highland Boundary Fault line into the Mearns hinterland and Angus – has sufficient to merit an Geopark application, should there be sufficient community support, which will be vital to success. There is evidence that a Geopark brings educational benefits for an area and enhances its tourism potential; based on the limited information available, there also an economic benefit for the area. RECOMMENDATIONS see also pages 51-53 Short term, these include setting attainable goals, to present this report to relevant and potential stakeholders, to hold brainstorming meetings to assess community support and determine the way forward, and to lobby for a further in-depth study to include a development plan for the Geopark. Medium-term goals are to work with the results of the brainstorming meeting(s), to set up local RIGS groups (see page 53 for details), to determine environmentally-friendly and sustainable means to highlight and mark the line of the Highland Boundary Fault, to assist any in-depth study which may be commissioned, and to set up a group including all stakeholders in a potential Geopark and work with them to guide and shape the development of a Geopark. Whether or not a Geopark application is submitted, additional interpretation of geology and earth heritage will add to the area’s appeal for visitors and local residents, and create a legacy for future geotourism. ________________________________________________________________________ Feasibility Study: Stonehaven area Geopark Elma McMenemy Marketing + PR in association with Robert Needham 3 ________________________________________________________________________ Feasibility Study: Stonehaven area Geopark Elma McMenemy Marketing + PR in association with Robert Needham 4 INTRODUCTION This Report is the result of a short-term study, conducted from July to mid-September 2008, to assess the feasibility of an application for UNESCO Geopark status for the Stonehaven area. It has been funded jointly by the East Grampian Coastal Partnership, Aberdeenshire Council (Kincardine & Mearns) and Stonehaven Business Association Tourism Group, and has been supported by the British Environmental Partnership through a summer placement. All research, consultation and writing have been carried out by Elma McMenemy (tourism consultant) and Robert Needham (BEP placement and recent graduate in Marine & Coastal Resource Management). AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Principal aim: to investigate the possibility of developing an area of north east Scotland, centred on Stonehaven, to the standard required to achieve UNESCO Geopark status. Secondary aim: to raise awareness of the quality and quantity of geological sites in the area and the potential for geo-tourism Objectives: • List and quantify, where practical, the benefits of Geopark status • Summarise Geopark application and procedure requirements • Consider UK Geopark management requirements, including examples of good practice • Examine UK Geopark interpretation and promotion methods, including examples of good practice • Present the case, if any, for a Geopark centred on Stonehaven, including: o listing sites of geological, natural and historical interest o information on the Highland Boundary Fault (HBF) in the Stonehaven area, including a map to the highest accuracy available o defining the area of a potential Geopark o suggesting potential management solutions for a potential Geopark o suggesting what might be interpreted and how this might be done o suggesting how a potential Geopark would be promoted o estimating the potential economic impact of a Geopark for the area o estimating the potential costs of establishing a Geopark, and how this might be funded o recommending a way forward The Report which follows is the result of consultation with a wide variety of people, considerable desk research and on-site research including visits to the two existing Scottish Geoparks (North West Highlands and Lochaber). (See also Appendix for list of people consulted and references) ________________________________________________________________________ Feasibility Study: Stonehaven area Geopark Elma McMenemy Marketing + PR in association with Robert Needham 5 PART ONE: THE GEOPARK EXPERIENCE THE BENEFITS OF GEOPARK STATUS WHAT IS A GEOPARK? A Geopark is not restricted to the geology of an area; the perception that it is so restricted misleads and restricts expectations of a Geopark. To allow both a widely encompassing level of interest for visitors and education in a sustainable and protected environment, it is important also to integrate non-geological features, as required by UNESCO to meet Geopark standards. These features include: • Ecology (organisms’ relations to each other, and the environment in which they live) • Archaeology (ancient history and human antiquities) • Palaeontology (extinct and fossil animals and plants) • History • Local culture • Agriculture and land use Together, these may be referred to as “earth heritage” Geology is the underlying thread which links these diverse subjects, and it is from this that the title Geopark is derived. Definitions of a Geopark The following summarise and best describe the purpose of a Geopark: 1 “A ‘Geopark’ is a geographical area where geological heritage sites are part of a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development.” (Source: “Guidelines and Criteria for National Geoparks seeking UNESCO’s assistance to join the Global Geoparks Network”. The requirements of this in relation to attaining Geopark status are summarised in this Report.) 2 “European Geoparks are areas with outstanding geology, where there is a clear strategy and ongoing action for conserving earth heritage features and interpreting them to the public.” This is a common definition used by UK Geoparks and used during this study to convey the main point of a Geopark (Source: “North Pennines Geopark Management Report”.) The aims of a UNESCO Geopark vary according to the specifics of the area. However, they do share common goals for improving conservation, education, integration and socio-economic development within the Geopark boundaries. ________________________________________________________________________ Feasibility Study: Stonehaven area Geopark Elma McMenemy Marketing + PR in association with Robert Needham 6 ECONOMIC & OTHER BENEFITS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY Contact with other UK Geoparks has shown that there is little data available to quantify the benefits of the Geopark in the context of tourism and direct economic benefits to the local community. Even established Geoparks such as the North Pennines have not carried out surveys to understand the local benefits, or perceived local benefits,
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