ITEM 6: Appendix 2 Management Plan Partnership Half-Year Performance Update

2017-18 Management Plan Action Plan – Summary of Progress

A Management Plan Partnership meeting was held on 22nd August 2017, during which Partners agreed that the themes emerging from the 2017-18 Action Plan presented an alternative way of sharing progress against the Management Plan, whilst also taking into consideration the reduced and limited resources of partner organisations. From this discussion, five work areas from across the Partnership were identified for providing focussed narrative against the current Action Plan. The following is a summary of this progress against the identified work areas during the first six-months of 2017-18.

Border Uplands Demonstrator Initiative

The Border Upland Demonstrator Initiative has made good progress. Overseen by a partnership group comprising National Park Authority; Natural ; Forestry Commission; North Pennines AONB; Community Action Northumberland and Northumberland County Council it has identified three key areas of focus, namely The Cheviots; Kielder/Newcastleton and the North Pennines.

The Farming Cluster Concept is to be further explored by Management Plan Partners, with particular consideration given to the potential for introduction in areas such as College Valley, Kielder and Newcastleton. If this concept can be adapted to meet the needs of the Park, the Border Uplands Demonstrator initiative provides the ideal foundation on which to introduce Farming Clusters. Adaptation of the concept would bring the Border Uplands Demonstrator project in line with other Natural England initiatives.

Northumberland National Park Authority, the Forestry Commission and Natural England have begun the process of reviewing how the woodland opportunity mapping work, can be used to encourage new woodland creation on a significant scale in areas of low sensitivity.

During the first half of 2017-18 the Forestry Commission introduced further grant aid for productive woodland creation, such as: the maintenance payment at year 5 for Woodland Carbon Fund schemes; and, the lowering of area thresholds for Woodland Carbon Fund and Woodland Creation Planning Grant applications to 10ha.

Revitalising Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Landscape Partnership Scheme

The Revitalising Redesdale Landscape Partnership Scheme is a partnership project between Natural England, Northumberland National Park Authority and Northumberland Wildlife Trust. A Stage 2 (project delivery) funding bid was submitted to HLF In July 2017, with an HLF visit taking place on October 3rd 2017. The Landscape Conservation Action Plan (LCAP) was produced in consultation with all project partners and local communities. The LCAP includes: the story of Revitalising Redesdale; the Partnership’s vision and aims; the landscape character; what will be delivered to protect, enhance and celebrate that character; how it will be delivered; and, the threats, risks and legacy that Revitalising Redesdale will create. The LCAP also provides detailed non- technical summaries of project activity and full project plans detailing key actions and planned outputs for each of 12 broad projects that have been agreed and submitted to HLF as part of the Revitalising Redesdale Programme:

1) Conflict in the landscape: Battle of Otterburn, community history and local historic sites improvement. 2) Heritage at risk: Bremenium and Ridsdale Iron works historic building consolidation. 3) Lost Redesdale: Community history and archaeology project. 4) Rediscovering Natural Redesdale: Ecological recording and citizen science. 5) River Rede improvements: tree planting and other water quality related works. 6) Restoration and creation of wildlife habitats: Restoring peatland and traditional hay meadows. 7) Redesdale’s biodiversity hot spots: Whitelee NNR and Mill and Whiskershiel Burn. 8) Otterburn Life on the ranges: Otterburn Military Training Area natural and historic site improvements. 9) Sharing Redesdale’s stories: new and improved interpretation.

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10) Walk and Cycle Redesdale: Exploring Redesdale by foot and bike, including improvements to two section of the . 11) Redesdale Revitalises: project linked to wellbeing, mental and physical health. 12) Community Heritage Fund of £50,000: small grants available up to max £2,000.

Business & Enterprise Support in Northumberland National Park

During the first half of 2017-18, the Northumberland National Park Authority Small Grants Fund distributed a total of £11,146 and committed a further £16,652 to 18 projects.

Northumberland National Park Authority (NNPA) signposted a number of enquiries and submitted one full application to LEADER funding within the North Tyne & Redesdale area; so far in 2017-18, ten joint meetings were held with the LEADER funding coordinator with five applications progressing towards full application stage. A total of 46 individuals received advice, guidance or signposting without receiving NNPA Small Grants Funding.

International Dark Skies

A donation of £50,000 has been received from the Gillian Dickinson Trust to support the development of the second observatory and visitor facilities at Kielder Observatory. The funding received from the Gillian Dickinson Trust supplements confirmed funding of £207,000 received from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), LEADER funding, Northumbrian Water and Northumberland County Council.

The new observatory will be used as an addition to the existing visitor experience, with high tech research grade instruments and tracking mounts meaning that the facility is research-ready for use by professional astronomers. The new facilities will enable the provision of more resources to the communities who visit the observatory. The aim of the facility is to enthuse, educate and inspire all visitors with ongoing support from partners across the North East.

The new observatory will be fully accessible, comprising a single storey building housing a fully automated telescope with retractable roof, presentation room, kitchen and toilet facilities. In addition there will be external observation with fully accessible deck areas. The new facilities are scheduled to open in early 2018. The Dar Skies Steering Group is commissioning some primary research to measure the economic impact of astro-tourism across the Dark Sky Park and wider Northumberland area. Findings should be published in Q4 of 2017/18.

Rights of Way and Access

Northumberland County Council is investing over £500,000 in the Rights of Way Network during 2017-18, including surface improvements within the National Park.

Repairs to the Simonside path concluded in July 2017 - the project led to the installation of around 400 metres of pitching and slabs to improve accessibility and protect the immediate landscape.

The review of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP) is underway; the new Plan will be valid for ten years. The main objectives of the review are: to simplify the current RoWIP; make the Plan more strategic; include an annual action plan to monitor progress; ensure the Plan is relevant and user friendly. Formal consultation on the new RoWIP will not take place, however the Joint Local Access Forum (JLAF) and other appropriate bodies will be invited to comment.

The JLAF is currently reviewing the approach to engaging Parish Councils, and work to deliver a pilot approach to engaging with businesses on access and business related matters is underway, with delivery taking place on a geographical basis.

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