An Interpretive Plan for Inverclyde Volcanoes, Water and Girders Prepared for The Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership, Inverclyde Council, Riverside Inverclyde and Lower Clyde Greenspace By Tourism and Environment Consultancy November 2010 Inverclyde Interpretive Strategy – 1 FINAL REPORT November 2010 David Warnock Tourism and Environment Consultancy Buchany Ancaster Road Callander Perthshire FK17 8EL Tel: 01877 330159 Mob: 07811 779 926 Fax: 01877 331544 Email: [email protected] Cover photo: VICTORIA HARBOUR, GREENOCK - The old dry dock with associated gates and fencing, Nov 2009. This photo clearly shows the ‘front to back’ connectivity between the industrial heritage of the waterfront, the middle residential strip and the background lava hills. A key opportunity for interpretation in Inverclyde is to join this economic, cultural and natural Inverclyde Interpretive Strategy – 2 FINAL REPORT November 2010 heritage together to tell the story of Inverclyde’s past, highlight regeneration work of the present and to ensure this heritage is appreciated and preserved for the future. Contents Executive Summary Section One – Background to the Interpretive Strategy Project 1.1 Introduction – Why are we doing this? 1.2 Aims of the report – What will be achieved? 1.3 Method and approach – Maximising benefits for Inverclyde from interpretation Section Two – An Assessment of Interpretation in Inverclyde 2.1 Existing interpretation 2.2 Other relevant interpretation close to Inverclyde 2.3 Other relevant interpretation away from Inverclyde Section Three – Inverclyde Interpretation Strategy Volcanoes, Water and Girders 3.1 Introduction 3.1.2 Good practice principles 3.2 A vision for interpretation of Inverclyde 3.2.1 Aims 3.2.2 Objectives for interpretation 3.3 Interpretive Themes 3.3.1 Volcanoes 3.3.2 Water 3.3.3 The Clyde Estuary 3.3.4 Shipbuilding 3.3.5 A Safe Haven 3.3.6 Water in the Woods 3.3.7 Industrial Powerhouse, Decline and Regeneration 3.4 Target Audiences 3.4.1 Local communities 3.4.2 Returning visitors 3.4.3 First-time visitors 3.4.4 School groups Inverclyde Interpretive Strategy – 3 FINAL REPORT November 2010 3.4.5 Other educational and training groups 3.4.6 Specialist groups 3.5 Routes to Interpretation 3.5.1 Museums and Visitor Centres 3.5.2 Leaflet/poster 3.5.3 Series of panels 3.5.4 Guided walks 3.5.5 Cycle routes 3.5.6 Public art 3.5.7 Living history 3.5.8 Events 3.5.9 Websites 3.5.10 Other forms of technology 3.5.11 Orientation and information 3.5.12 Style Section Four – The Next Steps… 4.1 Interest in Inverclyde ‘Interpretive Network’ 4.2 Links and integration 4.3 Partnership working 4.4 Monitoring and evaluation 4.5 Indicative costs 4.6 Interpretation proposals for potential sites 4.6.1 Inverclyde-Wide 4.6.2 Sub-Areas 4.6.3 Gourock 4.6.4 Greenock 4.6.5 Port Glasgow 4.6.6 Kilmacolm 4.6.7 Inverkip 4.6.8 Wemyss Bay 4.6.9 Rural Inverclyde Section Five - Appendices Appendix 1 - References Appendix 2 – List of Consultees Inverclyde Interpretive Strategy – 4 FINAL REPORT November 2010 Inverclyde Interpretive Strategy – 5 FINAL REPORT November 2010 Executive Summary Inverclyde is an area currently undergoing very significant levels of regeneration. This regeneration is occurring within a physical framework which contains a rich resource in terms of cultural, industrial and natural heritage. This heritage offers a strong appeal for visitors to the area, and also an important educational resource for residents. Taken together, these various heritage assets help to define what Inverclyde has been in the past, what it is today and what it can be in the future. Although there are some significant exceptions, generally speaking this resource is under used and poorly marketed. The main object of the Inverclyde Interpretation Strategy is to change this situation to one where visitors to Inverclyde will leave with a more positive perception of the area (therefore more likely to return), and where residents will become better informed of their own heritage (therefore increasing civic pride) likely to stay to live and set up business in the area. Background and Project Brief The Glasgow and Clyde Valley (GCV) Green Network Partnership has the aim of creating a step change in the scale and quality of the Green Network to improve the region’s competitiveness for investment, enhance quality of life, promote biodiversity and more sustainable use of natural resources, and encourage healthy lifestyles. The need for an Interpretation Strategy emerged as a foundation action from the Inverclyde Green Network Study. To ensure joined up thinking and to give added value to previous investment this strategy has been carefully set in the context of the Inverclyde Green Network Study. This report is in several sections which together give ‘the big picture’ of the situation at time of writing, and future potential and benefits. The key objective of this approach was to provide a strategic context that underpinned specific actions and projects. In this way, as well as being a ‘snapshot in time’, the document will also act as a ‘blueprint’ and useful ‘toolbox’ for action. Inverclyde Interpretive Strategy – 6 FINAL REPORT November 2010 Section One Aims and Objectives – What will be achieved? The aims of the project were: 3 To identify areas suitable for quality interpretation. 4 To provide details enabling future interpretation to be ‘lifted off the shelf’ as opportunities arise. 5 To identify key district-wide themes, which will help pull interpretation in Inverclyde into a coherent framework. 6 To provide an evaluation of why interpretation is important to each of the project partners, and to provide a justification for a strategic approach to future interpretation within Inverclyde. These aims also sit comfortably under the wider aims and recommendations of the Inverclyde Green Network Study. A key part of the final Strategy is a suggested methodology to ensure that, as much as possible, future interpretation within Inverclyde is complementary in terms of approach, design, content and appearance and that partners take interpretation forward in a coordinated manner. This methodology is guided by general principles and recognised good practice, the suggested themes and target audience. It also aims to give a co-ordinated ‘strategic fit’ to existing policies and likely physical developments. An extensive photographic record was kept during site visits. This now occupies several albums and gives a valuable ‘snapshot’ of the condition of numerous sites in Inverclyde when the photographs were taken during 2009/10. Section Two An Assessment of Interpretation in Inverclyde The main aim of the assessment was to undertake a systematic audit and assessment of existing interpretive facilities, practice and provision within Inverclyde. This section also includes a brief review of relevant visitor attractions and interpretation close to Inverclyde such as the Titan Crane at Clydebank and from further afield such as the Merseyside Maratime Museum along with some ‘examples of good practice’ for the development of interpretation in Inverclyde. Inverclyde Interpretive Strategy – 7 FINAL REPORT November 2010 Section Three Inverclyde Interpretation Strategy - Volcanoes, Water and Girders… A Vision for Interpretation of Inverclyde As the Interpretation Strategy is seen as an early action from the wider Green Network it is important that a more specific vision for the Interpretation Strategy is suggested as follows: ‘It is the vision of the GCV Green Network Partnership to interpret to all residents and visitors using a variety of innovative and creative interpretive provision, the theme: ‘Without access to water, Inverclyde would not have developed into such an important industrial, agricultural and tourist area.’ and to facilitate an enjoyable and safe recreational learning experience for all, while instilling and demonstrating civic pride and regeneration in Inverclyde.’ Objectives for Interpretation Objectives are a way of stating what the interpretation is aiming to do. There are three basic kinds of interpretation objectives which are: Learning objectives - What we want the visitor to learn and remember. Behavioural objectives - What we want visitors to do. Emotional objectives - How we want the visitor to feel. Interpretive Themes The interpretive theme is given in the Vision. The theme is the ‘big picture’ and is the most important thing for people to remember. A key objective of the Interpretive Strategy is to ‘make connections’ under the overarching interpretive theme and sub-themes. This theme is divided into sub themes that are suggested below: Volcanoes Shaping Inverclyde with fire! Fresh Water So what’s the big deal about rain..? The Clyde Estuary Doon the water..! Inverclyde Interpretive Strategy – 8 FINAL REPORT November 2010 Shipbuilding The term ‘Clyde-built’ is a label on many of the finest and most famous ships in the world. A Safe Haven The Inverclyde dockyards and anchorage were a welcome refuge particularly in war time. Water in the Woods Inverclyde has some fantastic hidden glens each with its own burn running through it from the hills to the sea. Industrial Powerhouse, Decline and Regeneration In the past Inverclyde was the ‘Export Capital of Scotland’ and suffered from a sad decline. However, new opportunities are now helping to revive the area through a massive investment in regeneration projects. Target Audiences Six main target audiences were identified as follows: • Local communities • Returning visitors • First-time visitors • School groups • Other educational and training groups • Specialist groups Proposed Routes to Interpretation During our research and consultations there were several mentions of the idea for some sort of custom-built centre to act as a focus for local maritime heritage and visitor attraction. However, our conclusion is that such a centre should not form part of future interpretive provision due to: • the capital and revenue costs involved • there are other museums and centres nearby such as the Riverside Museum in Glasgow • a more effective strategy would be a series of relatively small scale projects spread throughout the Inverclyde area.