Item 4: Revitalising : Landscape Partnership

Item 4: Revitalising Redesdale: Landscape Partnership 1. Purpose of Report a. To inform members of progress with the development of a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the Revitalising Redesdale Landscape Partnership; and b. To agree the Authority’s role and financial contribution to the project

2. Recommendations

Members are recommended to: a. note the extensive progress made in developing the Landscape Conservation Action Plan (LCAP), and bid to the HLF in respect of the Revitalising Redesdale Landscape Partnership Scheme b. agree to be a Core Partner in the Delivery Phase of the project; and c. Make a financial contribution of £50,000 split equally over two financial years 2018/19 and 2019/20

3. Implications a. Financial –The Authority contribution of £50,000, split equally over financial years 2018/19 and 2019/20 will be funded from the New Projects Fund allocation included in the Medium Term Budget Plan. There will be no additional call on unallocated reserves. b. Equalities -None

4. Background a. The National Park Authority has been a key partner in developing the Revitalising Redesdale Landscape Partnership Scheme since 2010. The idea stemmed from the work of a partnership initially set up to develop nature based projects in the central area of the park. The area was initially chosen by the wider Partnership to fit the criteria set out in a call for applications to Defra for Nature Improvement Area status (NIA). Unfortunately the area was not included in the 12 NIA’s subsequently designated by Defra, however, in recognition of its potential a small grant was offered to the Partnership through Natural to help develop its work. The Partnership then considered other sources of funding to realise its ambition and the idea of a Landscape Partnership emerged as the most likely to bring forth the funding required. b. Officers subsequently assisted Natural England and a number of other partners to develop the Revitalising Redesdale Landscape Partnership bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). In October 2015 members were informed that the Partnership had been successful in securing HLF Stage 1 funding of £115,700 towards the development phase of the Revitalising Redesdale project. The NNPA and all of the other partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Natural England to deliver Phase 1. The NNPA also made a commitment of £1,000 in the 2015/16 financial year as a contribution to the match funding required for Phase 1 which totalled £34,000 from all of the partners combined.

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Item 4: Revitalising Redesdale: Landscape Partnership

c. Phase 1 began in January 2016 and ran until June 2017 (coinciding with the development of the Sill). HLF supported Landscape Partnerships are required to include a broad spectrum of projects covering the natural, historical and cultural elements of an area along with opportunities for people to become engaged in volunteering, skills and training and recreational activity. Through a comprehensive programme of consultation with local communities and other interested parties a wide variety of projects emerged. These include the conservation and consolidation of parts of High Rochester Roman Fort, a long term ambition of the Authority and many nature based projects on peatlands, grasslands and targeted species work to help e.g. freshwater pearl mussel. The Delivery phase is planned to begin in early 2018, subject a successful outcome of the Stage 2 bid. The Heritage Lottery Fund and the Partnership developed the bid to compliment and support the Sill and it is therefore important that the Authority is involved in the delivery. Stage 2 of Revitalising Redesdale will provide significant resources to enable practical conservation work to be undertaken on sites in Redesdale. These capital projects will be linked to community engagement activity, volunteering, skills and training opportunities and enhanced visitor infrastructure, all linked to the Sill Activity Programme. Revitalising Redesdale will help demonstrate in a public and practical way the Authority’s focus on delivering its objectives in areas of the park beyond the Sill.

5. Strategic Context

a. The Authority was instrumental in bringing together the initial group of partners to help fulfil its ambition for work on the natural environment as set out in the National Park Management Plan and detailed through references to the original focus area known as the Border Uplands, later refined to the Redesdale catchment. As the project developed key objectives were identified, including specific targets aimed at conserving species such as the freshwater pearl mussel, the restoration of peatlands in the upper Rede catchment and other work to improve water quality. Many of these targets are linked to the Water Framework Directive and so can be supported by the Environment Agency. This was reflected in them being identified specifically as a target in the 2016 -2017 Corporate Plan under Aim 2: Distinctive Place Undertake rivers and burns improvement work to contribute towards the Natural Environment Vision for 2035:

Progress against target will include  Assist in developing projects for inclusion in the Revitalising Redesdale project HLF round two bid to assist water quality improvements (woodland planting, erosion control).

b. As the plans were further developed and we found that we could include a wider number of projects it became clear that Revitalising Redesdale could deliver against more of the Authority’s priorities. So in the Authority’s Business Plan 2017 – 2021 Revitalising Redesdale is detailed as a key action:

Between 2017 and 2021 we will:  Work with partners on the Revitalising Redesdale Landscape Partnership Scheme providing high level research, public access, and engagement through natural and historic environment improvement projects.

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More specifically in the current Operational Plan for 2017-18 we say that we will:

 Play a key role in the development and delivery of the Revitalising Redesdale Landscape Partnership Scheme.

6. Revitalising Redesdale Landscape Partnership

a. The geographical area covered by the Revitalising Redesdale Landscape Partnership Scheme encompasses the whole of the upper catchment of the , an area of some 345.697 Sq KM. 56.64 % of the area lies within the national park. See map at Appendix 1. b. The Partnership consists of the following 16 organisations: Natural England, Northumberland National Park Authority, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (Ministry of Defence), Tyne Rivers Trust, the Battlefields Trust, Northumberland County Council, Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, Go Volunteer- Newcastle Students’ Union, the Redesdale Society, Otterburn Parish Council, Rochester with Parish Council, Parish Council and Elsdon Parish Council. All of these organisations have a representative on the Revitalising Redesdale Steering Group.

c. In the early days of development the partners looked to the National Park Authority to lead the project; however it was clear to us and to the HLF that at the time we did not have the capacity to lead the development of both the Sill project and Revitalising Redesdale. All of the other partners wished to see both projects go ahead and it emerged that for strategic reasons Natural England were keen to lead Revitalising Redesdale. NE therefore led phase 1 and took forward the bid to the HLF. Looking beyond the bid process to the delivery phase and taking account of the breadth of projects to be included, partners felt that it would be helpful if three core partners: NE, NNPA and the Northumberland Wildlife Trust (NWT) could oversee the delivery.

d. It is therefore proposed that NE act as the Accountable Body but with the NNPA and NWT acting as Core Partners. The Core Partners would jointly sign up to the terms and conditions of the HLF grant to manage the delivery phase and the joint responsibilities will be set out in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

7. Landscape Conservation Action Plan a. As part of the application process for the HLF Landscape Partnership funding a Landscape Conservation Action Plan (LCAP) has been written in consultation with all of the partners and local communities. The Plan includes:

b. 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, threats, risks and the legacy that Revitalising Redesdale will create. It provides detailed non-technical summaries of the project activity and full project plans - working documents for each project detailing key actions and planned outputs.

A Vision for Redesdale:

Revitalising Redesdale will:  Empower the local communities to better understand, conserve and enhance a landscape and natural environment forged by centuries of conflict.

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 Celebrate the unique character of the landscape, its biodiversity and its culture, while seeking to build the future resilience of its heritage and identity.  Address the threats to Rededale’s increasingly fragile natural, historic and cultural heritage, which have been heightened by a declining resident population and economic decline.  Ensure the local ownership and involvement of projects and schemes developed by the partnership.

c. During the initial development phase, which began in April 2016, ideas were reviewed and a number of pieces of work undertaken to look at the individual feasibility of some of projects. These studies have helped to improve the Partnership’s knowledge and understanding of some of the key heritage assets and identified the costs of the work required and recommended maintenance following restoration. These studies included:

 River Rede Improvement Plan  Grassland Peatland Study  Condition Survey and Management Plan for Ridsdale Ironworks  Audience Development Plan for Redesdale  Interpretative Strategy for Redesdale  An assessment of walking and cycling routes in Redesdale  A pre-feasibility study for an archaeological investigation of the site of the .

d. A long list of projects was first developed and presented to the Revitalising Redesdale Board in November 2016 and gradually refined over the following months at subsequent Board meetings. Each of the projects has been developed on behalf of the Partnership by the Project Development Officer, working closely with a lead partner. Projects were selected for ongoing development from this list based on the following criteria:

 Deliver significant conservation benefits to key natural or cultural heritage assets  Deliver HLF outcomes  Meet the aims and objectives of Revitalising Redesdale  Demonstrate support and interest from the local community  Bring significant match-funding or in-kind-support that will help secure a sustainable legacy for the project.

The Following 12 broad Projects were agreed and have been submitted to the 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) Rededale’s biodiversity hot spots: Whitelee NNR and Mill and Whiskershiel Burn

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8) Otterburn Life on the ranges: Otterburn Military Training Area natural and historic site improvements 9) Sharing Rededale’s stories: new and improved interpretation 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

8. Funding

a. The total budget is £2,892,176 with HLF grant requested of £1,728,400. The partners are collectively required to find match cash funding of 40% in addition to in-kind support and volunteer time.

b. The following contributions have been pledged by the partners in line with their involvement in specific projects: Funder £ Natural England £250,000 MoD £203,100 Northumberland Wildlife Trust £30,000 Environment Agency £234,986 EA (ring fenced for E Todholes) £18,000 Northumberland County Council £50,000 National Trails £33,000 Tyne Rivers Trust £1,500 FC £8,000 Woodland Grant £178,707 Countryside Stewardship £21,000

c. The Authority has an interest in almost the entire programme; however it has led specifically on e.g. the restoration and consolidation of Bremenium Roman Fort and this has informed the proposed financial contribution of £50,000 requested from the Authority. In addition to this financial contribution there will be in-kind contributions in the form of national park staff working on projects within the national park e.g. overseeing the consolidation of Bremenium. Whilst these in-kind contributions have not been included in the budget submitted to the HLF they will be recorded and reported.

d. If the Authority agrees to this contribution it will leave a final fund raising target of £85,484 for the Partnership. Several partners have already begun to fund raise for specific elements of the programme that they are leading and to funding streams open to them. The expectation is that the final amount is achievable through these other partners channels but that if this is not the case the overall programme can be amended to live within the available budget.

9. Delivery

a. In order to deliver the programme of projects within the LCAP, an implementation team will be appointed and hosted by Natural England and the Core Partners. This will include a Programme Manager, Farming and Wildlife officer, Heritage & Community Engagement officer, and Programme Support officer.

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b. The Programme Manager will be appointed by the Programme Management Group and employed by Natural England (the accountable body). The role will involve the responsibility of ensuring delivery of the Revitalising Redesdale Programme of work including supervising performance of the implementation team.

c. The Farming and Wildlife officer will be responsible for delivering a range of projects including the development of ecological networks and the ecological recording project. This post will be hosted by Northumberland Wildlife Trust.

d. The Heritage and Community Engagement Officer will be responsible for leading projects on history and archaeology surveying, interpretation, communication and wider engagement linked to the delivery of the Revitalising Redesdale project. The Officer will work closely with Historic England, the Battlefields Trust and Northumberland National Park on the Otterburn battlefields project and heritage at risk projects. This post will be hosted by Northumberland National Park.

e. It is intended that whilst the roles of the project officers have been defined, in practice there will be a degree of flexibility across the roles responding to both the needs of the programme and the combination of skills of the appointed officers.

f. A part-time Programme Support Officer will be appointed to work as office manager and support the Programme Manager in reporting on project delivery outcomes and budgets. This Officer will also coordinate the volunteer programme, across the partnership. This post will be hosted by Natural England.

10. Governance & the Partnership Agreement

a. The Revitalising Redesdale Programme will be coordinated by a group of the key delivery partners: Natural England, Northumberland National Park Authority and Northumberland Wildlife Trust, will take on responsibility for the employment of staff, procurement, report to HLF and the legacy. Natural England will remain as the accountable body. This core group will form the new Programme Management Group under an independent chair. The new chair will be sought by advertisement and appointed by the Steering Group (formally Revitalising Redesdale‘s Board).

b. The Steering Group will be created of all the other Revitalising Redesdale partners; this group will be expanded to include others involved in delivering the programme. Natural England as an arm’s length government body is self-insured and therefore as the accountable body will take responsibility for underwriting any insurable losses to equipment during the delivery phase.

c. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which forms the partnership agreement has been signed by all the partners. The MOU will guide the delivery of the Revitalising Redesdale programme. A supporting Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to be signed by the core partners will commit Natural England, Northumberland National Park and Northumberland Wildlife Trust to joint responsibility to meeting HLF terms and conditions for the Landscape Partnership grant.

d. The (MOA) is being prepared with guidance from the Authority’s legal advisors and will cover the liabilities to our staff and the Authority.

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11. Conclusion

a. The National Park Authority helped initiate Revitalising Redesdale in 2010. It has been a key partner through phase 1 and helped to guide and influence the overall Programme that has been submitted to the HLF. The programme of activity both adds to and compliments that of the Sill and includes the delivery of some long term aspirations of the Authority.

b. By agreeing to be a Core Partner the Authority will accept joint responsibility for delivery of the Programme. In return the Authority will form part of the Programme Management Group and will therefore continue to be in a strong position to oversee and influence Revitalising Rededale’s implementation.

c. The Authority is requested to confirm a financial contribution towards the Revitalising Redesdale Landscape Partnership Scheme of £50,000 to be split equally over two years.

Contact Officer: For further information contact Andrew Miller, Head of Programmes and Conservation on 01434 611525 or e-mail: [email protected]

Background papers None

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