Annual Review2013/14

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Chair’s Foreword

It’s been a year of significant achievement and change for ourselves and our partners.

We have emerged from a Scottish Government Gateway Review with a new structure and new priorities. In April 2014, we were formally established as the Central Scotland Green Network Trust (CSGNT).

As a sign of how committed the Scottish Government is to help make the new Trust a success, a CSGN Programme Committee has been established with representation from across Government departments. This is a welcome recognition that we are a cross cutting initiative with interests in health, housing, regeneration, tourism, the economy and not just the environment.

To ensure that we have the necessary resources to meet the challenges ahead, the Central Scotland Forest Trust has been transformed into the CSGNT. Operationally, this means that we now have 28 members of staff instead of the former 5. This is a crucial step in helping us to achieve the CSGN Vision along with continued engagement and action by our many partners.

As I write this in June, I’m pleased to report that the CSGN has been incorporated into the third National Planning Framework (NPF3) restating the Scottish Government’s support for the initiative. This means that CSGN will remain a national development with a broad purpose to improve the quality of the environment across the central belt for business, people and wildlife.

The Framework also requests us to prioritise three key themes - the remediation of derelict land, action in disadvantaged communities and active travel.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) staff working with landowners, Local Authorities, particularly East Lothian Council along with other agencies spent the year completing the John Muir Way. The route was formally opened by the First Minister on 21 April - John Muir’s birthday. The launch took place as part of a wider Festival which celebrated the astonishing achievements of this pioneering Scot. Not only did some 3,000 people attend the opening but there has been massive interest in the new route from all across Scotland, the rest of the UK and abroad, especially from America.

In the signing of Local Authority Concordats we have engaged with our Councils on a meaningful and tangible level. They have now either signed or approved their Concordats. This means that the CSGN Vision has been woven into Local Authority approaches towards maintaining and improving green networks and green infrastructure across the Central Belt.

Further evidence of this has been the inclusion of CSGN principles within planning guidance. In particular, CSGN has been included in several Local Development Plans and supplementary planning guidance, development

planning and management decisions. We are also seeing an increasing use of green networks in masterplans for large developments (e.g. the suite of Integrating Green Infrastructure studies by the Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership).

I offer my congratulations to all projects being taken forward through CSGN funding opportunities. This year the Development Fund delivered just under £765,000 to support 26 projects and the Community Project Fund delivered over £60,000 of support to local level organisations such as community groups and nurseries. All these projects are delivering tangible differences on the ground, helping to make the CSGN Vision into a reality.

On the back of this success, I am pleased to say that a Development Fund for 2015/6 has been agreed and the details will be announced later in 2014.

There is more good funding news to report. In February 2014, it was announced that the European Structural and Investment Fund would include support for Green Infrastructure developments. This opportunity came about due to the rapid work of SNH in preparing a strong case for funding. An SNH application for LIFE funding has also been successful. This will fund projects which will restore, create and improve natural habitats and wildlife corridors throughout the Central Belt.

Looking towards next year, we are aware of the importance of the Scotland Rural Development Programme and Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) and SNH are working with partners to ensure that this provides appropriate support to deliver CSGN objectives.

I would wish to take this opportunity to say thank you to Helen Zealley, Iain McTaggart and Cllr John McDowall who demitted office this year from what was the Partnership Board. Their experience and guidance was of great assistance to myself and to senior staff.

I look forward to working with the new CSGNT Board and the Programme Committee to ensure that the CSGN goes from strength to strength as we enter the next phase of the initiative.

Keith Geddes

Chair, Central Scotland Green Network Trust

Employment & Training (E&T)There was a considerable amount of activity related to E&T during the year. Around 190 young people received training under the FCS Youth Employment Skills Programme. Around half have progressed to further training or jobs.

Several initiatives and Local Authorities used CSGN Development Funding to support E&T programmes. For example, North Ayrshire Council ran an Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) project and Fife Council received a grant to create a team to work on improving core paths and signage in the area. Trainees learnt practical land management skills and gained valuable work experience to enhance their future employment options.

The Cassiltoun Trust, working in a deprived area of Glasgow, received a grant to deliver the second year of an employability project within Castlemilk Woodlands. Through this project, local unemployed people received work experience, training and skills development. They helped to deliver an important programme of work to manage and enhance the local woodlands. Approximately 3.5 kilometres of paths and steps within the woodlands were maintained or improved as a result of the project. This has led to increased use of the woodlands by local people and a reduction in the incidence of anti-social behaviour. Eight out of ten of those participating in the programme progressed into employment or education.

East Ayrshire Woodlands also received an E&T related grant. Trainees continued a programme of improvements to paths, woodlands and greenspaces across Ayrshire. This year, six woodland sites/trails have been improved with areas of wildflowers sown, interpretation signage installed and a series of outdoor learning events held.

The CSGN Training for Better Greenspace and Job Opportunities campaign, was developed during the year launching in April 2014. It was created to highlight the multiple benefits of using local unemployed people to

deliver greenspace improvements. The campaign focuses on the capacity of the CSGN to provide worthwhile and affordable training and employment opportunities. This campaign is supported by work undertaken in 2013 including an audit of relevant employment and training schemes operating within the CSGN area and six case studies. These demonstrate successful outcomes using different approaches at different scales.

A place for growth

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Through our place for growth theme we are creating an environment for sustainable economic growth; one which strengthens the local economy. This year six projects were funded under this theme - a combined total in excess of £205,000 of CSGN Development Fund grants.

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Vacant & Derelict Land (VDL)

The greening of VDL sites (including temporary greening) is specifically acknowledged as a key goal in several Scottish Government policies, programmes and funding streams and it is one of the primary areas of focus for the CSGN.

We have been working with Lothians & Fife Green Network Partnership on a study to identify VDL which has potential for woodland creation and green network development.

Forest Research received a grant to undertake the second stage of a field study using sites in East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire to identify the best way to apply organic soil material to derelict and degraded sites to help establish new woodlands on them.

The Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (E&LGT) received a grant to continue to develop and implement greening projects on vacant and derelict land within Edinburgh. Work focused on a major area of stalled space in Fountainbridge. A temporary greening project has been delivered on the site acting as an exemplar for other sites in the city. The project created a wildflower meadow, footpaths and 70 street trees were planted, making a tangible positive difference to this marginalised area of the capital.

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North Ayrshire Council received a CSGN Development Fund grant to deliver further improvements on the i3 enterprise site. This included tree planting and the establishment of a wildflower meadow. Part of the work was carried out by local young unemployed people gaining training and skills on an ILM Project.

The CSGN Your Green Business Opportunity campaign continued over the year. We have been visiting events and exhibitions, demonstrating the value of greenspace to the commercial sector through presentations and using our ten case studies. We are also working with organisations including Scottish Enterprise to explore the potential for developing further exemplary greenspace interventions.

Woodland CreationThe Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership (GCVGNP) received a grant to undertake further work to identify opportunities for woodland creation in the Clyde catchment to contribute to flood management in response to climate change. This second phase undertook a more detailed assessment of the White Cart Catchment focusing on the impact on downstream flooding of different types of woodland planting.

E&LGT received a CSGN Development Fund grant to undertake a Woodland Creation & Green Network Delivery Project providing advice and support to landowners, local Councils, community groups and third sector organisations.

The second year of this three year project resulted in 25 hectares of new woodland and continued liaison and development work with landowners. This activity has culminated in a Scotland Rural Development Programme grant award to support the creation of 40 hectares of woodland on Ministry of Defence land leased by the

Woodland Trust for Scotland.

In addition, a programme of access and small-scale greenspace improvements are underway, such as the planting of 75 trees at Hailes Quarry Park.

To help the co-ordination and delivery of the CSGN Woodland Creation Programme and regional Forest and Woodland Strategies, a new CSGN Woodland Expansion Steering Group was established by FCS.

This Group plays a crucial role in the development of innovative mechanisms for woodland creation within the CSGN area, such as the proposal for a CSGN Additional Contribution payment in the new SRDP 2014-2020.

Printed and digital material has been produced to promote the benefits of woodland creation to landowners and Local Authorities. The Group has also undertaken a review of actual costs of woodland creation in the CSGN and has compiled baseline data relating to woodland creation. This information will be used in the future to measure progress towards CSGN woodland expansion targets.

A place in balance

The CSGN will create an environment more in balance, one that will support Central Scotland to thrive in a changing climate. This year through the Development Fund we supported three projects with a combined value of over £71,000 in grants.

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Urban Greening

A number of research, planning and pilot projects were completed over the year which have supported the development of urban greening across the Central Belt.

Clackmannanshire Council received a grant to develop and deliver the Alloa Heritage & Climate Change Park. This enabled the Council to explore how best to develop, link and promote historic sites and greenspaces located between the town centre and the River Forth. A master plan of the area was produced to assist this process and a number of physical improvements were carried out, including improved seating and a programme of tree planting.

GCVGNP received funding to support the second phase of its urban heat island study. Results will feed into the Local Adaptation Strategy and the wider Climate Change Adaptation Framework. This will assist partners to recognise the potential of urban greening in addressing Climate Change issues.

Through the Clyde River Basin Management Planning (RBMP) Delivery Project, SEPA developed five improvement schemes to funding application stage and completed a report on the Glazert Water Project.

The Scottish Green Roof Forum is a group of organisations, businesses and individuals interested in promoting and encouraging the building of green roofs and walls. This year the CSGN supported the creation and launch of a new website for the Forum.

Greenspace for Health & Well-being SNH and FCS have worked to develop projects within each NHS Board area. These demonstrate good practice in the management and use of the outdoors across a range of health care settings. A local green exercise mapping project was undertaken in Lanarkshire as part of a wider national pilot led by SNH. This targeted demonstration projects within two Local Authorities which supported initiatives that increased levels of physical activity in the outdoors.

Similar developments are still being explored in Glasgow and North Ayrshire, linked to the health centre refurbishment programme. Similarly, the FCS

Commonwealth Woods project is an on-going legacy project for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Each of the 13 Commonwealth Woods – from Lang Craigs and Overtoun Estate in West Dunbartonshire and Garscadden Woodland at Drumchapel, to Cathkin Braes, Castlemilk and Easterhouse – provide outdoor spaces for people to enjoy free events and activities, get active or just to go for a walk in the fresh air.

Following on from successful developments at the Royal Edinburgh and the Midlothian Community Hospitals, Edinburgh Cyrenians received a further grant to continue the development of the NHS Lothian Community Garden project, with St John’s Hospital in Livingston identified as the third site to be developed.

A place to feel good (continued) A place to feel good (continued)

Creating an environment which supports healthy lifestyles and good physical and mental well-being is an essential part of what the CSGN is all about. This year, through the CSGN Development Fund, we supported nine projects with a combined value of over £282,000 in grants through this theme.

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NHS Forth Valley has continued to work with FCS to develop grounds around the Forth Valley Royal Hospital for health, education and recreation. To complement the installation of new paths and a second teaching circle, this year, a design competition was held in partnership with Architecture and Design Scotland. The winning entry was a stunning new viewing platform and pavilion which have now been installed over the loch.

Community Growing We continued to support community growing across the Central Belt and, over the year, worked with a range of food growing partners such as Urban Roots. This group developed a community market garden and orchard on vacant land in a deprived area of south-east Glasgow.

E&LGT received a grant to support the development of new and existing community gardening projects in Midlothian and East Lothian. In the second year of support, the project has worked with a further 16 groups and six new community gardening sites have been created.

Forth Environment Link received a grant to support a further year of activity under the Forth Valley Orchards Initiative. Outputs included 1.6 hectares of planting, support to landowners to expand their orchard-related business activities and several training and networking events.

Also supported through the CSGN Development Fund, the Rural Development Trust progressed the Reviving and Sustaining the Clyde Valley Orchards Project. This delivered a number of well-attended planning and training events and the development of 12 orchard management plans.

Greener Kirkcaldy used their grant to develop the Ravenscraig Community Orchard on 0.2 hectares of derelict and neglected land within the Ravenscraig Walled Garden in the town. In the second year of the project a team of volunteers was established to undertake maintenance activities including weeding, footpath repair and further planting.

We continued to work with the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society which this year produced a CSGN funded Allotment Guide to assist the development and design of allotments. Work also got underway on the creation of a guidance document focussing on the use of contaminated land for community growing. U

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Recreation & Active Travel Through cycling, walking or paddling, increasing recreational and active travel is a key focus for the CSGN.

Over the year SNH led on delivering a new long distance route across the length of the Central Belt. Named after the pioneering conservationist, The John Muir Way is 134 mile long signposted path. The flagship CSGN project links Dunbar on the East coast to Helensburgh in the West.

A successful communications campaign was implemented to help publicise the new route. This included considerable media exposure both in the UK and the US. A supporting website providing information was launched in February in readiness for the official route opening the on 21 April 2014 by the First Minister, Alex Salmond. This event will be part of a wider festival to celebrate the John Muir’s work.

With a CSGN Development Fund Grant, E&LGT’s Edinburgh City Cycleways project undertook essential maintenance of the city’s path network harnessing volunteer support through a community engagement programme. The Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society used its grant to further develop the Fife Pilgrimage Route and Medal Routes, including maintenance and signage work.

Access to bluespace was also supported last year, as Scottish Canals received a grant to develop a long distance (92km) inland water canoe trail from Glasgow to Edinburgh. The project included the installation of 30 bespoke canoe / kayak access and egress points along the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals.

A place to feel good (continued)

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Greenspace for Living GCVGNP received a grant to develop a volunteer and community engagement programme based around the Sevens Lochs Wetland Park area in the Easterhouse area of Glasgow.

The Seven Lochs Community Engagement Officer delivered 31 practical conservation volunteer days. Fourty-six volunteers attended the sessions, carrying out work to improve the condition of seven local designated sites. In addition to the conservation work, 317 people were involved in a series of school and community activities including Halloween and Christmas events in local woods and creation of interpretive artwork in Drumpellier Park.

This project was also successful in winning the 2013 CSGN Ideas Fund. The winning concept was the Seven Lochs Green Bridge. GCVGNP used the funding to run a design competition with the assistance of Glasgow Institute of Architects. First prize was awarded to local landscape architect graduate, Euan Maharg. The winning

design involves construction of a pre-fab concrete tunnel above a sunken path, bounded by woodland. This would serve to open up access to pedestrians and cyclists as well as providing cover for nesting birds and migrating animals. In early 2014, work got underway on a feasibility study to look at construction options and costs.

Creating a place for people underpins much of what the CSGN is working towards. Through our place to belong theme we want to create an environment that people can enjoy and where they choose to live and bring up their families. This year our Development Fund supported three projects with a combined value of £115,000 in grants.

A place to belong

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Greenspace for Learning & PlayThe David Livingstone Trust received a CSGN grant to continue the delivery of improvements to the grounds of the David Livingstone Centre in Blantyre. The activity included path construction, the installation of signage and gates and the completion of a set of oak steps. The work is being delivered by South Lanarkshire Council’s Modern Apprenticeship Programme.

A community engagement programme has been initiated that includes holding local events and producing information and promotional materials. Over 150 local children have attended these events. The project won the 2013 Landscape Institute Award for Neighbourhood Planning for the master plan and how the project is being delivered using the apprenticeship programme.

The Friends of Glasgow Botanic Gardens received a grant to deliver a project titled ‘Connecting People and Trees’. This project was taken forward using Development Funding last year. It aims to promote the National Tree Collections of Scotland using specific activities based in Glasgow Botanic Gardens.

The first year of the delivery phase has seen work on the Tree Trail being completed, groundswork has been undertaken around the gardens and the initial design and development work for a Tree Hub sculpture was finalised.

The second year of SNH funding to Grounds for Learning has supported advice on improving school grounds, including Sharing Good Practice events and the development of an online database of good practice which allows people to search by school type and location across every local education authority.

As part of the second year of SNH’s Teaching in Nature project, teachers were trained to use outdoor spaces for learning following a programme of events across the CSGN area.

A place to belong (continued)

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During the year the Community Project Fund delivered over £60,000 to the value of up to £3,000 to 26 initiatives operating throughout the CSGN area.

Within Ayrshire, Onthank Tenants and Residents Association used their funds to improve two primary school entrances. Newton Primary School created a safe, natural environment for the nursery class to play in and explore. Galston Wild Things and Donnvale Nursery each made progress in the creation of community gardens. To improve local biodiversity value, trees and hedgerows were planted by Friends of Edlington Country Park and also Friends of the Plantation.

In the GCV area several projects were funded which improved green infrastructure for school children and local residents. For example, carved log seats were installed in Merkland Local Nature Reserve, a wood sculpture trail was created in Cairnhill Woods and entrance features, a willow den and a fire pit were installed by Linvale Primary Eco Group.

An Aspen grove was created by Eadha Enterprises in Renfrewshire for outdoor learning and several other projects focussed on the provision of growing facilities for children. These included Ferguslie Pre-five Centre, Germiston Allotments, St Albert’s Primary School, Eastfield Primary School, and Kirklandpark Primary School.

In the Central area, the Larbert and Stenhousemuir Response Group project enhanced ‘orphan’ land with a seating area and plants. Working with the Scottish Wildlife Trust, the Carron Dams Local Management Group developed interpretation panels for the local nature reserve.

Working with teenagers, Westquarter Wildlife Group used a grant to improve their biodiversity value of the local glen and St Bernadette’s School Natural Play Group in Falkirk built a bespoke shed to store tools and play equipment.

In the Lothians and Fife area, three projects: Friends of Montgomery Street Park; EL&GT (Gate 55) and CLEAR Buckhaven, engaged local children in the design and use of greenspace. Methilhill Community Children’s Initiative, Gorgie City Farm and the Fife Muslim Educational and Cultural Centre each used their grants to create gardens for food production and education purposes.

An event is being planned for later in 2014 to celebrate these projects and share learning.

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Landscape Action The Scottish Wildlife Trust received a CSGN Development Fund grant to employ a project co-ordinator to develop the Cumbernauld Living Landscape initiative. In the second year of this three year project, the co-ordinator delivered a significant launch and stakeholder event. This was followed by a successful media campaign to raise the profile of the project. Work continues to identify and develop direct delivery projects with partners.

RSPB Scotland received a grant to support the development of the Inner Forth Landscape Partnership project. In the second year of this three year project volunteers were trained to undertake a series of farm bird surveys. This was augmented by a study looking at three possible wetland restoration sites and a baseline study of the project area.

The Initiative’s Community Engagement officer has also assisted partners and community groups in conducting relevant projects.

RSPB Scotland also received a grant to deliver the Garnock Valley Futurescape project - a landscape-scale conservation programme centred around the River Garnock.

The work plan for the programme includes habitat creation and management, community based conservation, production of information on local wildlife and local volunteer support. This year 400 volunteer hours were recorded helping remove litter from a Site of Special Scientific Interest and installing nest boxes at a Local Nature Reserve. Over 50 people also took part in a programme of guided walks.

In developing the CSGN we want to help create an environment where nature can flourish. This year our Development Fund supported five projects with a combined value of just under £91,000 in grants.

A place for nature

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Improving Habitat ConnectivityThis year, SNH and partners continued to develop and promote the use of Integrated Habitat Network (IHN) data and associated web based land use planning tools. These are increasingly being used by decision-makers across the CSGN area to develop policies and inform practices.

The Central Scotland Forest Trust received a grant to produce a master plan for the Livingston South Blue Green Network. The plan provides a framework for improving the connectivity of the riparian and greenspace areas in the South of Livingston and identifies a number of specific environmental and

access improvement projects to improve connectivity. The Ecological Coherence project developed by SNH encompassing landscape scale habitat network enhancement projects was submitted for LIFE+ funding. The bid was approved in April 2014 allowing projects to be progressed in future years.

Local BiodiversityGlasgow City Council received a grant to create a naturalised pond at Knightswood Park. This included the planting of the pond edge with local species of plants and the creation of naturalised islands planted with wildflowers as habitat for nesting waterfowl.

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CSGNTHillhouseridgeShottskirk RoadShottsNorth LanarkshireML7 4JS

Tel: 01501 824190Fax: 01501 823919Email: info@csgnt.org.uk

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