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CSGN Network News

Welcome to our November Newsletter

This month we are pleased to share the 2016/17 CSGN Annual Review with you. The report is available to download from our website. We will provide further details about the publication soon and how to request hard copies.

It has been a successful month for a number of our CSGN partners, including award recognition at the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning 2017 for:

Clydeplan – Flood Risk Management Tool
East Ayrshire Council – Catrine Environmental Heritage Project
Falkirk Council – Open Space Strategy
West Dunbartonshire Council – Kippen Dairy Residential Development and Bowling Arches
West Lothian Council – Planning Guidance on Health Impact Assessments

Optimised Environments Ltd and Forest Enterprise Scotland also had success at the Landscape Institute Awards, winning the Strategic Landscape Planning award for their map-based masterplan for the North Kyle Forest in Ayrshire. In addition, our book Growing Awareness received was highly commended in the Landscape Policy and Research category,

In funding news, the Coalfield Environment Initiative has worked with partners of the Coalfield Communities Landscape Partnership to secure a £2.56m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. We have also opened the latest round of the CSGN Development Fund to applications from projects across the central belt that can bring environmental and health benefits to their areas by bidding for a share of the £400,000 fund.

New greenspace scotland research shows that greenspace matters to people, with over 90% of respondents to their latest survey agreeing that it is important to have greenspace in their local area. However, there is a gap between people’s expectations are of their local greenspace and what they experience.

Finally, we are looking forward to next year's CSGN Forum which will be be taking place on 14 June in Glasgow. Further details will be announced soon, meanwhile please save the date. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the event, please contact us.

Growing Awareness Book Highly Commended at Prestigious Awards

A visionary book capturing the learning from the CSGN Forum events has been recognised at a the Landscape Institute Awards.

‘Growing Awareness - How green consciousness can change perceptions and places’ brings together a significant research effort by the Central Scotland Green Network Trust and the Glasgow Urban Laboratory at the Glasgow School of Art together with contributions of leading experts from across the globe, to inspire the transformation change for future generations through green infrastructure.

The book was highly commended at the Landscape Institute Awards which celebrate projects that protect, conserve and enhance the natural and built environment; and that demonstrate the highest levels of innovation, skill and commitment to values such as green infrastructure, health and well-being and natural capital.

Read more…

LI Award Success for Optimised Environments Ltd and Forest Enterprise Scotland

Optimised Environments Ltd and Forest Enterprise Scotland were also successful at the Landscape Institute Awards, winning the Strategic Landscape Planning award for their map-based masterplan for the North Kyle Forest in Ayrshire, which included ideas for social, environmental, cultural and economic projects within the area.

The project team involved local residents, agencies and other stakeholder groups in a comprehensive consultation process, ensuring a clear understanding of local issues.

Read more…

CSGN Development Fund 2018/19 Launched

Projects across the central belt can bring environmental and health benefits to their areas by bidding for a share of a £400,000 fund.

The 2018-19 round of the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) Development Fund will offer investment to projects promoting active travel, woodland planting, community growing and restoring land. Since 2010 £6.3 million has been invested in more than 180 projects.

Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Roseanna Cunningham opened the latest round of funding on a visit to the New Caledonian Woodlands Ltd, which received investment in the 2017-18 round.

Read more...

Paths for All Community Active Travel Grants

Paths for All is offering small grants of up to £3000 to communities in Scotland to develop, deliver and promote their own community led active travel projects.

The Community Active Travel Grants aim to empower communities to make changes to paths in their area that will make it easier for people to make every day journeys by active travel.

Increasing active travel in communities helps to create a healthier, socially inclusive, economically vibrant, environmentally friendly Scotland.

Read more…

Forestry Commission Scotland Community Fund

FCS empowers communities across Scotland by supporting community use, management and ownership of woodlands.

The FCS Community Fund is open to community groups and organisations that encourage people to use woods more.

Funding is available for activities taking place up until 31 March 2018.

Read more…

Engaging with Greenspace Reduces Inequalities in Wellbeing

While researchers have often compared the average wellbeing of different demographic groups, the study of the level of wellbeing inequality in a place remains largely underdeveloped.

A new report from What Works Centre for Wellbeing asks what is associated with inequality in life satisfaction in local authorities in Britain.

One of the key findings was that higher levels of engagement in heritage activities and the use of green space for health or exercise is associated with lower wellbeing inequality.

Read more...

Working with Natural Processes to Reduce Flood Risk

Working with natural processes (WWNP) to reduce flood and coastal erosion risk involves implementing measures that help to protect, restore and emulate the natural functions of catchments, floodplains, rivers and the coast. WWNP takes many different forms and can be applied in urban and rural areas, and on rivers, estuaries and coasts.

There has been much research on WWNP, but it has never been synthesised into one location. This has meant that it has been hard for flood risk managers to access up-to-date information on WWNP measures and to understand their potential benefits.

The UK Government's Environment Agency has gathered resources and 60 case studies and made these available on its website.

Read more...

TCPA Releases Green Infrastructure Guidance for New Communities

The TCPA has produced a suite of guidance with practical steps for all those interested in making C21st Garden Cities a reality. Guidance provides detail and case studies on a wide range of key issues, including planning, investment, land assembly, delivery, and longterm stewardship.

Read more…

Julia Thrift, Head of Projects and Events at TCPA presented at the 2015 CSGN Forum on the topic of planning for healthy environments. A video of the keynote is available to watch on the CSGN website.

2017 Greenspace Use and Attitude Survey

The 2017 Greenspace Use and Attitude survey published by greenspace scotland shows the downward trend in the deteriorating quality of Scotland’s parks and greenspaces has continued. Whilst the survey confirms that Scots still love their parks, with over 90% of urban Scots saying it is important to have greenspace in their local area, the quality of Scotland’s parks and greenspaces has continued to decline, and this means that fewer people are using their local greenspaces regularly.

The 2017 Greenspace Survey was commissioned with financial support from Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Government and the Central Scotland Green Network Trust.

Read more…

Green Infrastructure Quality Benchmark Launched

Building with Nature is a new benchmark launched in England for the design and maintenance of green infrastructure in housing and commercial development.

It brings together existing guidance and good practice to recognise high quality green infrastructure at all stages of the development process including policy, planning, design, delivery, and long-term management and maintenance. It has been developed by practitioners and policy makers, academic experts and end users.

Building with Nature supports the delivery of multifunctional green infrastructure; in recognition of the wide range of benefits it secures for people and wildlife.

Read more…

Buglife Scotland Releases New Guidance to Help Boost Pollinators

Buglife Scotland has released a new document that provides guidance for local authorities on how to help pollinators locally through a local pollinator action plan.

Local authorities across the country are being asked to use their regulatory powers and other functions to deliver, promote and enthuse others to participate in work which will benefit pollinators. Local authorities are well placed to make a significant contribution directly through land management and development control, whilst also providing leadership on this issue across their local communities.

Read more…

Practical Advice for Increasing Biodiversity in Cities

WSP has publish a report, Biodiversity in the city: Practical actions to make our UK cities global leaders, which demonstrates how we can collaborate to enhance biodiversity hand in hand with the provision of infrastructure and development.

Drawing on successful case studies, from interviews with experts, from its experience and from published literature, WSP provides a vision to demonstrate how we can increase the quality of our cities whilst becoming resilient to change.

Read more…

LI Scotland Launch Landscape for Scotland Vision Document

Over 100 people, including Members of the Scottish Parliament and prominent landscape, placemaking and natural environment professionals, have attended the launch of a new vision document, Landscape for Scotland.

Landscape Institute Scotland, who prepared the document, presented it in the Scottish Parliament Garden Lobby on Tuesday 14 November 2017.

Focusing on the unique and diverse landscapes and communities of Scotland, the document explores LI priority areas including healthy and wellbeing, natural capital, and the value of landscape.

Read more…

£2.56m Lottery Funding Secured for Ayrshire Coalfield

The Coalfield Environment Initiative has worked with partners of the Coalfield Communities Landscape Partnership (CCLP) to secure a £2.56m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The CCLP will work with communities to deliver interlinked projects that address environmental issues, enhance and intepret historic structures, facilitate access to the landscape and celebrate the area’s rich industrial heritage and the communities that settled here as a result.

The CCLP will encourage collaborative working and will build capacity within the communities by creating jobs, and offering training and support.

Read more…

LFGN Partnership Tour of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital

LFGNP held a successful partnership walking tour in early November, focussing on the Royal Edinburgh Hospital located in Morningside, Edinburgh, where NHS Lothian is in the process of redeveloping the campus.

Alongside the redevelopment of healthcare buildings there has been particular care and attention paid to the landscape, both to internal courtyards and the external spaces.

The campus masterplan provides a coherent framework to deliver the benefits that green infrastructure and green networks running through the site can provide.

Read more…

For more information about LFGNP, sign up to its newsletter using the form on the left of the LFGNP website.

Progress for Bike Pump Track in North Lanarkshire

Construction of a new bike pump track at Craigneuk has begun which will provide the area with one of the best facilities of its kind in the UK.

Main contractor Green Cat are working on the project with two of the world’s premier pump track designers and builders, Velosolutions and Architrail.

North Lanarkshire Council, which owns the site, has allocated funding from the Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Fund to pay for the works and is using Central Scotland Green Network Trust (CSGNT) to manage the development and delivery of the project. At the same time as the pump track development, the area’s former St Matthews Primary School site will be restored to a wildflower meadow.

Progress can be seen on the track's Facebook page.

Read more…

IFLI Launch New Short Film - Our Forth

As part of its Like the Back of My Hand project, IFLI has created a short film to help share and celebrate the Inner Forth landscape.

The film, ‘Our Forth – stories from the Inner Forth landscape’, has been six months in the making, with film makers Bracken Films working closely with the IFLI team.

The short film can be viewed on Youtube.

GCV Green Network Partnership Launch New Website

GCV Green Network Partnership has launched its new website, with features including a case study area and publications library.

Additionally, you’ll see a new 'What We Do' section, highlighting its current work programme, and a new resource centre.

The site also hosts a short animation where you will learn about the benefits the GCV Green Network will bring to the Glasgow City Region and how the area will be transformed, as well as the Green Network Strategy for the area.

Read more...

CSGNT Board Update

The CSGNT board will meet on 1 December 2017 and the most recent papers are available online.
The CSGNT Business Plan and the latest Regional Advisory Forum meeting minutes are also available to download.