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| greenspace scotland |
where can we grow now?
Scottish
Government has funded greenspace scotland to bring together community
groups who are working on food growing and local food projects to create
a vision of ‘our ideal food growing community’. The project will
develop a visualisation tool and support materials to help communities
to visualise, plan and create their own ‘ideal’ food growing community.
The
project is based on work published last year which highlighted that more
and more people in Scotland want to grow their own fruit and veg but
land availability is a major constraint. It will capture the ideas and
knowledge of community growing groups and organisations to develop a
visual map of a typical Scottish town. This will illustrate the range of
different community growing models (e.g. allotments, community gardens,
community orchards, edible landscapes) and match them to the different
places where community growing could happen (e.g. school grounds,
backgreens, work places, temporary spaces, even road side planters) with
support information for each of the growing models.
We see
this being used by communities to spark ideas, identify which types of
growing they want to take forward, and to begin to map their own
community growing vision and plans. We have already started engaging
with growing groups and communities, and the next stage will involve
gaining input and expertise from community growing organisations and
professionals. More
community placemaking for green networks reports online
The first two reports from the green networks programme are now available on the greenspace scotland website.
In
Ruchazie, a neighbourhood in the north-east of Glasgow, the focus was on
how existing greenspace could be used to make better neighbourhood
connections, particular attention was given to vacant and derelict land
and underused spaces. More
The
Westfield village report, in West Lothian, looked at how a range of open
space and green network issues arising from stalled development plans
could be addressed. More
For more
information about these reports or to find out how our Community
Placemaking Services could help you transform your local spaces and
places, please contact Elaine Gibb or view our community placemaking webpages
greenspace scotland project database
project of the month: Gorbals Healthy Living Network (GHLN)
Taking
part in greenspace scotland’s greenspace is good - so prove it
programme, which supported community greenspace groups to adopt a Social
Return on Investment (SROI) approach to one of their activities, has
really paid off for the Gorbals Healthy Living Network.
The SROI
analysis which was produced has helped the group demonstrate the value
of their work and to evidence the changes they are able to deliver.
Helen Trainor, Chairperson, stated “having a SROI report has made all
the difference to us. Our organisational credibility has increased
markedly and policy makers and funders take us much more seriously. The
SROI report has assisted us to access new funds and exciting
opportunities”
The SROI
analysis has supported GHLN to develop the next elements of their
growing and greenspace activities and to access resources and support
for this including Awards for All and the CSGN Development Fund. Over
the next year they will be engaging local residents and stakeholders via
Community Placemaking to look at key greenspaces and green network
issues. Initially focusing on the Laurieston area, the aim is to tackle
the poor quality of the local environment, including temporary spaces -
identifying short term and temporary actions.
This
will provide GHLN with the knowledge and understanding of what the local
community wants from its greenspaces and intelligence on what actions
need to happen to deliver this. A programme of action greenspace and
green network enhancements is planned around clean up and clearance,
greening small spaces and routes, creating social spaces and further
community food growing areas. The detail of these will be developed
through the Community Placemaking exercises. Commonwealth Jobs Fund
employees and a local volunteer team will support project delivery, with
training and skills development opportunities provided. More
greenspace scotland
can provide SROI services to groups and organisations. We can undertake
an SROI on a consultancy basis or can offer mentoring and support. For
more information contact Karen Carrick, SROI Programme Manager or view
our SROI webpages
Remember
- to access full details on any project, including community engagement
strategies, funding information and project outcomes, you need to be a
Network Member of greenspace scotland. Membership is FREE and
available to any organisation delivering greenspace projects in
Scotland. To find out how you can join the fast-growing network click here
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fruitful funding for Forth Valley orchards
Forth
Environment Link has received a major funding boost with the award of
£326,000 to further develop its Forth Valley Orchards’ Initiative over
the next three years. The funding announced by Environment & Climate
Change Minister, Stewart Stevenson, is part of a £2.2M package of
funding from the Central Scotland Green Network Development Fund for
projects over the next 3 years. The award will enable Forth Environment
Link to take forward the next phase of the initiative until March 2015,
focusing on developing the economic potential of orchards and expanding
orchards in schools across the Forth Valley. More
Read about other projects receiving funding from the Central Scotland Green Network Development Fund here
Urban Roots’ new community market garden and allotment site
Urban
Roots, a community led environmental organisation based on the Southside
of Glasgow, has a new 1 acre growing space. The site, which will be
developed solely by volunteers, will include allotment beds for local
people, a market garden growing produce to sell to local fruit and veg
shops and cafes, orchards, wildlife areas and a natural play area. The
dedicated team of volunteers meet up each Monday and more helpers living
in Glasgow are always welcome. More
funding for the Moss o’ Balloch
West
Dunbartonshire Environment Trust has been working with community and
other organisational partners in Balloch to transform the Moss o’
Balloch into an all year round events space for families and visitors.
Chair of Balloch & Haldane Community Council, Murdoch Cameron MBE,
said “the proposed environmental improvements (will) create a fantastic
greenspace facility for public events and community activities”.
Following an initial investment from their own funds the Trust has now
received financial support from the Scottish Government, the European
Community Forth Valley & Lomond LEADER 2007-2013 programme and West
Dunbartonshire Council. For more information contact Alan McMullen, Environmental Regeneration Manager.
wildflower and woodlands beside the Wheel
Local
people, along with volunteers from TCV, Green Routes and Enable
Scotland, have helped to plant 3,500 wildflowers in a meadow next to the
Falkirk Wheel in Camelon. As well as being visually pleasing, the
meadow will improve species diversity and provide a variety of plants
for insect pollinators. Future volunteer projects will include planting
even more wildflowers in the meadow and creating a bee bank for nesting
solitary bees. More
buzzing westwards
Continuing
with meadow-related news, last month we reported on new wildflower
meadows in Edinburgh and now a similar initiative is taking place in the
west. Buglife has joined forces with Glasgow City Council to transform
mown grassland in urban areas into colourful and species-rich wildflower
meadows. Funded by the Landfill Communities Fund, wildflower meadows
are being created in several parks including Hogganfield Park, Glasgow
Green and Cranhill Park. Work will start in Linn Park and Victoria Park
after July. More
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Scotland's first Strategic Development Plan approved
Scottish
Ministers have approved the Glasgow & Clyde Valley Strategic
Development Plan. The plan proposes a 'green network' which will ensure
that green infrastructure is planned into developments to provide the
environmental setting for the City region’s urban area and a link to
rural areas. More
consultation on architecture and placemaking policy
The
consultation identifies 4 key themes around which the policy on
architecture and placemaking could contribute to the future shape of
Scotland. These are: supporting sustainable economic growth; shaping
Scotland’s future; embedding built environment design into wider policy
agendas and ensuring public and private sector buy-in; and recognising
the cultural value of architecture, urbanism and heritage. The
consultation document sets out a number of questions on which the
Scottish Government would welcome views. Closing date for consultation
responses is 7 September. More
 a walk a day keeps the doctor away
Physical
inactivity contributes to nearly 2,500 deaths and costs the NHS £91
million each year in Scotland. It is the fourth leading health risk
factor! The Scottish Government plans to produce a National Walking
Strategy to maximise the number of people using walking as a mode of
transport, to get active and to stay active. Speaking during a debate in
Parliament on physical activity and obesity, Sport Minister Shona
Robison said: “We know that 30 minutes of walking each day provides more
protection against death than any medication.There is overwhelming
evidence in relation to the health benefits that come from walking so
that is why the Scottish Government will develop a National Walking
Strategy. This will address infrastructure, support and communication to
make sure we do everything possible to help the use walking as a mode
of transport or to get active”. More
environmental indicators for community planning
The new
Environmental Indicators Framework forms part of the Improvement
Service’s wider work to improve the menu of local outcome indicators
which are used in Community Planning Partnerships’ Single Outcome
Agreements (SOAs). The framework illustrates how these indicators can be
used to describe the state of the environment, the progress being made
towards environmental outcomes, the activities required to support that
progress and links to further guidance and related information. More
LEAP online
SCDC has
launched a new software package to support participatory, outcome
focused planning and evaluation - LEAP (Learning Evaluation and
Planning) is a values based approach to planning and evaluating work
with communities. The user friendly online version encourages users to
ask critical questions about their project or programme and is designed
to support joint working by allowing access to shared project plans and
reports among various partners and stakeholders. A free initial trial
period of three months is being offered. More
update on climate change actions
In 2007
all 32 Scottish local authorities signed up to Scotland’s Climate Change
Declaration (SCCD) which committed councils to take steps to tackle
climate change and to report their actions on a yearly basis. Two
analyses have been produced using data extracted from these annual
monitoring reports. A Mitigation Analysis, produced by Keep Scotland
Beautiful (KSB) gives an overview of local authority action to reduce
corporate emissions, drawing in input from The Carbon Trust, as well as a
more thorough analysis of action on area-wide emissions. More
An Adaptation Analysis by Adaptation Scotland focuses on local
authority action on climate change adaptation for the period 2010-11. More
support for grow your own
A new
website has been set up by the Grow Your Own Working Group. This brings
together organisations that are involved in community growing and offers
access to a range of resources. More
a silver play day
2012 is
the 25th anniversary of Playday - an annual celebration of play which is
traditionally held on the first Wednesday in August. The theme for this
year is ‘Get Out and Play’ and Play Scotland are seeking photographs of
favourite outdoor play spaces. The closing date for entries is 15
August 2012. The winning design will be used for a Play Scotland pop up
stand and the winner will receive a £50 Argos voucher, memory box and a
Play Scotland goodie bag. More
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grey places need greenspaces
A report
published by Groundwork highlights many reasons why we need to preserve
and nurture our urban greenspaces. ‘Grey places need green spaces – the
case for investing in our nation’s natural assets’ argues that the
benefits of greenspace to our communities including “greater public
health, better personal wellbeing and economic prospects and reduced
violence and aggression” are too important to squander. Using evidence
from across the greenspace sector, the report makes recommendations on
how parks and greenspaces of all shapes and sizes could be preserved for
future generations - ranging from national legislation to facilitating
local action.
Landscape
designer and broadcaster Chris Beardshaw, who wrote the foreword to the
report, said: “It is as simple as making a choice – a choice to put
green space high on the agenda of social investment because it is proven
that where positive green spaces exist that issues such as crime and
deprivation decline and our health and wellbeing increases. Everyone
deserves to see the green shoots of recovery and in this case it really
can be as literal as that.” More
take your park’s temperature?
Well not
quite, but communities are being asked to carry out a park health
check. The initiative being carried out as part of ‘Love Parks Week’ is
giving communities the opportunity to consider how they feel about their
local park. As David Tibetts from GreenSpace said, “We know what a
‘quality’ park looks like, but what we’re aiming to achieve with our
Park Health Check ‘is to evaluate quality by perception rather than
definition, asking how people actually feel about their local space.” More
helping hoes save thousands
The
‘Garden Partners’ project in Wandsworth is a small scheme that finds
volunteers to help older people who can no longer maintain their back
garden on their own. As well as providing health and wellbeing benefits
an official audit of the project - which involves just 46 older people
in a single borough in south London - has concluded that it could have
saved the taxpayer as much as £500,000. The report indicates that four
out of five of the older people said it had helped them maintain or even
improve their physical activity and 83 per cent said it had made them
more mobile. The same proportion said it had helped reduce or maintain
their levels of anxiety. This approach is now at the centre of a
government strategy which could save the taxpayer tens of millions of
pounds a year and transform the quality of life of many older people.
Find out more here and here
community land advice online
A new
website supporting the drive to make more land available to community
gardening and growing groups is now available. The Community Land
Advisory Service (CLAS) is an impartial, collaborative initiative,
designed to help tackle the lack of available land for community
gardening and associated activities. The website contains a range of
useful documents, from FAQs about community land use, to overviews of
topics such as finding land, offering land to community groups,
negotiating tips and information on leases and planning. There are also
links to a wealth of existing publications and websites. A small team of
CLAS advisors are also available in help answer specific queries with
detailed technical advice. More
campaigning for the environment
Are you
speaking out and taking action on environmental issues? Then applying
for a Sheila McKechnie Foundation Campaigner Award, will equip you with
the right skills to become a more effective campaigner. Entry is free
and all costs relating to participation in the programme will be covered
by the Sheila McKechnie Foundation. More
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Scots get active outdoors
Scottish
Natural Heritage has released the latest figures tracking the
proportion of Scottish adults visiting the outdoors for leisure or
recreation at least once a week. The main findings show that in 2011,
46% of Scottish adults were visiting the outdoors for leisure or
recreation at least once a week, a slight decrease from 2010 (2%).
Walking is the most popular outdoor recreational activity among adults
living in Scotland - it was the main activity on 74% of visits to the
outdoors in 2011. Family outings, the main activity on 9% of visits,
were next in terms of popularity. This was followed by cycling and
mountain biking, the main activity on 4% of visits. Total expenditure on
visits to the outdoors in 2011 was estimated to be around £2.7 billion.
More
young people enjoy time out in greenspace
Young
Scot has teamed up with SNH to launch ‘Simple Pleasures’, a campaign
aimed at inspiring more young people to enjoy Scotland’s outdoors by
making more use of green places in the middle of cities, woodland,
waterways and paths. The campaign has been adapted for young people,
after research highlighted that more than 93% of 11-17 year olds in
Scotland enjoy spending their free time outdoors, with 69% stating they
would like to spend more time outdoors. This summer, Young Scot will be
travelling across the country to gather young people’s experiences on
the different greenspaces which they enjoy in their local area. These
findings will be showcased nationally, to inspire more young people to
take some time out and connect with nature. More
ease of access to the outdoors lengthens lives
The
Inclusive Design for Getting Outdoors consortium (I'DGO) which involves
scientists from the universities of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt, Salford and
Warwick have explored the wellbeing of people aged over 65 and their
ability to go out and about and have discovered a direct link between
the ease of getting outdoors and health and quality of life. The study,
involving 4,350 older people across the UK, found that good walkable
access to local shops, services and greenspaces doubled the chances of
an older person achieving the minimum recommended amount of walking -
2.5 hours each week. "One of the interesting things from my point of
view is how strongly the importance of the natural environment came out
in that study," said Prof Ward Thompson, who led the research, “If you
lived within 10 minutes of a park, then you were twice as likely to
achieve the recommended minimum amount of physical activity." More
vacant spaces are safer green
Greening
of vacant urban land may affect the health and safety of nearby
residents, according to a recent study. The study by the University of
Pennsylvania found in a decade-long comparison of vacant lots and
improved vacant lots, that greening was linked to significant reductions
in gun assaults across most of Philadelphia and significant reductions
in vandalism in one section of the city. Vacant lot greening was also
associated with residents in certain sections of the city reporting
significantly less stress and more exercise. Dr.Charles Branas stated
“Improving the places where people live, work and play, holds great
promise for changing health and safety. Greening vacant lots is a
low-cost, high-value approach, which may prevent certain crimes and
encourage healthy activity for more people and for longer periods of
time than many other approaches.”
climate changes at a click
The
European Environment Agency (EEA) have added a series of interactive
maps to the new Climate-ADAPT website which shows projected changes in
temperature and precipitation across Europe for 2021-2050 and 2071-2100.
Drawing on regional climate projections, the maps graphically
demonstrate how average temperatures in Europe will continue to rise and
that summers will be drier and winters wetter. New interactive
temperature and precipitation maps, produced by the EU-funded ENSEMBLES
project, can now be found alongside a series of other maps of future
climate change impacts, vulnerability and risks. This includes maps on
water stress, flood risks, agriculture and forests. More
urban areas at risk
Over
three quarters of Europe’s population live in cities and are
particularly likely to feel the effects of climate change. A new
European Environment Agency report, ‘Urban adaptation to climate change
in Europe’, is the first Europe-wide assessment of urban vulnerability
to climate change. Due to higher levels of artificial surfaces and lower
levels of vegetation, the report’s authors argue that urban areas
experience higher temperatures than rural areas, creating ‘urban heat
islands’ that exacerbate the effects of heat waves. The report stresses
that for urban adaptation action to be effective policy-makers at local,
national and European level will need to work together to create the
right conditions and frameworks. More
warning – city living can damage your health
And if
the threat from climate change was not enough... Finnish scientists say
certain bacteria, shown to be beneficial for human health, are found in
greater abundance in non-urban surroundings. A lack of exposure to a
"natural environment" could be resulting in more urban dwellers
developing allergies and asthma. It is now scientifically proven -
healthy bacteria can be found not only in a certain yoghurt drink but
also in the countryside. More
trees ‘significantly improve’ air quality in cities
The
Woodland Trust, in collaboration with Lancaster and Birmingham
Universities, has produced an ‘Urban air quality’ report which examines
how urban greening can be tailored to achieve air quality goals while
creating health and social benefits. The study looked at existing
research and found the overall benefits of trees to air quality
respiratory health are ‘overwhelmingly positive’. A single tree near
polluted areas will scrub air of pollutants by as much as 15-20% More
forestry evidence reviews
Three
new reviews commissioned from Forest Research have assessed the
published evidence in relation to: public access to woodlands and
forests; community forest governance and ownership; and international
comparisons of forest policy. The reports, which have a particular focus
on the state of knowledge about the effectiveness of interventions, are
now available on the Independent Forestry Panel's website. More
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| funding |
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Heritage Lottery Fund
Parks
for People offers grants for projects that regenerate public parks of
national, regional or local heritage value. Funding is available for
grants of between £250,000 and £5 million. Some of the funds for
projects must come from other sources, either as cash or non-cash
contributions. Closing date for applications is 31 August. More
All Our Stories
There’s
still time to submit a bid to this HLF small grant programme designed to
help local communities answer questions about their past. Application deadline is 31 July 2012 and applicants will be informed in October 2012. More
People's Postcode Trust
The
People’s Postcode Trust has announced that it will re-open for
applications on 9 July 2012. Grants are offered of between £500 and
£10,000 to small organisations and community groups for projects lasting
up to 3 months in areas including environmental protection. The deadline for all applications is 5pm on the 24 August 2012. More
Scottish Natural Heritage on-line grants web portal
SNH
community grants are now available for application. They are focussed on
getting more people and communities involved in outdoor recreation,
volunteering and outdoor learning; action to improve, protect and manage
habitats, species and landscapes; and citizen science and biological
recording. More
Explore Fund -children's outdoor recreational activities
The
Outdoor clothing company North Face"has announced the launch of a new
funding round of its Explore Fund. The Explore Fund supports not for
profit organisations that encourage youth outdoor participation. Grants
are available for projects that encourage community involvement; focus
on breaking down barriers to getting youth outdoors; and projects that
reach out to a specific community or place of interest. The closing date for applications is the 2 July 2012. More
Sita Trust's Enhancing Communities Programme - Core Fund
Grants
of up to £60,000 are available to not for profit organisations,
community groups, parish councils, local authorities and charities for
projects that make physical improvements to community facilities and
historic buildings / structures. SITA will accept applications from
projects which are within 3 miles of qualifying SITA UK waste processing
sites. The closing date for applications 23 July 2012. More
Comic Relief Local Communities Grants
Up to
£10,000 for projects that empower local people, enabling them to create
lasting change in their communities. Projects should be run by people
directly affected by the issues they are dealing with and priority will
be given to small, locally based groups or organisations in areas of
disadvantage that have a clear understanding of the needs of their
community. Next date for panel sitting is 26 June. More
Community Spaces Programme – Big Lottery Fund
The
Community Spaces Programme will re-open for applications in June 2012.
Through the programme, grants of between £10,000 and £250,000 are
available to communities in Scotland to improve the appearance,
functionality, accessibility, effectiveness and sustainability of local
spaces and places this can include: Developing and improving local
parks, community paths, gardens; play parks, allotments, community
centres and village halls. More
Cycle Friendly & Sustainable Communities Fund
The
Cycle Friendly and Sustainable Communities Fund (CFSCF) is now open for
applications from individual community-led projects, aiming to increase
the number of trips made by bicycle. Grants of up to £6,000 are
available for projects that can demonstrate a shift to trips by bicycle
and a reduction in carbon emissions. The deadline for applications is the 25 June 2012. More
Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund
The
Scottish Government has announced a £10 million capital projects fund to
encourage participation in grassroots sport. Awards of up to £250,000
are available to construct new facilities or improve existing playing
fields, changing rooms or sports centres. The awards will spread over
the next 3 years, culminating in 2014. The Fund will be administered by
SportsScotland. More
Grab A Grant - CSV Action Earth 2012
If you
are planning an environmental activity using volunteers or think you can
come up with a good project that improves your local area, then you
could be eligible for a CSV Action Earth grant. The CSV Action Earth
campaign is running from May to November, supported by SNH and offers
grants up to £500 to cover plants, materials, tools and expenses. More
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| jobs |
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Schools’ Project Officer for Forth Valley Orchards Initiative
Forth
Environment Link are seeking an individual to expand the number of
school orchards through the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) and
develop a network of existing and new school orchard groups to link them
to the wider orchard network across the CSGN area. A background in
environmental education, practical orchard establishment and management,
and excellent communication skills are essential. Salary £21,500 -
22,500 pro rata, 14 hours a week until 31 March 2013. There may be a
possibility of continuing the post until March 2015, subject to funding.
Closing date 17 June. More
contracts and tenders
visitor survey for community greenspace
Perth and Kinross Council are inviting tenders for a visitor survey to take place between July and October 2012. Closing date is 22 June 2012 at 12 noon. Further details are available on the Procurement Scotland website or by calling Jeremy Evans, Senior Countryside Ranger on 01738 475 000.
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| events and training |
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8 June - Theatre at Brediland Allotments, Foxbar
Nutshell
Theatre is offering a unique ‘site-specific’ theatre experience.
‘Allotment’ is a dark comedy which follows the complex and quirky
relationship between sisters Dora and Maddy as they live out the seasons
on their allotment, playing out their rivalries among the plants.
Homemade scones, jam and tea are included in the ticket price. More
9 June - Youth Green Charter Edinburgh
A one
day intensive workshop by Roars not Whispers for young people aged 16 to
26 interested in climate change and the environment. More
12 June – CSGN Forum: How green networks make our towns and cities liveable
This
second annual Forum for the CSGN looks at the health and vitality of our
major towns and cities and draws inspiration from green infrastructure
projects in London, New York and closer to home. More
14 June – Talk Action – Engaging Communities on Climate Change
This
course will teach you the skills and information needed to develop
long-term engagement of civil society organisations, groups and
individuals in work on climate change and low-carbon living. More
14-15 June - SROI Network – SROI Practitioner Training
This two
day course is essential for individuals seeking to become accredited
practitioners. It is also useful for individuals considering doing an
SROI. More
16 June - Scottish Orchards Gathering, Edinburgh Botanic Gardens
The
theme of the day will be to look at how fruit growing is developing
across different parts of Scotland at local and regional levels – and to
identify opportunities to work together and share ideas, skills and
knowhow. Book at eventbrite or enquiries to John
16 June - Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society Annual Conference, Dunblane
27 June - Network Event at Shettlestone Community Growing Project
This
networking event is for anyone interested in/involved with therapeutic
or community gardens, or greenspaces used to improve health, well-being
or for community benefit. More
27 June - Integrated Habitat Networks, Stirling
Scottish
Natural Heritage is hosting two information sessions on Habitat
Networks in the Central Scotland Green Network area. Aimed at
environmental practitioners within the private sector and third sector
environmental organisations. To book please email - there is no charge however places are limited.
SNH Sharing Good Practice programme of events
Sessions covering a wide range of topics can be viewed on the SNH website. More
Environmental and Community Leaders Training Programme 2012
A
multi-partner and diverse programme of ‘green’ learning which reflects
the huge range of activity present in environmental volunteering in
Scotland. Download the 2012 training programme brochure here
21-29 July - Love Parks Week
30 August - Grounds for Learning Glasgow tour
Find out
how three primary schools in and around Glasgow are providing some of
the most interesting school-based play experiences in Scotland. More
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While the results of the petition will be delivered offline, you can also make some noise online. On Monday, June 18, join the global 
