Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) Simon Rennie Chief Executive, CSGNT
Northern Ireland Environment Link Conference, 30 September, 2016 Falkirk Greenspace Initiative – How a 20 year environmental programme has delivered social and economic benefits Contents • CSGN – What and where? • Falkirk’s place, FGI study and Vision • Social, health and economic contributions • FGI delivering partner ambitions • Lessons & regrets
By 2050, Central Scotland has been transformed into a place where the environment adds value to the economy and where people’s lives are enriched by its quality The Vision
Falkirk’s place within the CSGN
The beginning……………..
The beginning……………..
Falkirk Greenspace Vision • The creation of a continuous, well-wooded parkland or greenspace encircling Falkirk where new amenity woodland would link existing and proposed recreational spaces, public parks and gardens, the corridors of the River Carron and the two canals, nature reserves, the Green Belt, former policy woodland and designated countryside around the urban area: and in which recreation, leisure, heritage facilities and new development would be focused. A key feature would be the establishment of a circular off-road route around and through the parkland ring.
Physical transformation • Over 1000 Ha of land treated • Over 1.3 million trees planted (and survived!) • 260 km of paths created/upgraded • Over 100 greenspace projects • 1998 to 2014 programme value - £12m • Major projects: HELIX, WIAT programme, Forth Valley Royal Hospital • So what…………………?
Social & health contributions • Community activism – CATCA • Bespoke CDC • Lionthorn Community Woodland Association • 340 Community events • Forth Valley Royal Hospital
Economic contributions • Calendar Estates commerce • Developers using local greenspace quality as a marketing tool • Tourism – increasing hotel bed numbers • Economic activity in delivery phase
Delivering partner ambitions • Falkirk Council ‘repositioning’ • Forth Valley Enterprise (early days) – improved business environment • FCS – forests contribution to society – demonstrating relevance • SNH – habitats, landscape, public enjoyment • Scottish Canals – access, benefit local communities
Lessons learnt…………….. • The need for a strong vision which enables action over time – a validating reference point • Need for sustained commitment over time and through periods of change – ongoing ‘political’ will. • Partnership formation, maintenance and contribution • Commitment matched by effort • Ongoing need for creativity and innovation • The need, within the boundaries of the Vision, to tie current activities into current wider political priorities
Regrets – we’ve had a few……….. • Did not use our experience to create a stronger evidence base for the validity of the principle • Tied to that did not establish stronger baseline data and ongoing M&E work • Did not deliver more of the programme through training & employment activity • Community capacity building could have been stronger/more integral to the delivery (especially important in the light of current/ongoing LA budget cuts) • All that said how at the outset could we have known just how good, large and effective the whole thing would be?
Conclusions
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