CROSSPLAN - Scotland

PARTICIPATORY LANDSCAPE PLANNING

June 1999 Issue 2

What Is Crossplan?

Crossplan is a participatory landscape plan that is co-sponsored by the Forestry Commission and Cairngorms Partnership and is part funded by the European Regional Development Programme.

The focus is on the Northern Periphery of Europe and the projects will be carried out in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Strathdon in Scotland. The purpose of the project is to seek ways of involving local people in planning forestry and moorlands in their own area.

As well as landscape planning Crossplan includes aspects of public participation in the planning process and aims to evaluate a range of approaches in terms of how they can be used to help the local economies of the project areas. The four components of the project are:

RESEARCH - DEVELOPMENT - EDUCATION - PARTICIPATION

What Is Strathdon's Role?

The project will bring together existing information, ask and answer some questions, seek comparisons and publish guidelines. From the specific exercise that is being undertaken in Strathdon, it is hoped that the community will develop its own impetus to take forward the vision establish during the project.

Strathdon, positioned on the foothills of the Cairngorms, was selected as Scottish project site because of the relatively high proportion of forestry in its landscape. The forest and woodlands are not dominated by native species, a situation akin to many other Scottish glens and unlike its neighbours, the Deeside Forest and Forest of Spey. In addition, Strathdon is a working glen, with agriculture and sporting estates as well as commercial forestry playing a large part in the make-up to the landscape.

Last year, the Cairngorms Partnership, Forestry Commission and Scottish Natural Heritage commissioned a 'Forest and Woodland Framework' for the Cairngorms area. The Framework aims to progress the strategic objectives outlined in the Partnership's management Strategy, as well as simplify the policy framework for woodland grant applicants, processors and consultees. One of the key outputs from Crossplan will be the localised development of this strategic Framework, which can be applied and developed on a voluntary basis throughout the Strath.

How Will It Be Done?

Two meetings were held on 2nd March to discuss the project, its timetable and potential outputs. The first, in the afternoon, was targeted towards agents and officials who have particular interests in the area. Representatives from SNH, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Aberdeenshire Council, Forest Enterprise and the main estates in the area were invited. The second, in the evening was an open public meeting attended by around 15 members of the communities in and around Strathdon.

Both meetings were addressed by Simon Bell of the Forestry Commission, who is managing the Scottish part of Crossplan. He outlined the keystone of the project. which is to:

bring together as much of the available information on the landscape of the area and build them into a landscape plan. The various estates, agencies and organisations would provide information on geology, soils, vegetation, drainage etc. which would be augmented by research on windthrow hazard, aspect, slope undertaken by the Forestry Commission's Research and Advisory Department.

It is hoped that the community will add to this with its knowledge of the working landscape.

This layering of information over the coming months would culminate in a 2 day workshop in September, involving specialists from Finland, Sweden and Norway, the Forestry Commission, the various estates, agencies and organisations involved as well as members of the community. The workshop will investigate what is important to the various communities of interest which use the landscape, and provide different interpretations of how it works. This will make it easier for those interested local people/planners/foresters etc. to look at implications of any actions they would like to undertake.

It is hoped that the community will add to this with its knowledge of the working landscape.

From the end of May through to end of July two researchers will be involved in the project in Strathdon. Margaret Scott, Herriot Watt University and Stephen Robertson, Aberdeen University are interested in establishing people's views on how the process of community involvement works and the perception of the landscape in Donside. We are interested in speaking to people who would like to be involved. Are you? If so contact Judith Aylett on 019756 51329.

What Are The Issues?

While some concerns as to the limitations of the project were expressed at the open public meeting, its primary focus was on issues that should be covered. The consensus was of interest in the potential for the project, with the discussion identifying the following key components:

• How did the four countries' differences affect the implementation of each project?
• While the issues of different landownership within the four participating countries could be an inhibition, Strathdon would provide its working method and input into the project. For this purpose a contact community worker has been appointed, Judith Aylett, who would facilitate the community involvement.
• How would the economy of the area be improved by improved landscape? ® What are the opportunities for new projects in the area; i.e. improved quality of wood, development of native tree species, opportunity for local crafts projects? How can this be encouraged?
• Can the balance of tree types used be improved i.e. does birch have the potential of a better 'crop' than stick pine?
• Will an improved landscape encourage more tourism into the area?
• What potential is there for small scale bio-fuel production ?
• What economic factors i.e. grants, prices, currently effect the landscape?
• What does the community want improved?
• Will more land be committed to forestry? How does this impact moorland development?
• What happens in other communities? What impact would the guidelines have?
• How do landowners, agencies and members of the community view each others interest in the land?

A lot of questions!

To get answers to some of these a task force visited Finland and saw projects that had been completed and ones in progress. It provided an opportunity to not only hear the Finnish perspective but those of delegates from Norway and Sweden.

The interest in Crossplan was matched by an enthusiastic level of informal and formal hospitality. We were impressed by the level of interest from the Economic development departments in the region and the Rural Advisory Centre showed the importance placed on community issues and its way forward. Scottish hospitality can hopefully return the compliment in September when there will be an International conference in Strathdon.

Diary

APRIL - Consolidate existing research and data of the area. We will establish Internet links between all project sites. This will widen the links of the Upper Donside Internet site with wider community sites in Sweden Norway and Finland

MAY - informal community, group discussions and individual meetings

JUNE - informal community, group discussions and individual meetings

JULY - a series of enjoyable activities, adventures and craft workshops will be designed to involve and establish the communities view of the area. On 13th July there will be a public meeting.

AUGUST- a series of enjoyable activities, adventures and craft workshops will be designed to involve and establish the communities view of the area.

SEPTEMBER - Workshop and International conference starting week 20th September. Saturday open day with activities for all the family

AFTER SEPTEMBER it is hoped that many of the people involved in the project will not only see the potential offer by their work but will establish links with other international participants in the project CROSSPLAN

Who Can Be Involved?

Anyone and everyone interested in the community! Do you have a particular area of the countryside that you are interested in?

Contact Details

Local Contact: Judith Aylett Heughhead Strathdon AB36 8XY, Tel 019756 51329. e-mail judyaylett@aol.com.

Find out about Donside Internet site at www.upperdonside.org.uk

Forestry Commission: www.forestry.gov.uk

Cairngorms Partnership: www.cairngorms.co.uk

Crossplan Sponsors Include:

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