Building a Resilient Natural Environment Aberdeen City Council

1. Building a Resilient Natural EnvironmentAberdeen City Council SUMMARY Aberdeen City Council is working with European partners on two green themed, innovative projects which have benefited from European funding to enhance the natural environment in our city. This partnership approach has enabled the Council to finance and implement city projects that help build long term understanding, enhancement and protection of our valuable city greenspace areas. • BACKGROUND • Partnership working on European projects is enhancing Aberdeen’s greenspace areas and helping to engage local communities with their natural environment. The work of two city projects, has increased understanding of the role and value of these areas for recreation and social cohesion. • Sustainable Urban Fringes (SURF) • The Sustainable Urban Fringes (SURF) project is led by Aberdeen City Council. It brings together 13 partners from 5 countries under the Interreg IVB North Sea Region programme. Project partners are working to highlight the economic, environmental and social benefits of city spaces where urban meets rural. • The project is working to deliver policy change and recommendations that aim to unlock the potential of urban fringes, recognising the role these valuable assets can play in improving the quality of life in our cities. • Partners from across Europe are delivering research and practical on the ground projects which reveal opportunities for vital, greener places for leisure, connectivity and economic growth. • In Aberdeen, an urban fringe project on the River Don is enhancing and improving connectivity along a neglected stretch of the city. The project has brought together a network of key community representatives to - • Support communities to participate in the decision making process. • Access investment to improve the environment of the River Don • corridor. • Carry out a series of physical improvements to the open spaces and networks surrounding the River Don. • Periurban Parks • Aberdeen is one of 14 European partners in the Periurban Parks project.This Interreg IVC Regional initiative is looking at the creation and management of parks in natural suburban areas. • The project focuses specifically on policy and management solutions to mitigate pressures on biodiversity. • Periurban Parks is examining how redevelopment in these areas can impact positively on the environment and on halting biodiversity loss. • The project partners are able to share experiences in managing suburban areas and developing periurban parks. • In Aberdeen, the project seeks to bring together a number of disparate but geographically close greenspaces under a shared identity as a single park, South Aberdeen Coastal Park. Co-ordinating enhancements through a partnership with local businesses, communities and land owners. KEY CONTACTS Emma Watt Sustainable Urban Fringes Project Manager Email: ewatt@aberdeencity.gov.uk www.sustainablefringes.eu Rachel Sharp Periurban Parks Aberdeen Project Manager Email: rsharp@aberdeencity.gov.uk www.periurbanparks.eu • LOOKING AHEAD • The Sustainable Urban Fringes project is due to finish in August 2012. A final conference in Aberdeen will promote the project outputs including policy recommendations and an urban fringe toolkit. The event will also highlight the achievements and experiences of urban fringe projects in partner cities. • The Periurban Parks project is due to complete at the end of 2012. • How has Aberdeen benefited from these projects? • European funding has enabled the council to finance and implement city • greenspace projects. • Shared knowledge, understanding and experience with project partners and their • own networks has assisted project development in our own city. • Influencing policy at European level, which can deliver far reaching • change.