What is the CSGN?

1. What is the CSGN? One of only 14 National developments in NPF2, published June 2009 Recognition of importance of quality environments to future prosperity “…to effect a step change in environmental quality, woodland cover and recreational opportunities” Will need to be written into emerging Strategic and Local Development Plans

3. Vision: By 2050, the environment of Central Scotland has been transformed by the creation of a high quality green network, which will enrich people’s lives, promote economic prosperity, allow nature to flourish and help Scotland respond to the challenge of climate change.

4. 10 CSGN Goals for 2030 • Overlap with South Ayrshire SOA and CPP • Direct links to role of sustainability partnership • 5-yr workplan in preparation

5. to ensure that every home in central Scotland is within 300m of an attractive, safe, and well-maintained green space or accessible countryside. Scottish Government

6. to improve the green infrastructure of all our major towns and cities by investing in green and blue space, tree planting and sustainable urban drainage. Brian Evans Gillespies

7. to create a high quality environment for business, by enhancing the landscape setting of every small and medium-sized town in central Scotland and reducing vacant and derelict land to an absolute minimum. Scottish Government

8. to deliver a threefold increase in the area of land used for community growing – allotments, orchards and gardens. greenspace scotland

9. to deliver at least a 50% increase in woodland cover, in line with the Scottish Forestry Strategy target.

10. to plan and deliver an integrated habitat network at a landscape scale, with wildlife corridors joining up key sites and habitats, ensuring that every community has access to places where people can experience nature and wildlife Brian Evans Gillespies

11. to deliver a strategic network of high-quality routes foractive travel and recreation throughout Central Scotland

12. to ensure that the green network is used by everyone to improve health and well-being through physical activity and contact with nature, volunteering, and learning outdoors.

13. to foster community pride and ownership in the CSGN and to use the green network as a community resource, providing opportunities for education, volunteering, training, skills development, and employment in land-based and low-carbon industries.

14. to help mitigate climate change through land management practices which help to capture, store and retain carbon, such as woodland expansion and the protection of peatland, and through promotion of active travel Brian Evans Gillespies

15. How could the CSGN benefit South Ayrshire? • Co-ordination and linkages • Sharing of best practice and ideas • Additional resources

16. Co-ordination and linkages • Pan-Ayrshire approach? • Ayrshire representation on CSGN Board • Regional partnership liaison

17. Sharing of best practice and ideas • Forum for ideas and research • Advice from 19 LAs, SNH, FCS, GS, CSFT, Regional Partnerships, NGOs • Publications, advice and pilot studies

18. Additional resources • CSGN Development Fund (£1.4m) • Prioritisation of existing funds (e.g. SNH grant, SRDP) • Development of large scale external funding bids (Big Lottery, LIFE+)

19. CSGN Development Fund 2010/11Ayrshire awards (£105k) • Windfarm and Forest Path Networks Feasibility Study (South Ayrshire Council, £25k) • Irvine Bay green network plan (URC, £20k) • Cumnock/Auchinleck regeneration site (East Ayrshire Woodlands, £7.9K) • Environmental Quality and Woodland & Forestry(Ayrshire JPU, £17k) • Ayrshire green network implementation (Ayrshire JPU, £23k) • Parkhouse Cutting, Ardrossan (Sustrans, £13k)

20. CSGN Development Fund 2010/11CSGN-wide awards (£210k) • Woodland creation (SAC, £16k) • CSGN Community Woodland prize (Finest Woods Award, £5k) • Native Woodland promotion (Woodland Trust, £45K) • Native Woodland creation(Scottish Woodlands, £14k) • Biomass energy projects (CSFT, £35k) • Community Land Bank (Fed. Of City Farms/Comm. Gdns, £19k) • Health and education greenspace study (CSGN SU, £25k) • CSGN IHN/Biodiversity development (CSGN SU, £35k) • CSGN Orchard mapping (Crispin Hayes, £18k) • Brownfield biodiversity (Buglife, £16k)

21. Questions • How should South Ayrshire deliver this national priority – local partnership or pan-Ayrshire partnership? • What would be the role for the sustainability partnership? • What projects should be developed for next year’s CSGN development Fund?