Cultenhove Greenspace Study

1. Cultenhove Greenspace Study • SUMMARY • This project highlights how local communities can work in partnership with key partners to improve the quality of their environment, and shows how greenspace improvements can help improve health and mental well-being. • Organisations and society are increasingly looking to achieve “more with less”, and this study has shown how that can be achieved, and how partnership working is key to that success. • Key contact: Isla Campbell, Operations Officer, SNH Tel: 01786 435374 Email: isla.campbell@snh.gov.uk • BACKGROUND • The area: Cultenhove is an area to the north of Stirling City Centre; it is one of Scotland’s 5% most deprived areas (SIMD 2012) and faces many economic, social and physical challenges. • Key Partners: COP (local community group), Stirling Council and Forth Environment Link • Aim: (1) to find out how greenspace improvements have been carried out in Cultenhove(2) to find out about the ‘journey’ the community and key partners have taken which has led to these greenspace improvements. • HOW WE DID IT • How was change made? Over the last 10 years the community has gradually worked to improve the area, developing strong links with Stirling Council. COP have also played an important role in trying to influence policy on greenspace within Cultenhove. • Activities: Community Action Days, Tree Brashing, Litter Pick-ups, Building Bird Boxes, Children’s Treasure Hunt, Potato Day • Policy: (1) COP pushed for the ‘Cultenhove Green & Open Space Development Plan to be produced (2007/08). (2)In 2010 ‘Cultenhove Regeneration Masterplan’ and ‘Green & Open Space Framework’ were revised collaboratively by Stirling Council and COP as a Development Plan Framework. (3)In 2011 the Development Plan Framework was incorporated into the Local Development Plan as part of Supplementary Guidance. • NEXT STEPS • Work commences on a Community Park (lottery funded). The park will have four distinct areas: a community garden, a grass kick-around, a woodland, and an improved MUGA. There will be lots of opportunities for volunteering, outdoor education, and socialising, and there will be various activities taking place in the park throughout the year. • SNH’s next steps – Roll out the lessons learnt to other areas within the CSGN. Look at how we can help communities to develop their greenspaces. • WHAT WE LEARNED • Whilst most of the issues affecting deprived communities, such as unemployment, health and poor housing can be too big for communities to get to grips with, local greenspaces provide opportunities at a scale that allows them to have an impact on these issues. • Local greenspace can have a very direct and tangible impact on peoples quality of life. • Improvements to greenspace take time – you need to work with communities and build up durable working relationships. Volunteers tidying up the woodland