The
Southern Uplands Partnership Business Plan
Project
Report July-September 2008
Communities on the Edge (COTE)
Objectives: to work with three communities (Langholm, Douglas
and Yetholm) and three rural estate businesses (Buccleuch, Douglas & Angus
and Roxburghe Estates respectively) to identify opportunities for new
rural enterprises and to encourage development of these. This
project was extended with funding from Carnegie UK but will finish
in December. Elements of the project may be picked-up under future
initiatives. Work is now in hand to develop a handbook for community
animators.
Homecoming 2009
Objectives: to grow the Borders Walking Festivals into a bigger
and more self-sustaining event over two years. It is hoped that in
year two there may be an opportunity to link to similar events in Dumfries & Galloway
and South Lanarkshire. (Funded by Leader, Scottish Borders
Council, Homecoming Fund and SNH)
Squirrels
Objectives: to conserve red squirrels in South Scotland. The
fourth phase of Red Squirrels in South Scotland has started with support
from the European Squirrel Initiative. Stephanie Meyer-Gleaves has
been employed by SUP for one year as Project Officer to work alongside
the Scottish Wildlife Trust project to deliver the action plan in South
Scotland.
Shared Office project
Objectives: to develop a shared office resource and low carbon building demonstration unit in the Southern Uplands. A site has been identified by Buccleuch Estates at Canonbie and Langholm Initiative has agreed to be a ‘project partner’. Feasibility funding has been applied for. There has been positive coverage of the project in the Southern Reporter.
Project Development
Work is on-going on partnership projects relating to rural cluster
development, community energy project facilitation, composting and
food/landscape interpretation. More news on these in
future newsletters.
Input to other initiatives
Working Countryside Theme Team of the Borders Community Plan,
South Lanarkshire Rural Partnership, Nith and Stewartry Local Rural
Partnerships, The Scottish Sustainable Development Forum, Leeds University
over the Future Moorlands project, Dumfries & Galloway Sustainable
