The Southern Uplands Partnership Business Plan
April 2008

Pan-regional projects
Communities on the Edge (COTE)
COTE was one of 15 projects from across Europe which featured in the recent Best Practice publication and was runner-up in the recent Dumfries &Galloway Leader+ awards. Following a meeting with a representative of Dumfries & Galloway Council in December we believe there may be potential to expand this successful and fee earning project further into Ireland and possibly Ayrshire with European Inter-reg funding. Contact has been made with the Scottish grant manager who has instigated a partner search in Ireland, a meeting is planned in March.

Biosphere
SUP was commissioned to raise awareness of the potential of Biosphere designation in the Galloway/Ayrshire region and to collect local opinions on the value of applying to UNESCO for Biosphere status in 2007. The final report was submitted in October and a trip to the Cevennes took place in early November. The final report is now available on the SUP website and a DVD of the trip should be available shortly. An economic and social appraisal will be commissioned by the Biosphere Steering Group which will be the basis of further development.

Farm Diversification
SUP is working with four farm businesses to assist them to develop business plans for diversified farm enterprises as part of the New Options for Farm Incomes pilot project. The project is drawing to a close with the preparation of a diversification toolkit underway. A meeting has been held to learn from the South Lanarkshire "Managing Change" project and the Borders Foundation for Rural Sustainability Farm Venture Group initiative so points can be built into the final report. The project should be completed in April.

Squirrels
This project aims to maintain red squirrel refuge woodlands where viable populations of reds can persist in the southern Borders and Dumfries & Galloway. This is done by employing an officer who is working with foresters, agencies and the public. The current phase has been extended in the Borders thanks to a 6 month contract from SNH. Much effort has had to be put into developing a further phase of the project. This has required liaison with the European Squirrel Initiative, local and English groups and others. Richards Wales, our Conservation Officer, has h as been a two month extension to his contract to allow further effort to go into fund-raising. SUP continues to employ a Conservation Officer on behalf of the Ayrshire Red Squirrel Group. Two Squirrelpox Monitoring Officers are employed to monitor and seek to prevent the spread of the squirrelpox virus into Scotland by the targeted control of grey squirrels. These officers continue to deal very effectively with an outbreak of squirrel pox near Lockerbie and also a possible case in Innerleithen. SNH have approved an extension of the two contracts through to March 2009.

Co-ordination of rural business and social development
Shared Office Project
A prospectus and design feasibility study have been produced for this project, meetings have been held with several possible landowning partners. Both reports can be accessed on the Publications page of the SUP website. Awareness of the project has been raised with the local Enterprise Companies and a meeting to discuss links to the Competitiveness strategy is timetabled for April.

Homecoming 2009
Homecoming 2009 is looking for project ideas and we have submitted one proposal based on Southern Upland Way and been asked to front a second based on Walking Festivals in the Borders.

We have also been asked to assist with a further stage of the Cheviot Hills access (cross border access into the Northumberland National Park) project by employing Roger Hemming for some additional hours - which will be funded by the Northumberland National Park Authority. We will be paid a small fee for this work.

Completed projects:
Black Grouse Project
Project to halt the decline in the black grouse in the eastern southern uplands by working with key landowners and agencies and to develop a large scale upland restoration project.

The original project is now complete and Tom Adamson has left. Efforts to extend it to something bigger are continuing in partnership with BFT and Tweed Forum. £10k is currently on offer from RSPB to help get the 14 management plans produced by the project implemented under the new RDC scheme.

Cheviot Hills Audit
Work on the audit in Scotland has now been completed. The NNPA is keen to see the approach extended to cover the English side of the border and there may be a role here for SUP.

S. Scotland Countryside Trails 2
Feasibility work on an Annandale Link extension has been completed but the route has turned out to be problematic due to an unstable slope.

New Rural Apprenticeships
A Borders/S Lanarks project to commission a study into existing provision for rural skills training in the light of forthcoming changes to rural development support and CAP reform.

Local Food Local Plates
Study to look into adding value to beef and lamb produced in Dumfries & Galloway. Contract awarded to Adam Wellings Consulting & Grassroots Food Network has been completed. The report has been published on the SUP webwite and circulated to members of SEDG Planning to Succeed farming groups.

Nature-based Tourism
Work undertaken to map Nature Based Tourism potential, pamphlet produced and published on web to promote clustering. NBT has now been mainstreamed as part of VisitScotland strategy.

Southern Upland Way
Coordination of a user survey and 21st anniversary celebrations, input to application for funding to employ a Development Officer, post filled and as a result SUP coordination is no longer required.

South of Scotland Countryside Trails
Network of multi use trails across regional boundaries, managed, project complete.

RDR consultation
Response drafted on behalf of D&G, Leader+, LAG. Completed May 2005.

Mountain Hares
Study into the current status of the species in the S Uplands completed May 2005.

The Southern Uplands Book and Website
Website developed and updated, booklet and bookmarks completed and now being circulated.

Equestrian Tourism
Input to market research contract, organized seminar took place in November 2004 (chaired by Ian Stark) - Riders Welcome scheme was launched at the same event, pamphlet published on requirements to for trail riding business.

Woodfuel
Very successful trip to Keilder Village heating scheme on the 22nd September and Community Benefit event held at Tweed Horizons in November 04.

Bracken
A 2 day bracken management seminar took place in Northumberland in July (13th and 14th ) organised by the International Bracken Group. The SUP was promoted at this event.

CAP Reform seminars.
Seminars arranged on behalf of SEERAD and WWFN. These took place Nov/Dec 2003.

Jobs study
Results published 2001.

Food Seminars
Seminars held in Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Carfraemill)

Environmental Education
Lecture at Bowhill. (Buccleuch Estates) Text published 2000.

Integrated Rural Development
Conference held October 2001.

Foot and Mouth 'Lessons Learnt'
Seminar held in Dumfries Sept 2002.

Green labeling
Report finalised and on website.

Environment and Tourism Recovery Grant Scheme.

Bracken Management booklet
Published April 2001. Reprinted February 2003 thanks to support from SNH.