Communities joined APRS and Planning Democracy at Palacerigg Country Park to discuss biodiversity and the planning system. The event came at the end of our Winter webinar series and we had talks, workshops and discussions.
Summary
This in-person gathering ran at the end of our series of four webinars on the subject of Biodiversity and Planning. One of the key aims was to have plenty of time to chat informally, answer the many questions that arose during the webinars, and spend time meeting other people who are interested in the same issues and share experiences. There were groups present from all over Scotland and as far afield as Arran and Aberdeen.
Participants at a workshop discuss protecting local biodiversity sites
During a workshop on using i-Record, Tess Jones of Badenoch and Strathspey Conservation Group demonstrates the value of old fence-posts for bryophyte biodiversity.
Paul Ede, Planner, on the panel answering our questions formed from the webinars and the day itself.
Beryl Leatherland of CLP Action speaks to Nikki Sinclair of APRS during the workshop on Tree Recording
A workshop group getting to grips with nature recording using the app i-Record
Useful Links from the event
Planning Democracy’s I am not a NIMBY film
Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland, Scottish Land Commission and Environmental Standards Scotland – for issues re common land and concerns surrounding the effectiveness of environmental law and enforcement gaps
Community Rights to Buy: an overview
CIEEM Code of Professional Conduct
APRS Advice Note: The Scottish Planning System
APRS Community Guidance on LDPs
Nature Scot Guidance on Protected Species – this webpage gives link to an A-Z guidance for hundreds of protected species, including summaries of offences in relation to each
National Library of Scotland maps – this has an section on historic maps – this can be handy for previous habitat identification
The Woodland Trust Ancient Tree Inventory
Feedback from participants after the event
Date and Place
22 March 10am-4pm
The event was hosted by community group Palacerigg Community Trust who have recently taken over the facilities at the visitor centre. They have been closed since before covid and we were the first group to use the community-owned facilities (which were still mid re-furbishment).
Aims of the day
We had a number of aims for the day to help us tie together such a successful webinar series.
- A space for attendees of the webinars to meet in person, and find opportunities for collaboration and learn from each other
- A space to expand on some of the questions that have been asked and a space for more in depth discussion and questions to some of the speakers
- An opportunity for practical workshops on, for example, wildlife recording, to take place in nearby green space.
- Above all, plenty of time for people to mingle and meet each other, form networks and future collaborations
Agenda
| Time | Description | Who |
| 10am | Arrival and Coffee | |
| 1030am | Welcome and Plan for the Day | Kat Jones, APRS |
| 1035am | A whistle stop roundup of what we heard about in the webinars, some of the key learning points, and key areas we want to cover today in more depth | Clare Symonds, Planning Democracy |
| 1055am | Workshop – Biological Recording Aimée will lead this workshop starting with a talk to everyone and then splitting into small groups for fieldwork in the Country Park. | Aimée Moretti, Senior Project Officer, The Conservation Volunteers |
| 12:00 | Open Workshop In this session we will get to choose two subject areas from the webinars to look at in more depth, share your own experiences, and meet others. We will have a specialist and a facilitator/note taker on each table. | Group 1: How biological data is used in Planning: with ecologist Irene Tierney of CIEEM. Group 2: Recording biological data in your local area: with Tessa Jones, Badenoch and Strathspey Conservation Group |
| 13:00 | During lunch – networking area set up in main room. Bring a picnic lunch | Tables available for literature/posters/info. Please bring materials if you have them. Time for networking. Planner Paul Ede will hold a surgery with bookable slots for individuals |
| 1400 | Outdoor workshops Group 1: Practical elements of local recording. Group1: Recording your notable and veteran trees and how this can help in your campaign. Also – in tea and coffee area – Bookable 121 slots to answer planning questions in more detail. | Tessa Jones of Badenoch and Strathspey conservation group Cat McKay of Save Kingsmeadows Planner Paul Ede, Place at the Table |
| 3pm | Panel discussion chaired by Clare Symonds | John Esslemont, former Planner, Nikki Sinclair, APRS, Irene Tierney CIEEM, and others TBC |
| 355pm | Thank you and what’s next |
