Edinburgh Greenspace Project Wins Landscape Accolade

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Created: Friday, 07 December 2012 00:00

A project which has been instrumental in bringing innovative and practicable solutions for vacant and derelict land to the forefront has been honoured in the prestigious Landscape Institute Awards 2012.

Optimised Environments (OPEN) scooped the Strategic Landscape Planning award for its pilot temporary greenspace study, which it conducted in partnership with the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT), following the Trust’s successful funding application to the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) Development Fund.

The feasibility and mapping research study aimed to explore the potential for bringing vacant, derelict, and ‘stalled’ land back into beneficial use in the short or medium term, by using the spaces as temporary greenspace sites and other interim land uses.

OPEN identified actions which achieve environmental and social benefits and proposed landscape solutions that are fundable and maintainable on a temporary yet self-sustaining basis.

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CSGN Development Fund 2013-2015 Launched

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Created: Tuesday, 04 December 2012 00:00

Funding Available for Growing Central Belt's Greenspace

Strategic greenspace improvement projects in Central Scotland can now benefit from a share of an additional £270,000 following an extension to the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) Development Fund.

The CSGN is Europe’s largest greenspace initiative which seeks to transform Central Scotland into a place where the environment adds value to the economy and where people’s lives are enriched by its quality.

Organisations in the central belt seeking to deliver strategic projects which promote healthier lifestyles and enhance the local environment within the CSGN geographic area can apply for a share of the funding available to new projects.

Successful applications will join around 20 existing projects already sharing over £600,000 previously allocated by Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Scottish Government in the previous round of the CSGN Development Fund.

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Scottish Green Roof Forum Guidance

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Created: Tuesday, 27 November 2012 15:14

The Scottish Green Roof Forum has produced an information and guidance pamphlet on Green Roofs in Scotland. The guide is designed to answer some of the frequently asked questions surrounding green roofs, details the benefits of green roofs and explains the basic requirements of the roofs, including maintenance.

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CSGN Support Unit News

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Created: Sunday, 25 November 2012 20:06

Congratulations to Abigail Page, GIS & Data Manger for the CSGN Support Unit, who has been elected to the UK Council for the Association of Geographic Information (AGI). The AGI exists to represent the interests of the UK's GI industry; a wide-ranging group of public and private sector organisations, suppliers of GI software, hardware, data and services, consultants, academics and interested individuals.

Abigail has been an active member of the AGI for several years, including a representative on the Environmental Special Interest Group and member of the AGI Scotland Executive Board. The election involved the entire UK membership and consisted of some particularly strong candidates from a range of organisations.

Abigail joins the AGI Council from Janaury 2013 to serve for a three year period.

New Project Officer for Ayrshire Green Network

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Created: Sunday, 25 November 2012 20:02

The Ayrshire Green Network Partnership has recently appointed Sarah Bowman as the Ayrshire Green Network Project Co-ordinator. She will lead on delivering the CSGN aims within the Ayrshire area by developing the partnership and working with delivery bodies. Sarah is based in the Ayrshire Joint Planning Unit in Prestwick and can be contacted on 01292 673 769 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

East Ayrshire LDP Consulation on MIR

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Created: Sunday, 25 November 2012 19:28

East Ayrshire Council are currently consulting on the Main Issues Report of their Local Development Plan. They would welcome your views on the issues raised and will be holding a series of consultation events.

The Main Issues Report sets out the key areas of change in land use terms facing East Ayrshire, and presents options for their future development.  The MIR and the responses to the consultation will be key to shaping the strategies, policies and sites to be included within the Proposed Plan, the next stage of the plan making process.

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Plantlife Save Our Magnificent Meadows online Survey

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Created: Sunday, 25 November 2012 19:23

Plantlife is leading a national partnership working together to save the remaining wildflower meadows and grasslands in key areas of the UK. Nationally, only 2% of the meadows and grasslands that existed in the 1930s survive today - we've brought together a partnership of conservation organisations and local authorities to protect the remaining fragments in key areas and raise awareness of their importance and their plight.

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