Nàdair Support Services Projects
ISLA European Islands Project
Fish Farm Relocation Grant Scheme
Isle of Kerrera Sustainable Development Plan
Loch Awe Fishery Management Plan
Dunstaffnage Music Festival
Oronsay Priory
Tigh an Rois
Enterprising Communities Conference
Luing Museum sustainability plan
Bun Othan Harbour development
Scottish Islands Federation
Argyll Islands Woodlands Partnership
The ISLA European Island’s Project 2004-2008
A Meaningful Role for Islands in the Spatial Development of North West Europe
Partners
Shetland Amenity Trust, Scotland
Conservatoire de l’espace littoral et des rivages lacustres, France
Bere Island Projects Group, Ireland
Argyll & Bute Council, Scotland
Background
Argyll and Bute Council, working in partnership with the Nàdair, is participating in the 3 year ISLA project, along with organisations from the Netherlands, France, Ireland and the Shetland Islands. The project aims to enhance the social and economic wellbeing of island communities across North West Europe, while preserving their unique natural and cultural heritage. ISLA is supported through the INTERREG IIIB European funding programme.
The programme revolves around 3 main themes:
- Facilitating and bridging role of government in small island settings
- Sustainable island tourism development
- Restoring and maintaining the cultural and natural landscape
ISLA is working to identify best-practice solutions for sustainable island development, and is testing a range of actions in the partner countries. Studies, conferences and exchange visits enable in-depth evaluation of solutions, and promote sharing of experience and information. It is envisioned that the project will build a permanent network of professionals and communities working on issues of island sustainability in NW Europe.
Demonstration Projects
Each of the ISLA partners is implementing a ‘demonstration project’ at a local level. Argyll and Bute Council and the Nàdair Trust have included a package of 4 projects as the Argyll Islands contribution to ISLA, selected from the Heritage Lottery Fund supported Nàdair 2 programme. These projects are:
Argyll & Bute Demonstration Projects:
- Gigha Heritage Gardens
Local Partner - Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust
Renovate a 20 hectare historic garden and internationally recognised plant collection to develop it as a tourism enterprise, wholly owned and managed by the Gigha Island community - Lismore Gaelic Heritage Museum
Local Partner -Comann Eachdraidh Lios Mor
Build a new museum facility to act as a hub for island heritage interpretation and activities, and provide a permanent home for the archives of the Lismore Historical Society - Islay RSPB Reserves
Local Partner – RSPB Scotland
Implement appropriate land management to conserve and expand wildlife habitats. Provide new and upgraded interpretation and visitor facilities. - Wildlife from the Boat
Local Partner – Argyll & Bute Council
Develop and deliver strategies for regional marine heritage protection, interpretation and visitor management.
Benefits for local partners
Involvement in the ISLA project is bringing a range of benefits to the local partners. The total project value is €6,432,951, with a contribution of 48% from European Funds. A range of trans-national activities is fully funded through the project, and each local demonstration project receives a match funding contribution from ISLA. In the case of the Argyll Islands, the match funding contribution amounts to approximately €300,000, which is allocated by Argyll and Bute Council to the relevant Nàdair projects. ISLA is providing significant added value for those involved, with opportunities to take part in meetings, workshops, conferences and site visits, as well as funding for jointly commissioned studies and reports from external experts.
Demonstration projects – European Partners:
The demonstration projects put forward by the other ISLA partners are:
- Tiengemeten (Netherlands)
Redevelop a formerly intensively farmed island landscape for nature conservation and public access. - Shetland Islands (UK)
Develop a visitor orientation and management scheme for cultural heritage sites, including a central orientation centre, and works to improve access and interpretation at sites around the islands. - Iroise Archipelago (France)
Develop sustainable agri-tourism through the restoration of an abandoned farm for tourist accommodation and as an organic farming enterprise. Provision of a visitor centre and improvements to access. - Bere Island (Ireland)
Restore a former school house to create a multifunctional facility accommodating heritage interpretation, visitor services, exhibitions and a range of community functions.
Fish Farm Relocation Scheme Topˆ
This grant scheme addresses one of the key the priorities for action under the Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture. It aims to promote the relocation of poorly sited fish farms for environmental benefit and to protect wild fisheries. The scheme is managed by the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD). Nàdair Support Services provides local grant administration and support for the scheme in Argyll.
Enquiries concerning the Relocation Scheme should be directed in the first instance to:-
Bryan Wallis
Tel: 0131 244-3599 07767 325430
email : bryan.wallis@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
or
Judith White
Tel: 0131 244-6370
email : judith.white@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Isle of Kerrera Sustainable Development Plan Topˆ
The Atlantic Islands of Argyll are recognised as being fragile, remote and peripheral. They experience very specific sustainable development challenges directly related to their geographical location including low GDP, poor accessibility and very high out migration, particularly of young people.
Kerrera, whilst closer to the mainland than some of the other islands, shares all of the problems of declining population, accessibility and limited economic opportunity. Perhaps due to its inshore location, the island has traditionally had little investment in infrastructure.
The principle aim of this project is to empower the island community to take forward ideas for improving their quality of life. A community-led Sustainable Development Plan will act as a catalyst for regeneration and positive community action.
Nàdair is working closely with the Isle of Kerrera Residents Association to help develop and raise funds for this project. A total of £33,000 has now been awarded by the Big Lottery, Argyll & Bute Council, WHELK Leader +, Communities Scotland and a private charitable trust. The Isle of Kerrera Sustainable Development Plan will be published in 2007, and will set in motion a number of key actions to benefit the community, and enhance visitor experience.
Loch Awe Fishery Management PlanTopˆ
Loch Awe Improvement Association (LAIA) manages the fisheries resources of Loch Awe and Loch Avich within the Awe catchment area of Argyll. LAIA has a five year strategic plan designed to provide a management framework that will protect, conserve, and enhance all native fish populations and related habitats of Loch Awe for the benefit of local biodiversity and the fisheries resource. Nàdair is working in partnership with LAIA, Argyll Fisheries Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage and Argyll and the Isles Enterprise to secure funding to allow the plan to proceed, to the benefit of the local community and the natural heritage of the area.
Dunstaffnage Music FestivalTopˆ
The Dunstaffnage Music Festival began as a small local event in the summer of 1992. Since then it has grown each year, and in 2006 it moved to Dunbeg, near Oban, where three stages catered to an audience of approximately 2000. The festival makes a significant contribution to promoting local tourism, as well as showcasing the best of local culture and produce.
Nàdair is assisting the festival organisers with the development of a funding package to support the 2007 festival, which will bring together a diverse range of music including jazz, reggae, contemporary, Celtic, electronic, funk and soul, and is expected to attract approximately 4000 visitors on each day of the two day event.
Oronsay PrioryTopˆ
The beautiful Augustinian Priory on the tidal Island of Oronsay has been subject to several attempts to preserve its fabric within the last century. When these earlier works were undertaken, limited knowledge of conservation techniques was available, and some of the work actually accelerated the rate of deterioration. The Nàdair 1 Argyll Islands Programme (2001-05) funded a team of skilled stonemasons to consolidate the most exposed and deteriorated parts of the priory - but more work is urgently needed. Nàdair is now assisting with the development of a new phase, which will be delivered during 2007-2008. This phase will contribute to stabilising the fabric of the priory, as well as conserving and presenting the significant collection Oronsay carved stones.
Tigh an Rois Topˆ
Since 2000, the Ross of Mull Historical Centre (RoMHC) has operated from a portacabin on the western edge of Bunessan, Isle of Mull. The portacabin's size and the age have now made it unsuitable for the centre’s work and the expectations of the public and visitors to the area.
Working with Nàdair, RoMHC has put together a project to develop two historic buildings in Bunessan, Millbrae Cottage and the Old Corn Mill, to establish a permanent small museum to exhibit heritage artifacts alongside photographic, written and interactive displays. This project has now been incorporated into the existing Nàdair 2 programme.
Enterprising Communities Conference Topˆ
The Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS) is the the national body for development trusts in Scotland.
Development trusts offer a fresh approach to community regeneration. Independent and under community control, these organisations draw together the energy, commitment and creativity of local people to tackle local issues. Through enterprise and the ownership of local assets, development trusts address the economic, social, cultural and environmental needs of their communities.
In November 2005 Nàdair organised the highly successful DTAS ‘Enterprising Communities’ conference in Oban. The event was open to all community organisations with an interest in reducing grant dependency and earning a sustainable income, and attracted 60 delegates from around Scotland.
Luing Museum Sustainability Plan Topˆ
The Isle of Luing Community Trust plans to build a small museum and archive in the village of Cullipool to make the heritage of this historic slate quarrying island more accessible to visitors. As part of the planning process Nàdair helped the community to develop financial projections to assess and demonstrate the ongoing sustainability of the project. This assistance was commissioned from Nàdair by Argyll and the Isles Enterprise.
Bun Othan Harbour Development Topˆ
A number of improvements have already been carried out to allow people to fish, swim or view the area’s many forms of sea and bird life. With assistance from Nàdair, the association has now developed a project to create 300 yards of path linking the two ends of the village, and to provide picnic areas and interpretation boards. This project has now been incorporated into the existing Nàdair 2 programme.
Scottish Islands Federation Topˆ
The Scottish Islands Network (now known as the Scottish Islands Federation) was formed in March 2001 to provide a forum for the exchange of information and ideas about island issues. Approx. 1,000 people signed up to receive the network newsletter, which ceased circulation in mid 2005 due to lack of funding. In 2006 a new Management Committee of island representatives, including Nàdair’s Eleanor Shaw was formed.
At present the Network is a loose association of people with a shared interest in Scottish island issues. In other part of Europe small islands have been very successful in developing formal representative bodies to address shared concerns, and to champion the special issues of islands in the wider political arena. Learning from their experience, the Scottish Islands Federation is proposing a similar community-led model to create an effective and united voice for islanders in Scotland.
Key representatives from island communities, agencies and local and national government will be invited to a conference in 2007 to discuss and agree the formation of a permanent and inclusive body representing the interests of all Scottish Islands.The conference will be preceded by a period of consultation on the proposed structure and remit of the new body. Further details of both the consultation process and the conference will be posted as they become available. If you would like to participate in either please contact us.
Argyll Islands Woodlands Partnership Topˆ
This partnership aims to expand and improve native woodland habitat networks in the Argyll Islands. Key objectives relate both to biodiversity and rural development, with a focus on sustainable land management and the growing ecotourism sector. The Steering Group includes the Nàdair Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage Mull and Iona Community Trust(MICT), the Forestry Commission and Forest Enterprise. Key input has also been provided by Reforesting Scotland and Forest Research.
A formal analysis of the potential for native woodland network development on the Argyll Islands was carried out in 2006. The study concluded that there was good potential to at least double the area of high quality networked native woodland on the Argyll Islands without compromising other ecological and social sensitivities.
The next stage of the project will be a 'pathfinder' phase based on the Isle of Mull, and taken forward by a short term (2 year) appointment of a project officer. The Project Officer will undertake 'ground truth' work based on the previous ecological analyses, and will set up best practice demonstrations for habitat recovery. The main output from this appointment will be to assemble a compelling case with firm proposals for the introduction of special supplementary funding measures through the Scottish Executive's Land Management Contract arrangements.