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