Timeline

2011 to 2015

  • Carter Bar Heritage Site: The proposed work with University of the Highlands and Islands on the exploration of the feasibility of the view from Carter Bar on the A68 becoming a World Heritage Site has stalled as they were not successful in attracting funding. This idea will be further explored as part of the designations events to be held later this year.
  • Scottish Enterprise Think Piece: At the request of Scottish Enterprise, we produced a paper outlining our thoughts on promoting sustainable economic growth in S Scotland.
  • Stranraer Oyster Festival: SUP was awarded a tender to scope out an Oyster and Seafood Festival for Stranraer BID.
  • Capacity for change (C4C): SUP was requested by LEADER to help the community develop interpretation and seating at Wanlockhead as part of the C4C project.
  • Nature-Based Tourism development: The Wild Seasons project successfully delivered a series of business engagement and development projects and a much-improved website. It also established the first Wild Autumn Festival. Over the last few years, SUP has led a partnership of wildlife managers and businesses in developing the nature-based tourism opportunities that Southern Scotland has to offer. We have coordinated the Borders Nature Festival, Wild Spring and Wild Autumn festivals under the banner of Wild Seasons. Since Wild Seasons funding ended in December 2014, we have continued to work with partners in Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders to get their input into shaping the next project. We are currently assessing the best sources of funding to continue this successful project. (2016).
  • Revitalising the Ettrick and Yarrow Valleys: Feasibility studies and projects funded by LEADER, Investing in Ideas, Buccleuch Estates.
  • Ettrick and Beyond Community Broadband: SUP worked with Community Broadband Scotland and a number of local communities to survey households in a wide area centred on Ettrick that is unlikely to be part of the British Telecom roll out of high-speed broadband. The task has been to scope out the case for, and the scale of, a community broadband project. 700 responses were received.
  • Energy Mapping: Working with the local Community Development Company, SUP tendered and was awarded funding to undertake a pilot energy-potential mapping project for the Ettrick and Yarrow area. This would produce a supplementary layer for the Borders Land Use Strategy pilot showing renewable energy opportunities in the Ettrick and Yarrow Valleys. (2016).
  • Community Broadband: Three events were held with a range of speakers highlighting how communities could link themselves to the superfast network as it roils out.
  • Bugs in Gardens: Project delivered by D&GERC with LEADER and HLF funding. (2012).
  • Cross-Border Trails: Project spanning 5 local authorities on the core-path network and how the networks linked-up.
  • Upland Restoration: Black grouse focussed project ran for three years and developed a number of outputs including a strategy to guide future upland habitat enhancement. Funded by LEADER, SNH, RSPB (2015-16).
  • Off-Site Wind Farm mitigation: SUP hosted an event in Moffat where Planning staff from SBC explained the approach they had taken to off-site mitigation for impacts of wind farm developments on habitats. This was well attended with representatives of 5 other Local Authorities as well as SNH, FCS and RSPB.
  • Farm-based tourism: A joint project with SNH and D&GC looked at the potential of this niche market and the need to establish a cluster of farm tourism businesses.
  • Nature-Based Tourism development in the Nith Estuary.
  • Socio-economic study into possible restoration of the Lochar Mosses: SNH and FCS exploration of the feasibility of removing trees from a number of raised mires in the Nith Estuary. Funded by SNH and Forestry Commission Scotland.
  • On behalf of BCCFEn, we employed Roger Hemming on a short-term contract to collate info on waste recycling initiatives in the Borders: Funded by WRAP. This report is now completed and on the website.
  • Biosphere application: UNESCO application form completed and approved by partners. (2011).