1. Greenhead Moss Communitv Trust

1 .I. Composition of Organisation

Greenhead Moss Community Trust was established in July 1999 to enable the community to lead on the development and continued management of Greenhead Moss Community Nature Park.

The community trust currently has a membership of over one hundred and twenty ordinary and family members. The community trust’s board of directors, who have primary responsibility for engaging trust members in the development and management of the community nature park, comprises of: 0 2 local Councillors 0 7 elected representatives from the local community 0 2 representatives from North Lanarkshire Council 0 1 representative from Scottish Natural Heritage 0 1 representative from Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire

1 representative from Central Scotland Forest Trust

In view of its role in the management and development of the community nature park, Greenhead Moss Community Trust is a non-profit making company limited by guarantee and with charitable status.

1.2. Organisational Aims and Objectives

The primary purpose of Greenhead Moss Community Trust is to direct the continued improvement and management of Greenhead Moss Community Nature Park by: 0 Developing and managing plans for the nature park in accordance with

community priorities and environmental needs 0 Securing and managing funding and resources to enable the ongoing

development and operational management of the nature park 0 Developing local partnership to support the management of the nature park 0 Developing park based initiatives and programmes that maximise the social,

economic and environmental benefits of the nature park

The community trust’s objects, as contained within the trust’s Memorandum of Association, are to: 0 Advance the education of the general public by promoting awareness of the

environment of Greenhead Moss as a natural habitat 0 Advance the education of the general public through providing skills training and

educational resources 0 Advance the education of the general public through the promotion of the

principles of prudent use in the environmental management of Greenhead Moss and its environs

0 Advance the provision and management of facilities at Greenhead Moss (including sustainable public access provision) for recreation or other leisure time occupation for the general public, and in particular, the inhabitants of North Lanarkshire Improve, protect and manage the environment of Greenhead Moss, including its flora and fauna, by its reclamation, remediation, restoration or any other operation intended to facilitate the educational, recreational or environmental use of Greenhead Moss (where such use has been prevented or restricted because of a previous activity on Greenhead Moss)

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0 Prevent and reduce any potential pollution that may be caused, or, remedy or mitigate the effects of any such pollution that has been caused by previous activity on Greenhead Moss Protect the environment by encouraging the use of more sustainable waste management practices Protect the environment of Greenhead Moss by the provision, maintenance or improvement of this site

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Proiect Summary

2.1. Context

Greenhead Moss Community Nature Park, situated on the east edge of Wishaw (North Lanarkshire) and extending to over 110 hectares in size, is a former derelict land site that has been developed through ERDF and local partnership funding. The nature park is located within an area which has a high social and economic deprivation index level (especially in relation to employment, education and health) and lies directly adjacent to and primarily (although not solely) services community areas in North Lanarkshire SIP.

From the outset of this regeneration project, the development of the nature park has not only been about reducing North Lanarkshire’s extensive land dereliction problems but has also focused on: 0 Addressing key social inclusion issues apparent within surrounding areas 0 Providing resources and facilities that support North Lanarkshire’s Community

Plan and economic policy priorities 0 Developing infrastructure and capacity for effective and sustainable communities.

1.3. Project Background

Greenhead Moss Community Nature Park formerly comprised of a remnant area of lowland raised mire which had suffered form past peat cutting and mining operations, a 40 hectare local nature reserve (designated in 1992) which held considerable importance as community greenspace and extensive areas of derelict land which had been subject to opencast and landfill operations. A 1996 public enquiry into applications to extend these operations into the nature reserve and raised mire areas of the site highlighted public concern for this greenspace and the need to develop this as a public resource that provided real benefits to the local community. The rejection of these planning applications led to the purchase of the site by North Lanarkshire Council and provided the starting point for the development of the community nature park.

In 1997 North Lanarkshire Council approached Central Scotland Countryside Trust (now Central Scotland Forest Trust) and Scottish Natural Heritage to discuss a sustainable way forward to manage the restoration of this site. In 1998 these discussions were broadened to include Lanarkshire Development Agency (now Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire) who expressed an interest in this area through their Greening Strategy for Vacant and Derelict Land.

In 1999 the Lanarkshire Development Agency submitted a successful ERDF Grant Application to the Western Scotland Resider II Programme to support the restoration of this site. This application proposed that the development of this environmental

resource would not only help address land dereliction issues within the steel communities of Scotland’s Central Belt but would also ‘enhance the image’ of Lanarkshire, ‘reinforce community life’ and create ‘positive futures’ for local communities.

Essential to the success and sustainability of this project was the need to engage and build on the support and aspirations of local communities. This was achieved through the establishment of Greenhead Moss Community Trust in 1999, the partnership organisation (formed from the initial partnership group and representatives of the local community) made responsible for the sustainable development and future management of the Nature Park.

Since its formation, the community trust has been responsible for: 0 Directing the development of the nature park on behalf of the local community

(Greenhead Moss Community Nature Park was formally opened by the European Commisioner for the Environment, Margot Wallstrom, in September 2001) Securing and developing funding packages, partnerships and resources for the ongoing development, management and maintenance of the community nature park Promoting the social, economic and environmental benefits of this scheme through the development of park based programmes and initiatives for; recreation; education; life-long learning; health and fitness; volunteering; skill development; vocational training; and local employment.

The work undertaken by the community trust has begun to address the key objectives of this project. However, the delivery and sustainability of programmes developed by the trust, and as such the full potential of this project as a mechanism for sustainable regeneration, has been limited by the lack of an on-site facility for the nature park. Moreover, the lack of an on-site facility for the community nature park has also impacted on the wider promotion of this site and its development as a visitor attraction.

Thus, critical to maximising the positive aspects of this regeneration scheme is the development of a centre within the nature park which will not only provide facilities to expand the current use and benefits of this project but in itself will constitute an important resource for education, learning, training and community and visitor use.

2. Demand And Needs Analysis

The proposed earthship visitor centre:

0 Immediately borders North Lanarkshire SIP and primarily services wards with high deprivation index levels - especially in relation to income, employment, education and health. Is located within an area which through de-industrialisation over the last twenty years has high levels of vacant and derelict land (North Lanarkshire contains eighteen percent of Scotland’s vacant and derelict land which is primarily concentrated around urban areas such as Motherwell and Wishaw) Is located within an area which has little accessible quality greenspace (the nearest similar facility to the community nature park is located approximately 12 kilometres from this site)

As such, the development of an on-site facility has been primarily driven by local demand and community need. Initially, the local community was engaged in this project through a series of participatory appraisals (involving over four hundred local people) which were used to develop a masterplan for the nature park. Highlighted as a priority within this was the development of a visitor facility and ranger service to promote and enable local access to this site, provide new opportunities for recreation and education and support initiatives for training, skill development and local employment.

The trust has previously researched in depth different options available that would provide a similar function within the nature park. After considerable research on various designs and locations it was decided that the ‘earthship’ concept would provide the most suitable facility that had the least impact in the surrounding land and environment. Also the most cost-effective design, the structure is made largely from recycled and natural materials and constructed using local volunteers instead of traditional external companies. It is hoped that this unique opportunity for community involvement may not only provide new skills but also bring about a sense of com munity owners hip.

3. Proiect Description

4.1 What is an Earthship?

An Earthship is a passive solar building with thermal mass. It is made from natural and recycled materials, including earth-rammed tyres and aluminium cans. It is powered by renewable energy, such as wind, water and solar power, catches its own water supply from rainwater, and treats and contains its own sewage in planter beds. It is a concept, not a set design, and can be adapted for any climate world-wide. It offers people the opportunity to build their own homes and make a conscious decision to live lightly on the earth.

4.2 Proiect Obiectives

The core objective of this project is to develop a sustainable community earthship visitor centre within Greenhead Moss Community Nature Park that will be used to:

Maximise and expand the social, economic and environmental benefits of the existing park infrastructure Develop new opportunities for education, training and skill development and remove barriers to employment Promote and inform on energy efficiency, renewable energy use, recycling and sustainable building design and development Enhance the capacity of the community to lead on the operational management of the nature park Promote community access to the nature park and the local environment Deliver conservation focused programmes that continue to enhance the natural environment and infrastructure of the nature park Facilitate the use of the nature park as a visitor attraction Contribute to the economic sustainability of this wider regeneration project.

4.3 Earthship Function

A key function of the earthship will be to provide facilities and infrastructure to support the pre-vocational, skill development and vocational training programmes being delivered as part of this wider project. The facility will provide a site base to enable local vocational training opportunities to be delivered through supporting the delivery of conservation work volunteering, pre-vocational work training and skill development programmes to local communities and targeted disadvantaged groups through the provision of a toilet, changing facilities etc. (as part of these conservation volunteering and training programmes, the earthship also provides an essential resource for the continued sustainable management and improvement of the environmental infrastructure of this site).

A primary role of the nature park centre will also entail the delivery of education and training programmes for schools and furthedhigher educational establishments. This will be achieved by providing resources and facilities to enhance the study of the nature park environment and the sustainable building and renewable energy elements of the earthship. Moreover, the earthship will also provide facilities to support training through work placement initiatives for schools and local colleges. There are currently no similar projects within the central belt of Scotland which provide this unique educational resource.

The proposed earthship has a sustainable construction design with the use of energy efficient infrastructure and renewable energy technology such as solar power and wind power. The earthship will also have an autonomous water system, an integral part of the earthship concept. Promoted through interactive and static interpretative information, learning packages and demonstration workshops and conference programmes, this infrastructure will be used as a sustainability learning resource for:

Local communities and park visitors 0 Local schools and education establishments

Local community groups and volunteer agencies 0 Agencies such as housing associations, housing services, regionally based

building trade suppliers and contractors, and building design services Energy focused organisations and interest agencies Local authorities

The earthship will provide an on-site base for community nature park officers and trust volunteers. This will enhance the operational management of the earthship visitor centre by the community, provide a site-based contact point for local people and park users and provide interpretative information and facilities to promote community participation in this project and encourage and enhance community access to the nature park. The on-site presence of Nature Park Officers will reduce community concern of anti- social behaviour and vandalism.

The earthship will also provide meeting and changing facilities to support a health walk programme for the nature park. The weekly health walk programme helps address key health and fitness issues that have been identified within the areas surrounding the nature park.

The earthship will also facilitate the visitor use of Greenhead Moss Community Nature Park through the provision of visitor infrastructure and interpretative information. This is especially significant given Scottish Natural Heritage’s national nature reserve review proposal to designate Greenhead Moss as part of a suite of

national nature reserve sites for raised bogs in Lanarkshire, with the site potentially providing a regional focus for raised bog access, visitor interpretation and environmental education.

The earthship will enable the community trust to manage income generation initiatives including a conference and community venue hire facility and guided tours. These income generation initiatives are essential to support the longer-term economic viability of this regeneration project.

Lastly, this unique visitor centre will provide a focal point for this flagship regeneration project which will allow Greenhead Moss Community trust to lead by example of good practice.