Scotland’s Landscape Alliance (SLA) workshop led event kicked off the second phase of the review of Scotland’s Landscape Charter which has been welcomed by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and the Islands – ‘to reflect significant changes to the Scottish Government’s policy environment since 2010, to highlight Scotland’s commitment to the European Landscape Convention, and to demonstrate commitment to sensitively managing the significant landscape change needed to address the climate and nature emergencies we face’

The review aims to explore the extent to which the current charter has supported effective management of Scotland’s landscapes, and how it might be refreshed to help shape future landscape ambitions and collaborative action in line with the standards set by the European Landscape Convention of the Council of Europe.

The first phase of the review focussed on research and stakeholder consultation on the existing charter and public attitudes to landscape to gather evidence and develop a set of emerging themes. Read here.

This second phase of the review aims to take forward the outputs of the workshop event around these themes to enable a new set of principles to be developed for the Charter.

 Delegates heard from Dr Kat Jones of APRS presenting the key findings of the research and consultation work and four speakers presented inspirational projects from across Scotland demonstrating a landscape led approach with communities at their heart:-

• Inner Forth Futures Project: the last 10 years -Kate Fuller former Project Coordinator and now Senior Programme Manager, Green Action Trust and Climate FORTH: looking forward – James Stead Project Manager –  view here
• Glasgow Canal, Claypits Park – Duncan McLean, Director of Landscape Architecture & Urban Design. LUC – view here
• Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership project – McNabb Laurie, former Team Leader now Coordinator at Dumfries and Galloway Woodlands – view here
• North West 2045 presented via video by Rachel Skene, Project Manager

  The follow up workshop sessions focussed on the four themes gathered from the Phase 1 work:-

• Landscapes for all – community led decision making;
• Landscape for health and wellbeing;
• Landscape and resilience to environmental challenges (climate and biodiversity); and
• Multifunctional landscapes – multiple benefits.

Delegates were asked to respond to set questions about the existing charter (Statement, Vison and Principles) and what was missing in relation to their chosen topic whilst considering the overarching principle of a landscape led approach underpinned by a just transition (in its broadest sense) for communities. Read the summaries and detailed outputs here

SLA Next Steps 

• Analysis of Workshop outputs – charter, format, draft principles
• Document drafting and case studies
• Consultation on updated draft
• Issue revised charter to Minister
• Publication and launch/press event – October 2024, anniversary of ELC