4. Aims and objectives to deliver the Avalon Marshes Landscape Partnership

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1 4. Aims and objectives to deliver the Avalon Marshes Landscape Partnership The Aims and Objectives of the Avalon Marshes Landscape Partnership reflect the issues and requirements of our landscape. They are the broad purposes for the projects and activity supported through the scheme leading to tangible and positive outcomes. This section falls broadly into three segments: 4.1 Vision, aims and objectives of the Avalon Marshes Landscape Partnership 4.2 Aims and Objectives of the Four Themes 4.3 Audiences 4.4 The ethos and approach of the Partnership Detail for this section has been drawn from a number of sources, either formulated in the Development Stage or relevant to it including: Materials from the Community Events held locally The original Stage 1 application The three commissioned plans: o Community and Volunteer o Access and Interpretation o Training Appendix 5 and the accompanying document Full Project Details contain more detailed information about all of the projects and activities covered by the Landscape Partnership. A table indicating how projects match with the Aims and Objectives is contained at the end of the following Section. 4.1 Vision, Aims and Objectives Vision Working in partnership to celebrate the landscape, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Avalon Marshes. The Vision is based on the following factors: The Avalon Marshes is a high quality landscape for farming, wildlife and conservation It has a huge cultural presence and significance from around 6500 years ago to the present day Is a largely man-made landscape that is constantly evolving Attracts growing numbers of local people and tourists reflecting these interests Has a huge and important story to tell As a result the area needs a coordinated approach to sustainably conserve the landscape, habitats, scheduled monuments and heritage features whilst developing good quality and low impact infrastructure to meet the growing demands and numbers of visitors.

2 Aims A1 A2 A3 A4 To conserve and restore key heritage features and assets for environmental benefits and future generations. To tell and celebrate the complete story of the landscape including the future of the wetland, through the participation and enthusiasm of local communities, volunteers and visitors. Sustainably improve access and visitor experiences across the Avalon Marshes, increasing opportunities for exploration, learning and understanding. Embed skills and training in local community enthusiasts and volunteers for personal development, economic benefit and the long-term assistance to management and conservation of the landscape. Objectives O1 O2 O3 O4 O5 O6 O7 O8 O9 O10 Contribute to the restoration of habitat features on a landscape scale, supporting internationally important numbers of breeding and wintering bird populations, alongside, flora, mammals and invertebrates. Contribute to the preservation and protection of key heritage features of the landscape and prehistoric archaeology for future generations Restore sustainable management to reedbeds and investigate sustainable use of cut waste products as a renewable fuel source. Stimulate Agri-environment (Higher Level Stewardship) applications to ensure both natural and cultural heritage is supported. To provide considerably enhanced public access to both the natural and cultural heritage through the provision of new access routes and access infrastructure for diverse user groups. Enable active community participation in heritage through new public engagement activities such as a heritage arts programme, and volunteer programme. Provide new heritage training opportunities in relation to both archaeological heritage and natural heritage, enabling the acquisition of new heritage skills of future benefit to people and the area. Provide new heritage education opportunities for school children, enabling lifelong learning opportunities for all age groups. Contributing to the development of improved visitor facilities for learning, experience and interpretation of the stories of the landscape. Significantly improve and coordinate information provision throughout the Avalon Marshes, to provide consistent and high quality interpretation materials for learning about the landscape.

3 4.2 Aims and Objectives of the Four Themes Each of the four themes and projects within cover a large range of subjects and with differing approaches. They each have relevant aims and objectives that relate directly to activities within them Theme A: Conserving and Restoring Aims AA1 AA2 AA3 AA4 AA5 To maintain the spectacular lowland wetland landscape including historical features, species habitats, scheduled monuments and land quality. To restore habitats in decline where possible and protect the species they support, especially those listed in the Red Data Book. To deliver landscape scale benefits suitable for a lowland wetland, retaining appropriate water levels. To establish long-term benefits for biodiversity and protection of cultural artefacts. To lead by example demonstrating conservation farming options as a viable agricultural model. Objectives OA1 OA2 OA3 OA4 OA5 OA6 OA7 OA8 Bring reedbeds into active management regimes, to reduce invasive scrub and maintain optimum conditions. Purchase machinery that will facilitate suitable long-term active landscape management for the foreseeable future by conservation organisations. Establish mixed land management regimes to benefit conservation and meadow flowering. Halt and reverse the decline of rare lowland raised mire. Create new nesting sites for key species. Facilitate new Higher Level Stewardship agreements for the benefits of both natural and cultural heritage. To bring important built heritage, currently undesignated, into protection as use for protected species. Research and initiate long-term remedial actions to preserve the buried and ancient heritage.

4 4.2.2 Theme B: Increasing Community Participation Aims AB1 AB2 AB3 To enhance appreciation of the Avalon Marshes natural and cultural landscape; its history and wildlife To create support for the ongoing work of the partners and the cultural and natural landscapes they represent, through increased community participation To leave a lasting legacy, physical infrastructure and formalise a community organisation to continue these aspects of the Avalon Marshes Landscape Partnership. Objectives OB1 OB2 OB3 OB4 OB5 Enable active community participation in the volunteer programme to maintain and improve the rich biodiversity of the wildlife habitat Enhance understanding and enable active community participation in the local heritage through new public engagement activities such as a heritage arts programme Provide new heritage and wildlife education opportunities for school children and enable lifelong learning opportunities for all age groups Recognise and celebrate the outstanding natural and cultural heritage of the landscape Contribute to the longer term planning of events and the Hands on Heritage buildings, linking with the potential of the proposed Avalon Marshes Wetland Centre.

5 4.2.3 Theme C: Access and Learning Aims Access AC1 AC2 AC3 To provide access to new and previously inaccessible areas of the Nature Reserves and across the Avalon Marshes, improving the visitor experience. To provide a broader range of opportunities for walkers and cyclists, linking more of the area together. To improve a range of visitor facilities and broaden the appeal of the Avalon Marshes as a result. Learning and interpretation AC4 AC5 AC6 AC7 AC8 AC9 To establish an identity for the Avalon Marshes, and use this to create a sense of place for residents and visitors. To tell the story of all aspects of the Avalon Marshes landscape in the context of the Somerset Levels and Moors To meet the needs of all visitors and promote the marshes as a place for everyone. To encourage people to appreciate the unique value of the landscape and its conservation through an approach that seeks to persuade rather than preach conservation messages To facilitate the involvement of local people and volunteers in telling the marshes story. To increase the visibility and understanding of the marshes historic environment, wildlife in general and key species. Objectives OC1 OC2 OC3 OC4 Create new infrastructure to extend access across reserves and provide links where possible. Upgrade footpaths and work with parishes to enhance the existing footpath network. Work with local cyclists to develop a longer term action plan for infrastructure change, and install new facilities. Increase the visitor facilities and infrastructure at Ashcott Corner, creating more links with the route to Glastonbury. In addition to the broad interpretation aims above, specific and measurable interpretive objectives are proposed as follows: Emotional OC5 As a result of the interpretation, the audiences will feel: Impressed with the richness, diversity and significance of the Avalon Marshes natural and cultural heritage An enhanced impression of the beauty, peacefulness and character of the landscape Immersed in the story of the Avalon Marshes Surprised about what they have encountered or learnt That the Marshes are important to them and need to be protected An appreciation of the unique value of the Avalon Marshes A desire to return or discover more More proud of their heritage (local residents)

6 Behavioural OC6 As a result of the interpretation, the audiences will: Be able to find their way around easily Be encourage towards responsible behaviour (e.g. dog walking, car parking) Be more inclined to visit more than one site across the project area Be more supportive of local businesses such as pubs, café and accommodation Know where to follow any interest further Extend their stay and spend more money locally as a result Be more likely to return Be inspired to volunteer and support the management of the area Recommend the Avalon Marshes as a place to explore to others Learning OC7 As a result of the interpretation the audiences will learn: That the Avalon Marshes are an ever-changing landscape created, manipulated and maintained by our activities The Avalon Marshes are fantastically important for their wetland wildlife, habitats and species More about local produce and sustainable peat alternatives, and show how these issues impact on the environment and landscape More about the partnership of organisations, landowners, staff and the many volunteers who are caring for the marshes The Avalon Marshes are one of the richest archaeological areas in Britain, with a very distinctive social and cultural heritage We all have a part to play in protecting the natural and cultural heritage of the Avalon Marshes

7 4.2.4 Theme D: Training and Skills Aims AD1 AD2 AD3 AD4 AD5 To ensure staff have opportunities to acquire and develop new skills that will benefit the Avalon Marshes Landscape Partnership whilst offering continuing professional development. To offer a range of training courses, apprenticeships and workshops that will equip volunteers and recruits with skills necessary to be of benefit to other projects and for landscape management in the longer term. To offer apprenticeships and a range of training that might be of practical benefit to help those looking to re-skill and / or re-enter employment. To offer training for farmers and land managers that will be of direct practical use and advantage as well as being an effective use of their time. To develop and strengthen links with local schools and colleges to improve recognition and highlight the qualities of the area. Objectives Five main target audiences for the training and education activities have been identified and are indicated in section 4.3 below. For each of these groups, specific training objectives have been applied. Target Group 1 - the staff of the partner organisations concerned with the ongoing management of the project area and its visitors. OD1 Organise specific training opportunities that can provide continuing professional development for staff OD2 Provide training activities that encourages joint working and dialogue between staff in the different organisations OD3 Use the Landscape Partnership funding to organise specific skills training of immediate relevance to the ongoing management of the project area and which are not available at present Target Group 2 - local residents who are concerned about the area and wish to be or can be encouraged to become involved. OD4 Provide attractive training activities that encourages more people to get involved and learn about the area and its management needs OD5 Provide opportunities for local people to obtain qualifications and experience that may assist their employment prospects OD6 Provide training activities for specific groups with needs, such as young unemployed, socially and economically disadvantaged and those in retirement looking for meaningful activity Target Group 3 - local unemployed and underemployed residents. OD7 Provide practical skills that can help the unemployed and underemployed to increase their confidence and qualifications Target Group 4 - local farmers and land managers. OD8 Engage with the local farming community in a way that assists them in their land management OD9 Increase local farmers and land managers knowledge of conservation benefits and to increase their practical skills

8 Target Group 5 - local school children and students from colleges in the immediate area. OD10 Work with local colleges to help them to use the project area to provide education and training of relevance to the environmental and heritage orientated courses they are offering OD11 Provide opportunities for local school children to use the area for curriculum linked learning OD12 Encourage partnerships between the educational establishments and the LP partner organisations environmental and heritage organisations which provide new educational opportunities NB: Target Group 5 and related Objectives relate to the work of the Schools Programme to be developed by the Heritage Education Officer.

9 4.3 Audiences Community and Volunteers Specialists. These will be either visitors who tend to be relatively local people, or regular visitors who have a good knowledge of the site and the wildlife species that can be found there. Arguably the largest group of specialists will be dedicated birdwatchers (many of whom will be members of the partnership organisations such as HOT, SWT or RSPB). This segment may also include those with a specific knowledge of and interest in archaeology, history, bats, butterflies, mammal, botany etc. SWT also have specialist volunteer groups who operate independently of SWT but who are very active in the county and have a wealth of experience and knowledge. These specialists may take a more active role in the development of the partnership and becoming involved as volunteers or in the management issues around the LP area, with the aim of increasing the communities active role in the decision making and management and to act as advocates for the better protection and enhancement of the area. General days out. General recreationalists may have similar interests to specialists and may be drawn to the site by its cultural and environmental heritage. However, they may not have the same level of knowledge as the specialists segments. They may include visitors who have travelled from some distance away or are on holiday and visit the site only occasionally or for the first time (e.g. those who have come on a one off visit to watch the starlings roost). These visitors may be looking simply for a good day out. Engagement will be quite passive and focussed around providing talks, guided walks and other activities with the overall aim being to enhance appreciation of the natural and cultural heritage of the site. Relaxation and recreation. This group will primarily be a local audience. As frequent and regular users it is anticipated that this group may be engaged to participate in the activities and events on offer such as the proposed Wetland Festival and some of the community outreach. o Walkers - mostly local residents who are dog walking or using the reserve for exercise o Cyclists - attracted by the traffic free and flat access routes o Mental wellbeing - those who are accessing the natural environment for personal rejuvenation o Older people often in couples who are often looking for a relatively quiet walk in a pleasant environment Family fun. This segment will be families with young children who are looking for things to do to entertain and amuse everyone. These will primarily be a local audience of families who live in or near the LP area and who are therefore likely to be repeat visitors. The aim here will be to provide opportunities for different levels of community engagement from more passive activities such as talks, guided walks and arts projects to more hands on engagement and active participation. The overall aim being to enhance appreciation of the natural and cultural heritage of the site. Tourists who are staying in the Somerset area and looking for things to do each day. A further sub-segment of this group will be the local small business community who provide tourists with accommodation, attractions and other services (for example specialist firms are using local guides to deliver short holidays in the area see, The aim here will be to engage with businesses to ensure that visitors are aware of the Avalon Marshes area and what it offers and to encourage visits to Shapwick Heath site

10 Education groups. There are two tiers of educational groups. There are those who can use the reserves for curriculum linked education and training and those who seek less formal training. This segment is typically school children at KS1 and 2, though more advanced students may use the area as a base for their field studies. These groups may have a wide catchment area, initially targeting the 80 or schools in the 10 mile catchment around the Avalon Marshes, though a wider catchment from Somerset would not be excluded. A second educational groups (which has an overlap with family groups who access the site for edutainment ) has also been identified. Specifically school groups from the 23 schools in the Avalon Marshes area will be targeted with the proposed arts based projects. There are also links to local colleges. A creative hub. This segment is a diverse group who at one end of the spectrum are professional artists, musicians, writers, crafts-people etc. who draw their inspiration from the cultural and environmental landscape. At the other end of the spectrum will be families, for whom a creative activity provides some entertainment and diversion for a day out. The aim for the latter will be to use arts and crafts base activities as the mechanism to draw them into an appreciation of cultural and environmental heritage of the LP area. Ambassadors within this group may be recruited for community outreach to help deliver the proposed arts programme. Volunteers. Volunteers can be sub-divided into the following segments: o Those looking for work experience or to improve their skills (e.g. student placements, school leavers, career changers etc.) o Those who have an interest and / or specialist experience of a specific topic (e.g. archaeology, birds, general wildlife etc.) o Those who have a particular affiliation with a specific organisation (e.g. RSPB, SWT, HOT etc.) o Young people (in particular at risk groups) o Administrators o Hands on reserve management o Retired volunteers (who may have specific needs if they are unable to undertake heavy physical work) o Volunteers with physical disability o Volunteers with learning difficulties o Volunteers with specific challenges and requirements (e.g. drug and alcohol abusers) o Young families / mothers o There will be other motivations for volunteering such as simply looking for company, using volunteering as an outdoor gym to keep fit and using the activity to unwind and relax.

11 4.3.2 Interpretation audiences informal learning Audience analysis Audience People with a general interest in wildlife and / or heritage, but with no specialist knowledge People with a special interest in bird-watching and other aspects of natural history People with an interest in archaeology and heritage Starling watchers Repeat visitors First time visitors People who live in the Avalon Marshes Families Older people Implications for interpretation This segment represents the largest audience type, who will want easily accessible, stimulating interpretation. They will often be hoping for encounters with the iconic species, and to generally enjoy a visit with a choice of experiences on offer. This audience will have good specialist knowledge in their area of interest, but may know very little about other aspects of the wildlife interest or conservation land management an important opportunity to place their core interest into a wider context. The interpretation will need to include more detailed layers for those with a particular interest. This must be provided in a way that does not inhibit the enjoyment of other audiences. This audience will want to know where and when to see the starlings, and may be curious about their particular story. This audience will particularly value events, interpretation that changes with each visit, and artistic forms such as sculpture which enhance the landscape and sense of place. This audience will have key orientation needs, and will want to know that they arrived in the right place, where to go, and what to see. This audience may know a lot or very little about the rich story of the Marshes, and will often feel a sense of pride, ownership and concern for the landscape. The location, scale and quality of any permanent installations will be of particular concern for this audience. This audience will want to both encounter and seek out interpretation, with a focus on fun activities for children, the encouragement of learning, and inter-generational engagement. This audience will be looking for self guided trails, guided tours and wildlife watching in

12 comfort. The interpretation must be accessible and designed to high standards of sensory and physical access. Seating will also be an important facility for this audience. People with physical, sensory and learning disability Teenagers and young people Schools and other education groups Cyclists and walkers Farmers, landowners and land managers Conservation body members Glastonbury heritage and myth seekers The interpretation must be accessible and designed to high standards of sensory and physical access. The interpretation should include new media options that can make natural and historic heritage exciting for this hard-to-engage audience. The interpretation should dovetail with projects designed specifically to meet learning opportunities in the National Curriculum. This audience will want to have a choice of routes, good orientation, and stimulating interpretation that they happen upon during a cycle ride or walk. This audience will want to know why it is in their interest to manage their land in a conservation-friendly way. This audience will want to understand what their organisation is doing, what their membership fees fund, and how the conservation management is being applied. Communicating with this audience is primarily the responsibility of the conservation bodies. This audience will be particularly drawn to the Glastonbury story any will be curious in the mythological aspects of the Avalon Marshes story.

13 4.3.3 Training and Skills Partner organisation staff Each of the partner conservation organisations is already involved with the management of land and visitors in the Avalon Marshes and they have their own training and staff evaluation processes and limited budgets for staff training. The skills required for managing the heritage resources of the area are described below and most of these skills are already held by one or more of the key staff of each organisation. Staff have annual appraisals and training, conference and workshop attendance and skills development can be requested or recommended as part of this process. Nevertheless there would be value in some key skills being distributed more widely and therefore a number of the specialist courses proposed can be attended by staff of the partner organisations. Local Residents This is the priority target audience for our training activity. We are particularly keen to involve residents from the more deprived wards in Glastonbury and from Bridgwater. This audience can be further sub-divided into the segments identified in the Community and Volunteers section and summarised below: o Specialists o General day out o Relaxation and recreation o Walkers o Cyclists o Mental wellbeing o Older people often in couples o Family fun o Tourists o A creative hub o Volunteers Local Farmers and Land Managers The Landowning Community in the Brue Valley can be broken into the following segments: o Intensive commercial farmers o Part time and elderly livestock farmers o Young entrepreneurial farmers o Non-farming landowners and new landowners Unemployed and underemployed local residents Sedgemoor District has the highest unemployment rate in Somerset and in January % of residents were registered as out of work. There are two local areas in particular where there is disproportionate number of unemployed and underemployed people. These are the wards of Sydenham, Eastover and Victoria in Bridgwater and St Benedicts and St John s wards in Glastonbury. There are of course other unemployed people, and in particular young people throughout the local area. Many traditionally leave the rural areas to find employment or training/education elsewhere. We will make a special effort, together with our training providers to target these areas when promoting the training and volunteering opportunities that the Landscape Partnership will provide. In particular we hope that the Avalon Marshes Diploma being run by Bridgwater College will appeal to some of these unemployed young people. In Glastonbury we will work closely with the Opportunities Shop to promote courses and events. School Children and Students

14 There is a school aged population (5 17 years) of approximately 32,000 in Sedgemoor and Mendip Districts. The present use of the project area by these and other school children is quite well developed, although the closure of the Peat Moors Centre has reduced this significantly in recent years. Other environmental and heritage education facilities providing for day visits from schools within the wider area are: Nettlecombe Court near Minehead managed by the Field Studies Council The Somerset Earth Science Centre near Radstock which concentrates on geology and quarrying Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury Glastonbury Abbey Kilve Court Residential Education Centres (Somerset County Council outdoor activity centres) Charterhouse Centre in the Mendips Magdalen Farm project, near Chard None of these centres will provide the education service which focuses on the wetlands and the archaeological interest that the Levels and Moors area provides. The involvement of the conservation organisations that manage the area also provides a great advantage to the proposed environmental education service that will be developed at and from the Shapwick Heath site.

15 4.4 Ethos and approach Partnership and governance All of the work to be undertaken through the Landscape Partnership is with partner organisations, i.e. those organisations listed within the partnership submitting this Landscape Conservation Action Plan. This group of organisations is currently referred to as the Management Board and meet regularly. These meetings will continue no less than quarterly to review progress of the whole Landscape Partnership Scheme, but also on specific projects. In some cases, it will be necessary to convene a working or steering group to further guide and deliver the individual projects or develop specific pieces of work to progress the work of the Partnership. Examples of this include the Wetland Festival, which will be defined in full by a steering group made up of community representatives and a communications / marketing and interpretation group. The Management Board of the Landscape Partnership are keen to ensure that links with the community and the future of the Landscape Partnership is more inclusive of the interests of the local community and to formalise this. Year 1 will see the Scheme Manager researching models of community trusts or organisations with a view to establishing a suitable option, based on the needs, enthusiasm and guidance of the local communities and representatives who are to be involved. The ambition here is to create a structure that can continue many of the community participation elements. The Avalon Marshes Forum was established to undertake some of the consultation and discussion work to inform the LCAP as part of the Development Stage. This will be continued bi-annually throughout the duration of the scheme to create a point of feedback, discussion, information sharing and further consultation and community decision making. The main governance document relating to the Avalon Marshes Landscape Partnership in its current form is included as Appendix Participation and learning Community participation is at the heart of the work of the Landscape Partnership Scheme along with a range of opportunities for learning, both formal and informal. Many of the projects are reliant upon training provided through the Landscape Partnership Scheme to deliver outcomes such as building the Hands On Heritage replica buildings, managing reedbeds, mire restoration and many more. This is one form of participation, but there are also the options around the public events, education programme and the access and interpretation projects. To take the story further afield, resources will be brought in to allow the Avalon Marshes to be represented at agricultural shows, county fairs and other events. This will be an important tool to encourage new visitors but also to spread the word and message about the landscape and the wildlife and cultural history it supports. The participation in governance arrangements is detailed above and reflects the commitment of the existing partnership to secure as much community involvement and dialogue as possible.

16 4.4.3 Conservation Conservation is the original reason for the Avalon Marshes Partnership to have been set up. This informal partnership existed for a number of years before the Landscape Partnership opportunity became available. It is made up of four conservation organisations and one cultural heritage organisation. Due to the history of this partnership, the conservation effort is integrated and considered and a number of the organisations have development plans in place for their land and its future needs. The whole partnership is working collaboratively for biodiversity gain and to retain optimum conditions to preserve and protect the buried heritage, the full breadth of cultural heritage and the wildlife and nature. The work of the Landscape Partnership will help to consolidate this approach and offers opportunities for more strategic activities such as shared tool and machinery pools and better deployment of volunteers across the reserves Access The area of the Avalon Marshes is well suited to walking and cycling as an option, being completely flat. It is described by many as a mini wilderness and the activity of the Landscape Partnership Scheme will help to increase access to areas that are currently restricted. This will make more of the micro landscape types of the area and link the reserves in a more coherent way. It will also open up and make more of the existing network of footpaths and cycle routes, improving facilities and in situ learning and interpretation along the way. The new access proposed including hides and boardwalks is designed for multi user access and the completion of the Shapwick Heath Discovery Walk will provide a fully accessible path taking users directly into the heart of a reedbed. The interpretation planned is targeting information about the Avalon Marshes on a range of levels including Smartphone apps, websites, downloadable leaflets, recordings, films, archive footage, photographs and good old-fashioned paper leaflets. The full range of these materials will give unparalleled access to information about the area from the superficial to the very localised and in-depth. At a workshop to explore themes for interpretation as part of the Development Stage there was a clear message that a range of information materials needs to be available. Paper based leaflets were universally favoured, but electronic media is an essential resource to develop and build into the complete offer. A longer term ambition is to work with parish councils to encourage further development of circular walks which may then be promoted within the Avalon Marshes. This will open up more comprehensive access routes across the full Avalon Marshes area.

17 4.4.5 Ongoing Maintenance Much of the habitat management work required through the Landscape Partnership Scheme is on land owned by conservation organisations. This means a high degree of control may be retained and many of the projects are intended to be started with responsibility for the longer term habitat management and maintenance to be undertaken by the organisation leading the project. An example here would be the reedbed management project, where the investment in specialist machinery will enable improved habitat management and maintenance in the future. Therefore this project along with others starts a longer-term management process that will outlive the Landscape Partnership. The only two significant projects being undertaken on private land are the Conservation of Ancient Buried Archaeology and the Conversion of Pill Boxes. The former will work with landowners to add value to Higher Level Stewardship agreements and secure long-term conditions optimum for the preservation of the in situ structures. A long term conservation management plan will be developed as a part of that project. The other project involves minor works on Pill Boxes which are undesignated. These structures are only 65 years old and do not have any formal protection status. The project will undertake minor alterations to optimise them as nesting sites from either owls or bats. It is only when the sites are occupied that the structures will be under any protection. Maintenance of the other buildings Hands On Heritage replica buildings, Ashcott Corner Visitor Facilities and the bird hides will be routinely undertaken by the hosting organizations Integration of projects The projects have all been defined and formulated so as not to create long-term burdens but all are essential and relevant to the aims of the partnership. The network of projects creates an integrated mesh of activity to create long-term sustainable enhancements and upgrades that will be of benefit for years to come. Links to other projects is indicated in the accompanying document Full Project List on a project by project basis Communication The Avalon Marshes Landscape Partnership proposals are numerous and complex and management of information flow will be of vital importance. The Management Board has agreed to collaborate on a communications strategy that will guide terminology to be used and trigger points for press releases relating to individual projects. This will also cover a similar approach for the main partnership. Overall, press releases will be made at key milestone points within the Partnership and for individual projects, being cautious not to overlap news items or saturate local newspapers. To put this in context, the scheme includes over 40 individual projects and many more news-worthy items a press release for each of these would average at one release every 2-3 weeks. The sequence and coordination therefore is of great importance. There will be a website that will act as the information hub for the Landscape Partnership. It will include sections to do with the work of the partnership, such as technical information. It will also have a tourism focus with PDFs of walks and

18 leaflets, locations of hides and information about features of the landscape and what can be seen. This will be a repository for information building an increasing library resource of useful and publicly accessible material. Being an open and transparent partnership will also mean that minutes from meetings, and organisational documents will be stored here as well. Progress on projects will be reported through press releases but also on the website. The staff employed through the scheme will all contribute to the creation of a regular newsletter, circulated by to update on activities Effects on the Environment The lowland wetland nature of the Avalon Marshes and its associated seasonal flooding provides the perfect backdrop to promote sustainability and highlight the need to be considerate about negative impacts to the environment. This is listed in the aims and objectives of the interpretation and learning projects as a theme to highlight. In particular, the story of peat and its huge carbon storage capabilities is a very good mind focus to raise the subject and begin awareness. As such there are excellent opportunities to promote transport and activities that do not have an adverse impact on the environment. This includes sustainable transport options of walking and cycling in preference to the car. The local bus service does not stop directly within the suite of nature reserves, but it does come within half a mile and this is a service with the potential for better promotion. The potential impacts upon the environment will be considered in the delivery of all projects and environmental awareness will be promoted throughout on leaflets, interpretation and websites. Leaflets and paper materials will be printed on re-cycled paper using vegetable inks. The procurement of materials, labour and training will favour local providers to reduce the travelling time and carbon emissions as a result. This will also carry a positive impact as the funding will recycle itself within the local economy Climate change Brue Valley Living Landscape project in association with WAVE commissioned a very detailed report about the impacts of climate change on landscape and the environmental and socio-economic impacts in the area. This lists a range of scenarios but is the source document for one of the projects, to create interpretive material that will better tell the story of climate change. As mentioned above, the Avalon Marshes as a lowland wetland is a wet place at significant risk from encroachment and flooding. The people who live within the area are aware of this very real risk, not only for the landscape and biodiversity but also for industry employment access and people s homes. Put simply, huge and persistent flooding as a result of climate change could have devastating consequences for the area. Many of the projects within the scheme can play a part towards mitigation. The HLS agreements will help continue to undertake maintenance to ease water flow through the ditches and rhynes.

19 Interpretation and learning materials all use climate change as a key thematic topic to raise awareness and attempt to influence changes in behaviour. The Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts of Climate Change on the Brue Valley report lists the following specific habitats as being at risk from climate change along with reasons. The Landscape Partnership is providing projects that actively address some or all of these issues. Reedbeds Lack of management increases risk of succession to scrub Lack of coordinated management could affect reedbed connectivity Risk of drying out with succession to scrub Increased risk of sudden increase in water levels affecting species living in reedbeds AM101 Sustainable Management of Reedbeds. This project is bringing significant areas of reedbed in the Avalon Marshes into active management, in coordination with other reedbed managers to preserve connectivity and reduce scrub. Swamp and fen Wet grassland of high value for wildlife Wet grassland of low value for wildlife Lack of management could result in swamp and fen drying out or change in species composition as more vigorous species dominate. Could be ploughed for arable crops Could be abandoned if becomes too wet Drier (or wetter) conditions could change the composition of grassland species AM102 Sustainable Grazing Project. Bringing large areas of these habitats into a sustainable conservation regime through mixed grazing, therefore preserving existing land use. AM103 Mire Restoration. Halting and reversing the decline of this fast diminishing and now rare landscape type, retaining water levels and improving species composition.

20 Flexibility The projects listed within the scheme have been discussed in detail and scrutinised for their sequence and the mechanisms necessary for them to happen. However, with any large scheme,, flexibility is required to ensure projects are able to adapt according to need and changes. There are three main areas where flexibility might be applied to projects: Time Money Outcomes Flexibility in any one of these areas can alleviate issues with the other two for example an increase in time allowed can provide leeway to achieve outcomes. For the purposes of the Landscape Partnership, time is the preferable primary point of flexibility and the timeplan created is intended to provide a framework that can be easily adapted. Money is the next option for flexibility, although the contingency is retained purely as an emergency provision to mitigate unforeseen or unplanned problems. Flexibility relating to project outcomes is an absolute last resort as this would diminish the impact of the Landscape Partnership. The contingency fund exists to provide flexibility in the event of adverse situations but is retained specifically as a contingency fund. Set at 10% across the project costs, this is applied on a Theme by Theme basis, rather than project by project. This will allow maximum flexibility whilst ensuring we are able to free up as much project money as possible. By having locally based staff in place and secure for three years, this offers flexibility in the approach of the scheme and the staff are a significant resource to undertake other functions which do not require a specific budget, such as establishing the cycling working group, creating a volunteer leaders programme, constructing and education programme and gathering material for a locally produced book. The staff will be able to achieve significant additional benefits outside of the main project work.