Bathgate Meadows Nature Park Engagement and Activity Plan

Descriptions

Introduction The Bathgate Meadows Nature Park [BMNP] has evolved since its inception as part of the RiverLife project (2016-2021), with the environmental and community engagement project now inclusive of the wider benefits for delivery of sustainable and low carbon communities. The BMNP project area is poorly related to by those travelling through it and it emanates a pervasive sense of deterioration. The BMNP Project seeks to reveal the interconnectedness of Bathgate’s natural heritage, industrial heritage and its people; creating a place that once again meets the needs of the local population by focusing on the blue and green network running through the community and the ecological services that the space could provide. The project’s core outcomes are structured around the three sustainable pillars; environment, social, and economic. This ensures the project meets the longer-term needs of community and maximizes the investment of these funds. The Engagement and Activity Plan is a key piece of commissioned work that will cover all community, stakeholder and volunteer activities and opportunities during the planned 5 year delivery phase. This plan should focus on the natural and industrial heritage of Bathgate and consider the barriers to engagement for local people. It should encompass all the various aspects of the project which include Active Travel, River Restoration and Wetland Creation. Having been successful in our stage 1 funding application the Engagement and Activities Plan is being funded, as part of the development phase, by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and should follow their best practice guidance. The Plan will be used in our next NLHF application to secure stage 2 funding for the delivery phase. The Engagement and Activities Plan should identify solutions for the key aims and objectives from the stage 1 funding document. Engagement and activities should be designed to run parrelel to the capital works being undertaken during the delivery phase and should intertwine with these, complimenting and maximizing on the opportunities they present. The objectives from the stage 1 application include: Environmental Outcomes Small scale habitat restoration delivered by volunteers. Managing existing habitat to enhance biodiversity. New habitats will be created, with space for people to observe and play in nature. River quality improvement Tree planting programme for habitat, pollution control and shade. Citizen science baseline surveys to help measure and plan further impact. Social Outcomes Increased health and wellbeing of visitors to BMNP Explore alternative models of habitat and amenity space management Low-barrier benefit to the people of Bathgate Behaviour change – active travel across the project area Local stewardship skills and knowledge Wider demographic involved in and making use of the project area Increasing racial diversity in the environmental sector Disability representation in active travel development Economic Outcomes Local capital works contracts Local employment opportunities Volunteering opportunities Training opportunities – Outlined in Traineeships Programme Behaviour change – Cross department working within WLC (a minimum of 3) The consultant should be familiar with natural heritage and community engagement projects, and the development of Audience Development and Interpretation Plans for NLHF bids. All solutions should identify the Health and Welling opportunities of the activity, using the NLHF Wellbeing Guidance.