Scotland: National Rural Network
Connecting Rural Scotland - Promoting Rural Growth

Two projects have sought to connect the community with Flanders Moss and have succeeded in changing local attitudes towards this important peatland.

What are the aims of your project?

The aim of this project overall was to reconnect people with this internationally important peatland nature reserve. Flanders Moss has been very inaccessible to local people and visitors for many years. The local tradition is that it is a dangerous place to visit and our aim was to overcome these preconceptions and enable people to visit the site safely in a way that doesn't damage the site but so that they can appreciate the special feel of the site.

 This has been achieved using a range of methods in two different LEADER projects. The first built a path and boardwalk, developed interpretation and worked with one local school on an art project. The second project added a viewing tower to the path and involved the local communities through oral history and poetry projects.

Where is it?

Flanders Moss NNR lies about 10 miles west of Stirling. The visitor facilities are accessible off the B822 Thornhill to Kippen road. From the north turn off the A873 in Thornhill and head south on the B822. From the south turn off the A811 at the Kippen roundabout and head north on the B822.

Who's involved?

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) manages Flanders Moss NNR. We worked with the communities of Thornhill, Arnprior, Port of Menteith and Kippen to develop the project. The first LEADER project was set up as a transnational project that involved project partners in Finland, Ireland and France.
SNH staff involved in the project:

• Alan McDonnell - Project Manager
• David Pickett - Reserve Manager

How is it funded?

It is joint funded by SNH and Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER.

Where did you go for help and advice?

Advice was sought internally in SNH, from the LEADER group and from our transnational partners.

What's been your greatest achievement so far?

Overall I think that greatest achievement is that we have changed local peoples' view on the large nature reserve on their doorstep. Five years ago if you stopped someone on the street in Thornhill and asked them about Flanders Moss you would get a very different response to if you stopped them today.

And the biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge of the project has been to engage in a broad range of groups in the community. Some groups are easier to connect with such as the primary schools whereas others are harder to reach such as teenagers and young adults. We feel that we have done fairly well in reaching a range of ages but as always not as much as we would have liked.

Any tips for someone for someone setting up a similar project?

Not really, you just have to keep plugging away.

What's next for your project?

Now that we have a first rate visitor experience at Flanders Moss NNR we need to promote the nature reserve widely to encourage visitors. We would like to work with the local schools to support regular use of the facilities by them.

More info

More information about Flanders Moss NNR including leaflets produced as part of the project.
http://www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/reserve.asp?NNRId=39

Connecting People with Peatlands - a web-based publication produced as a result of collaboration in the transnational project with wetland projects in Finland, France and Ireland. It has lots of information on how to enable people to visit wetland sites that are normally tricky access.
http://www.snh.org.uk/PeatforPeople/homepage.asp

Contact details

David Pickett, Reserves Manager
SNH
Beta Centre
Innovation Park
University of Stirling
Stirling
FK9 4NF

Tel 01786 450362
Email David.Pickett@snh.gov.uk.