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Community drop-in events are planned on 2 May in Braemar and 3 May in Ballater, where ideas for improving active and public transport will be on display. Upper Deeside residents are being invited to shape the ideas that have been developed from their initial feedback and the project team will be on hand to discuss the project with residents at the drop-in events.

The Park Authority continues to work on transforming how people get around in the National Park, with the Upper Deeside Active and Sustainable Travel project as part of the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme. The programme is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to National Lottery players and Places for Everyone, an active travel infrastructure programme funded by the Scottish Government and administered by Sustrans.

Colin Simpson, Head of Visitor Services and Active Travel at the Cairngorms National Park Authority said: “Thank you to the local community who gave us a lot of ideas and thoughts during autumn 2022. This feedback helped us better understand the transport-related problems and opportunities in the area.

“The project team have identified a series of options based on the local input, and we look forward to meeting up with people in Braemar and Ballater to chat through the ideas and get their views.”

The drop-in events will take place at the following locations:

• Braemar Village Hall, Tuesday, 2 May, from 2 pm to 6.30 pm

• Victoria Hall, Ballater on Wednesday 3 May from 2 pm to 6:30pm

People can drop in anytime to find out more and leave comments. Information will also be available online soon and you can find out more by contacting transport@cairngorms.co.uk.

These events are part of a series of community feedback events to be held this year in the National Park, with more planned for Blair Atholl and Killiecrankie, along with other projects to change and improve how people get around the National Park. In addition, drop-in events in Boat of Garten, Carrbridge, Dulnain Bridge, Nethy Bridge and Newtonmore and Aviemore took place earlier this year.

In July 2021 The National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded up to £12.5 million for Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030, a programme led by the Park Authority and over 45 committed partners. Its aims over the next five years are:

• To put local people at the heart of decision-making

• To work with land managers to restore and enhance landscapes

• To make getting around the National Park easier, safer, and greener

• To foster healthier, happier communities with wellbeing at their heart

To help shape this work, views have been gathered from people who live, visit and work in the National Park. Over 30 community events and workshops have taken place and more than 1,200 responses have been received online. The Park Authority is currently pulling together all findings from the last 12 months into a final proposal to The National Lottery Heritage Fund. If successful, the next stage of the programme will kick off in January 2024.

A community drop-in event will take place on 19 April at Aviemore Community Centre, where proposals for making it easier to get around Aviemore by walking, cycling or using a wheelchair will be on display. The Park Authority continues to work on transforming how people get around in the National Park as part of the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme. The programme is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to National Lottery players and Places for Everyone, an active travel infrastructure programme funded by the Scottish Government and administered by Sustrans.

During 2022, the project team held in-person and online consultations with people who live and work in Aviemore. The team received more than 600 thoughts and ideas from the community and these ideas have shaped the proposals which will be presented on 19 April.

Colin Simpson, Head of Visitor Services and Active Travel at the Cairngorms National Park Authority said: “Thank you to the Aviemore community for getting involved and providing more than 600 ideas and comments so far. This feedback helped us to understand key problems and opportunities in Aviemore for walking, cycling or using a wheelchair.

“The project team have created proposals based on the ideas and feedback received, and we look forward to meeting up with people in Aviemore in April to chat through these proposals and get their views.”

The drop-in event will take place at Aviemore Community Centre on Wednesday 19 April from 2 pm to 6.30 pm. People can drop in anytime to find out more and leave comments. Feedback can also be sent by emailing transport@cairngorms.co.uk and by visiting our dedicated Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 website.

These events are part of a series of community feedback events to be held this year in the National Park, with more planned for Braemar, Ballater, Blair Atholl and Killiecrankie, along with other projects to change and improve the way people get around in the National Park. In addition, drop-in events in Boat of Garten, Carrbridge, Dulnain Bridge, Nethy Bridge and Newtonmore took place in February.

In July 2021 The National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded up to £12.5 million for Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030, a programme led by the Park Authority and over 45 committed partners. Its aims over the next five years are:

To put local people at the heart of decision-making

To work with land managers to restore and enhance landscapes

To make getting around the National Park easier, safer, and greener

To foster healthier, happier communities with wellbeing at their heart

To help shape this work, views have been gathered from people who live, visit and work in the National Park. Over 30 community events and workshops have taken place and more than 1,200 responses have been received online. The Park Authority is currently pulling together all findings from the last 12 months into a final proposal to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. If successful, the next stage of the programme will kick off in January 2024.

Community drop-in events to present proposals for making the National Park more walking, cycling and wheelchair friendly.

A series of community drop-in events will be hosted from 28 February – 7 March in the Park communities of Boat of Garten, Carrbridge, Dulnain Bridge, Nethy Bridge and Newtonmore, where proposals for making the National Park more walking, cycling and wheelchair friendly will be presented for community feedback.

The Park Authority is continuing to work on transforming how people get around in the National Park as part of the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund with thanks to National Lottery players, and Transport Scotland-backed Places for Everyone funding from Sustrans. Following a series of online and in-person consultations in 2022 in Boat of Garten, Carrbridge, Dulnain Bridge, Nethy Bridge and Newtonmore, a collection of proposals, bespoke to each community and based on residents’ ideas and feedback, have been drawn up.

Murray Ferguson, Director of Planning and Place at the Cairngorms National Park Authority said: “With transport accounting for over a third of Scotland’s carbon emissions, how people get to and around the National Park will need to change if we are to achieve our net zero targets. We’re working with communities to make active travel improvements and in the second half of 2022, we asked people what places and routes the work should focus on. Thanks to their feedback, we now have a clear picture of the challenges people feel exist, as well as opportunities to make things better.

“Proposals have been created from community feedback and we look forward to welcoming as many people as possible to the events to hear their thoughts on these new proposals. The events are open to all, so please come along and spread the word to others who might be interested.”

The roadshow events will take place at the following locations:

Carrbridge Village Hall on Tuesday 28 February from 16:00 to 19:00

Newtonmore Community Hall on Wednesday 1 March from 16:00 to 19:00

Boat of Garten Community Hall on Friday 3 March from 16:00 to 19:00

Dulnain Bridge Public Hall on Monday 6 March from 16:00 to 19:00

Nethy Bridge Community Centre on Tuesday 7 March from 16:00 to 19:00

Each event will focus on proposals for that specific community, and people can drop in at any time to find out more and leave comments. For those who cannot attend the events in person, there is also an option to view the proposals and give feedback online from Friday 24 February 2023, or people can provide feedback by emailing transport@cairngorms.co.uk.

These five events are the first in a series of further community consultations to be held this year in the National Park, with more planned for Aviemore, Ballater, Braemar, Blair Atholl and Killiecrankie, along with other projects aimed at changing and improving the way people get around in the National Park.

Land leaders have joined forces to complete a development programme to improve good practice and stimulate fresh thinking to ensure Scotland’s land is managed responsibly.

The Scottish Land Commission is working in partnership with Scottish Land and Estates (SLE) and Cairngorms National Park Authority as part of the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme, to develop leadership skills in good practice in responsible land ownership, management, and use.

Representatives from 12 landholdings and rural businesses based across the Cairngorms National Park area gathered for a day-long ‘Leadership in Good Practice’ course led by professional advisers and stakeholders from the Scottish Land Commission, SLE and the Park Authority. The participants are dedicated to developing their leadership skills in land rights and responsibilities, showing engagement and transparency in their activities and with their local communities. They gathered to share their experience with a focus on how they are proactively delivering good practice, sharing peer-to-peer learning and identifying areas where they can further land rights and responsibilities. The professional development course focused on community engagement and collaboration and diversifying land ownership in pursuit of wider outcomes including a just transition to net zero, community empowerment and sustainable rural development.

The rural businesses and land holdings represented included Atholl Estates, Ben Alder Estate, Dalhousie Estates, Dunecht Estates, Kinrara Estate, Tulchan Estate, and Wildland.

Emma Cooper, Head of Land Rights and Responsibilities, said: “Professional development and peer-to-peer learning is fundamental for good practice to be maintained and improved.

“The Heritage Horizons programme has a key area of focus on empowering communities, putting local people at the heart of decision-making. Getting together like this will help drive forward improvements in transparency in how land is owned, used and managed, and improve engagement and collaboration with communities.

“We are pleased to partner with SLE and the Park Authority to learn from their leadership in how they are currently inspiring the practical application of land rights and responsibilities in local areas and communities they operate in.”

Sarah Madden, Policy Advisor (Rural Communities) at Scottish Land and Estates, said: “Those who look after estates in the Cairngorms are already at the forefront of tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis whilst providing significant employment opportunities, rural housing and leisure and tourism amenities. Having the opportunity to engage with stakeholders, to learn and to share best practice is very worthwhile and the initiative will hopefully encourage a dialogue between estates and government agencies where they can value each other’s views and ensure the latest public policy and the realities of managing land management are brought together in a workable and cohesive way.”

Colin McClean, Head of Land Management at the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “The event showed how much many estates are already doing to engage with local communities and to be transparent about their plans and activities. Through the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme and its projects, we will continue to work with all partners involved over the next five years in developing leadership skills in good practice in responsible land ownership, management and use.”

Deirdre Stewart, Estate Manager at Dalhousie Estates, said: “The forum allowed for open and frank discussion, and for the private landowning sector to explore with the Scottish Land Commission, Scottish Land and Estates, and the Cairngorms National Park Authority the nature and extent of existing community engagement, against a backdrop of overcoming challenges, barriers and misconception. This meaningful exchange provided training for everybody present, but most importantly also demonstrating that community engagement is already accepted as the norm, and being delivered effectively at scale by private landownership.”

Last summer Alzheimer Scotland announced plans for the UK’s first Outdoor Dementia Resource Centre at Badaguish Outdoor Centre near Aviemore, which will officially open in April 2023. Over the next six weeks the team will be taking the project on tour around Strathspey with their tipi as a mobile venue so people can find out more about and experience the services the new centre will provide.

The unique centre enables people with dementia and their family and carers to experience the benefits of green health activities. Alzheimer Scotland believes that access to the outdoors is essential for people living with dementia and their carers. The project is part of the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme which is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to National Lottery players.

The team at Alzheimer Scotland are aware that not all people with dementia are able to travel to the new centre– particularly in the winter months. Therefore, to connect with more people, Kenny and Andy from the project team will take the project on tour throughout February and March 2023. They will be pitching an Alzheimer Scotland tipi at five locations across the Strath: Grantown on Spey, Boat of Garten, Aviemore, Kingussie and Newtonmore. Each session will include nature themed activities.

Kenny Wright, Outdoor Resource Centre Coordinator said: “People living with dementia can be at risk of becoming socially isolated, lonely, and depressed, and as a result often develop an indoor lifestyle. Spending time outdoors can provide instant benefits, including reducing stress and distress associated with dementia, increasing, and improving physical activity, providing mentally engaging activities and providing opportunities to learn new skills and hobbies or rediscover old ones. It also gives people with dementia and their family or carers a chance to connect in a different environment and have fun together.

We’re really excited about taking our tipi on tour throughout Strathspey and we look forward to welcoming people from the community to participate and find out more about our project. In addition to activities, the tipi has a wood-burning stove so it’s a cosy venue and the kettle is always on!”

The Newtonmore and Grantown on Spey sessions are open only to residents of Mains House and Lynemore Care Homes. The other sessions in Boat of Garten, Kingussie and Aviemore are open to all members of the community who are living with dementia.

The project is fully funded so there is no cost to participants. All sessions are 11am-2pm and tea, coffee and snacks are provided.

To find out more and to book a space in the tipi contact Andy Miller on 07585 976356 or email AMiller@alzscot.org

Thursday 9 February – Boat of Garten – Community Hall (open to public)

11am-2pm and Tea, coffee and snacks are provided

To book a space in the tipi contact Andy Miller on 07585 976356 or email AMiller@alzscot.org

Thursday 16 February – closed group

Mains House Care Home – residents only

Thursday 2 March – closed group

Lynemore Care Home – residents only

Thursday 9 March – Kingussie – Ardvonie Park (open to public)

11am-2pm and tea, coffee and snacks are provided.

To book a space in the tipi contact Andy Miller on 07585 976356 or email AMiller@alzscot.org

Thursday 16 March – Aviemore – Royal British Legion (open to public)

11am-2pm and tea, coffee and snacks are provided.

To book a space in the tipi contact Andy Miller on 07585 976356 or email AMiller@alzscot.org

Young people from across the Cairngorms National Park have been shaping their vision for a fairer, more sustainable future. The Climate Learning and Education project, part of the transformative Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme, has involved pupils from secondary schools in Kingussie, Grantown on Spey, Aboyne, Alford and Aberlour taking part in a consultation to share their views on issues that matter to them in their local communities. The project aims to empower young people to have a voice and participate in actions which will improve health and wellbeing, tackle climate change and enhance nature across the National Park.

Reflecting on the consultation process, a pupil from Kingussie High School said: “Generally we like to complain a lot, so I’m sure people will come up with things about the local area that they don’t like. I like that with this project we’re getting the chance to think about how these issues could be fixed and actually made better.”

Inspired by the Gaelic word Dùthchas – meaning the deep-rooted connection between people and nature, the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme will bring about transformational change in the Cairngorms through 24 individual projects. The programme is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.

Stuart Cookson, Depute Head Teacher at Alford said: “We are excited to be involved in this programme as our young people will have the opportunity to work with other neighbouring schools to share their voice and ideas to highlight and combat the impact of global climate change in the National Park. Cairngorms 2030 is an exciting project which will encourage our young people who are passionate about sustainability to work together with their communities to enhance opportunities for health and wellbeing, enhance biodiversity and actively make a difference.”

Over the coming months, pupils from these schools will be working to make their visions a reality by developing projects which take positive action in their local communities – all contributing to Scotland’s commitment to realising the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The Cairngorms landscape survey is closing on Thursday!  

Building on the first community engagement phase of this project, we invite you to complete this survey which presents a range of options for different landscapes in the Cairngorms National Park. We want to know what you think is special about the Park landscape, to inform how it can be conserved and enhanced in the years ahead as we address the needs of communities and the climate and nature crises. 

Please complete the survey via this link by the end of Thursday, 22 December 2022.

As a thank you we’ll enter you into a prize draw to win a £100 gift voucher! (Terms and conditions here) The Park Authority is carrying out this study as part of its Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This involves developing a method for people who live, visit and work in the Cairngorms National Park to inform decision-making in the future. Further information on this study is provided here. If you have any questions, please contact nature@cairngorms.co.uk.

Over the past few months, we’ve hosted Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 roadshow events in villages and towns across the National Park, held online workshops and asked for your feedback in a number of surveys too. More than 1,000 of you came along to these events or gave feedback by completing online surveys and we wanted to thank you for your time.

Your opinions are helping us shape the next steps in the development phase of the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme and its 24 projects. Thanks to your involvement, the programme will bring about transformational change in the National Park, benefitting people’s health and wellbeing, delivering on climate change and enhancing nature across the National Park.

You can have a look back over some of the most recent surveys and events here below and a few of them are still open for feedback:

Still open for feedback:

Second stage survey asking what you think is most special about the Cairngorms landscape?

We’re asking businesses and communities to give thoughts on what a wellbeing economy in the National Park might look like

Complete:

Check out the map of the Park and what was said about, cycling, walking or using a wheelchair here.

Read what people said about Active Travel here

See opinions about a possible e-bike network in the National Park

We asked how we communicate better and engage with communities in the National Park?

Your comments are now being reviewed by individual project teams and our partner consultants and we’ll provide more detail on a project-by-project basis once this work is complete. Our team look forward to meeting many of you again in our next series of Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 events in the new year.

Naomi Mcintosh 'Quiet Garden', Image by Ben Addy

Bothy Project, partnering with the Cairngorms National Park Authority’s Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 project on Community Arts and Culture, selected artist maker Naomi Mcintosh from an open call, to undertake an Artist Residency at Inshriach Bothy on Inshriach Estate beginning in December 2022. Naomi will receive two-weeks’ research time at Bothy Project’s Inshriach Bothy, a fee, production budget and support with travel costs.

This residency forms part of the Community Arts and Culture project, one of 24 projects in the Cairngorms 2030: Heritage Horizons programme and supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund with thanks to National Lottery players.

The Community Arts and Culture project will see a variety of initiatives rolled out in the Park and aims to create a greater connection to landscape and place and encourage a desire among Park communities to get involved in climate action.

Naomi Mcintosh, selected artist resident said: “During this residency, I want to communicate and capture memories, passing of time, ephemerality and feelings about places. Taking time to develop my drawing language, I want to consider new ways to capture observations and experiences through mark making. Through implied movement, I aim to create work that has life and resonance.”

Lesley Young, Director at Bothy Project said: “We are delighted to be partnering with the Cairngorms National Park Authority on this new residency opportunity. The open call indicated the impressive and diverse creative work being realised in the Park. Naomi Mcintosh’s experience, accomplished practice and desire to build connections with other practitioners in the park made her proposal stand out amongst many strong submissions.”

Al Smith, Outdoor Learning and Engagement Manager at the Cairngorms National Park Authority said: “Arts and culture will perform a central role in shaping the story of Heritage Horizons. The creative arts allow people to engage with place from a personal perspective developing a deep emotional connection; this sense of connection leads to the desire to look after and care for these places for future generations. The creative arts are a rich source for innovative and imaginative solutions to the central issues being addressed by Heritage Horizons; climate, biodiversity and health.”

New workshop dates are being offered by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful in November 2022 to help people who live or work in the Cairngorms National Park to learn what the climate emergency means for the area, find out how they can take action, and have their say on what sustainable communities look like.

In August, Keep Scotland Beautiful announced a partnership with the Cairngorms National Park Authority to deliver online and in-person Climate Conscious Communities workshops as part of the Park Authority’s Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme.

The workshops have received funding through The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to money raised by National Lottery players and in the past two months over 70 people have registered to attend a workshop, either online or in person, with attendees saying they really enjoyed the workshops and found them useful.

Participants at the November workshops will learn what the climate emergency means for the Cairngorms National Park in terms of impacts, risks and opportunities. And they’ll find out what’s being done to combat climate change across the area as well as learning more about Climate Conscious actions they can take as individuals, communities and businesses. The workshops will also provide opportunities for people to have their say on climate change - from what a Climate Conscious Cairngorms looks like - through to identifying barriers, challenges and support required to take climate action.

Workshops take place until 17 November 2022. To register and see all available dates please see eventbrite.

Catherine Gee, Deputy Chief Executive for Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “We’re delighted to partner with the Cairngorms National Park Authority to offer further workshops in November so that people living or working in the park can learn more about what the climate emergency means for the local area, find out how to take action, and have their say on what sustainable communities look like.

“Climate change can seem like a scary or overwhelming prospect, so these workshops emphasise hope over despair and introduce co-benefits of climate action relevant to individuals, communities and businesses - such as saving money, improved wellbeing and resilience to extreme weather, new regulations and changing customer expectations.”

Grant Moir, Chief Executive for the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “The Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme is all about putting the power to tackle the climate and nature crises in the hands of our Park communities. I’d encourage as many people as possible to attend one of these in-person or online workshops as a great way to get practical information on the climate emergency and discuss what it means for them and their community. Taking part in these workshops will ensure local people are at the heart of decision-making on climate issues and I look forward to hearing about the outcomes.”

We’re hosting a drop-in session in Ballater on 9 November, 1-6.30pm at the Victoria and Albert Halls. If you live, work or have a business in Ballater, we’d like to invite you drop-in, find out more about the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme and its suite of 24 projects and give your thoughts on the programme’s plans during this development stage.

The drop-in session is the latest community engagement activity to be hosted in the National Park following a number of online and in-person activities that have taken place over the past few months. These sessions have showcased some of the work the Park Authority hopes to develop through the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme, and crucially, will provide feedback from people in Park communities that can then be acted upon.

Drop in information stands will be available on:

Making it easier to get around Deeside by active and sustainable travel e.g. walking, cycling, using a wheelchair or public transport

Community involvement in responding to the climate emergency

Exploring what a wellbeing economy could look like for the Cairngorms National Park

Two topic-specific workshops will also be taking place at this event:

Climate Conscious Communities - 3.30-5.30pm. Find out more and sign up here.

Wellbeing Economies and the benefits they bring - 6-7 pm. Find out more and sign up here.

The drop-in sessions will focus on some key areas including active travel and sustainable transport, looking at how to make it easier to get around Deeside without needing to use a private car.

The climate crisis impacts us all and there are already communities coming together to see what they can do collectively to become more climate resilient. As part of the drop-in sessions, there will be a variety of workshops available to explore what could be possible within local areas to tackle the climate crisis, changes in local landscapes and to discuss what a wellbeing economy may look like for the National Park.

The Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players. The active travel projects are also supported by Sustrans Scotland Places for Everyone with funding from Transport Scotland.

Share your thoughts on how we can make the Cairngorms National Park a place where people and nature can thrive together!

Attend our drop-in community roadshow event at the Atholl Arms Hotel, in Blair Atholl on the 25 October between 2 - 6pm and learn more about our projects that aim to empower people, improve travel connectivity, restore landscapes and improve people’s health and wellbeing.

As part of the drop-in session, there will be specific workshops available to explore what could be possible within local areas to tackle the climate crisis and to discuss what a wellbeing economy may look like for the National Park:

Wellbeing in your community - Tuesday 25 October - Atholl Arms Hotel 2 - 3pm. Find out more and sign up here.

Climate conscious communities - Tuesday 25 October - Atholl Arms Hotel 2 - 4pm. Find out more and sign up here.

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland and National Lottery players, Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 is putting the power to tackle the climate and nature crises in the hands of people who live, visit and work in the UK’s largest National Park.

Come along to learn, be inspired and find out how you can get involved and make positive change happen at the Scottish Land Commission’s new series of lunchtime bite-sized events. Land is at the heart of Scotland’s identity, economy and communities and is vital in tackling the climate and nature crises.

The Scottish Land Commission is working to create a Scotland where everybody benefits from the ownership, management and use of the nation’s land. Join the Commission’s Good Practice team for ‘Land @ Lunch’ – a brand-new series of friendly, conversational briefings open to all – where they’ll introduce topical issues at the heart of their work right now as they seek to build a strong and dynamic relationship between Scotland’s land and its people.

Wednesday 19 October at 12 pm – Land @ Lunch: Our Land Rights and Responsibilities Today In the first of the Scottish Land Commission’s ‘Land @ Lunch’ webinar series, hear from Minister for Environment and Land Reform Màiri McAllan MSP, delivering a pre-recorded introduction to the Scottish Government’s new Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement (LRRS). Emma Cooper, the Commission’s Head of Land Rights and Responsibilities, and Gemma Campbell, its Land Rights and Responsibilities Manager, will explore the changes to the LRRS and what they mean for you.

Please note: this event replaces the ‘Land – How to make the most of our rights and responsibilities’ webinar that was originally scheduled for 13, 14 and 19 September, which was postponed due to the period of national mourning.

This free online session is part of the Scottish Land Commission’s support of the Cairngorms National Park Authority’s Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme. Heritage Horizons is a partnership of over 45 organisations and is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund with thanks to National Lottery players.

Book your free place here. 

Wednesday 2 November at 12 pm – Land @ Lunch: How do you find out about the ownership and use of land? If you are wondering about who owns land in your area and what their plans for it are   ̶ who do you speak to, how do you contact them, and where do you look? Information about land and buildings is the basis for open and transparent decision-making and can enable more people to participate. In the second of the Scottish Land Commission’s ‘Land @ Lunch’ webinar series, Gemma Campbell, the Commission’s Land Rights and Responsibilities Manager, and Policy and Practice Lead James MacKessack-Leitch will cover ways you can find out what's going on with land and buildings in your area. 

Book your free place here. 

What do you think is special about the Cairngorms National Park landscape? What features are special and make the Cairngorms feel like nowhere else?  

Please complete this online survey by 28 October 2022 to tell us what you think. 

This is a pilot study, which means we’re also testing whether we are asking about landscape in the right way in preparation for a wider study. We value your contribution to this study and, as a way of saying thank you, at the end of the questionnaire you’ll be invited to enter a prize draw competition to win one of three £100 gift vouchers.   

This study is part of the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery Players.

Having collected a great deal of information already through online and offline events, the Active Communities: Badenoch and Strathspey project is now looking to visit a number of key sites with groups of local people. This project - part of a suite of transport projects covering different communities in the National Park - focuses on the villages Boat of Garten, Carrbridge, Dulnain Bridge, Nethy Bridge and Newtonmore and people living or working in those villages are invited to join their local Future Walk. They are planned as follows:

Carrbridge - Tuesday 4 October - 1pm

Nethy Bridge - Tuesday 4 October - 4pm

Boat of Garten - Wednesday 5 October - 1pm

Dulnain Bridge - Thursday 6 October – 1pm      

Newtonmore - Thursday 6 October – 4pm

The Future Walks will provide an opportunity to discuss ideas on how selected locations could look in future, both short term and long term, and people’s input will help us understand existing issues in more detail. The Future Walks can be attended by anyone in the community, and we welcome people using a wheelchair and those with walking aids. We will focus on the built-up environment, and we will not venture out beyond the village boundaries. The walks are expected to last between 1 and 2 hours. People can of course leave early if they wish.

If you would like to join one of the Future Walks, find out more about them and sign up using this Future Walks Eventbrite page. 

Would you like to take the kids to school in an e-cargo bike or commute to work on an e-bike? We’d love to hear from everyone (you don’t need to have ridden an e-bike before) about where you might cycle or what you might use an e-bike for if you had access to one. As part of the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme we are looking to develop a network of e-bikes across the Cairngorms National Park, and we need your help to tell us what you think this could look like. So, please tell us your thoughts by completing our e-bike survey here, the survey is open until 30 October.

‘E-bikes’ are power-assisted cycles that give you a boost as you pedal so you don’t have to work as hard, which opens a world of possibilities for leaving the car at home and using a e-bike instead where it might not have been practical to cycle before.  E-bikes come in all shapes and sizes: regular bikes (can also add a cargo or child trailer), e-trikes, folding e-bikes, e-cargo bikes (for carrying loads or fitted with child seats) and adaptive e-bikes for wheelchair users or those with mobility limitations.  They can enable you to cycle further, reach destinations faster, carry heavy loads (shopping or children), increase the ability to cycle e.g., if unfit or have long-term illness/injury and best of all, you can reduce your car use and carbon footprint.

Your thoughts on Active travel - have you left a comment on the map?

We’ve been asking for your thoughts about Active Travel and what a great response we’ve had! Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far – over 250 people have left comments online and there has been a good turnout at the local community engagement sessions we’ve held so far.  There is still time to have your say - we are looking for your views on what is needed to make it easier and more enjoyable for everyone to get around the Park by walking, cycling, and using a wheelchair. Use this online map to tell us about active travel in your area, this map is open for comments until 30 October.

Contact the Transport team 

If you need to get in touch directly you are welcome to email the team on transport@cairngorms.co.uk or call 01479 873535.  

Find out more about Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 and tell us what you think at our upcoming community drop-in sessions.

Throughout October the Park Authority will host drop-in sessions in different Park communities, and residents and businesses are being encouraged to drop-in, find out more about the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme and its suite of 24 projects and give their thoughts on the programme’s plans during this development stage. 

The drop-in sessions are the latest community engagement activities to be hosted in the National Park following a number of online and in-person activities that have taken place over the past few months. These sessions will showcase some of the work the Park Authority hopes to develop through the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme, and crucially, will provide feedback from people in Park communities that can then be acted upon. 

Dates have been set for the drop-in sessions in Nethy Bridge, Braemar and Blair Atholl: 

Nethy Bridge Community Hall – Tuesday 4 October – 12.30-5pm (including a walk at 4pm from the hall to discuss some of the ideas stemming from the recent active travel consultation)

Braemar Village Hall – Wednesday 5 October – 12.30-7.30pm

Atholl Arms Hotel, Blair Atholl – Tuesday 25 October – 2-6pm

Grant Moir, Chief Executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority said: “The majority of the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme’s projects are community-centred and will put the power of change into the hands of the people who live and work here, benefitting people’s health and wellbeing, delivering on climate change and enhancing nature across the National Park.” 

“Getting out into communities and making it as easy as possible for people to find out how the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme affects them, how they can get involved, and providing the opportunity for people to ask questions on topics such as plans for better active travel and transport, a wellbeing economy and addressing the climate crisis is critical to the project’s success. We hope that as many people as possible attend the drop-in sessions so that ultimately, we can achieve a National Park that works for all.” 

The drop-in sessions will focus on some key areas including active travel and sustainable transport, looking at how the Park can be more walking, cycling and wheelchair friendly – and what needs to change in our communities to make that possible.  The climate crisis impacts us all and there are already communities coming together to see what they can do collectively to become more climate resilient.

As part of the drop-in sessions, there will be a variety of specific workshops available to explore what could be possible within local areas to tackle the climate crisis, changes in local landscapes and to discuss what a wellbeing economy may look like for the National Park:

Wellbeing in your community - Tuesday 4 October - 12.30-1.30pm - Nethy Bridge - Find out more and book here

Wellbeing in your community - Wednesday 5 October - 1-2pm - Braemar - Find out more and book here

What do you think is special about the Cairngorms landscape? - Wednesday 5 October - 6-7:30pm - Braemar - Find out more and book here

 There will also be an opportunity to look at the volunteer ranger service and what benefits it has for local areas in the National Park. 

The Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players. 

Bothy Project, partnering with the Cairngorms National Park Authority’s Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 project on Community Arts and Culture, has today sent a call out to Arts Practitioners in the Park to apply for an exciting new supported residency term at Inshriach Bothy on Inshriach Estate.

Residency time at Inshriach Bothy will allow the artist to plan and make new work and connect and meet with some of the varied communities in the Park. The project will conclude with a public event where the artist will share their work and experiences with those who live in and visit the area.

The successful applicant will receive two-weeks’ research time and accommodation at Bothy Project’s Inshriach Bothy, a fee and production budget and support with travel costs. Local support will be provided by the Cairngorms National Park Authority team and professional development support from Bothy Project.

Al Smith, Outdoor Learning and Engagement Manager at the Cairngorms National Park Authority said: “Arts and culture will perform a central role in shaping the story of Heritage Horizons. The creative arts allow people to engage with place from a personal perspective developing a deep emotional connection; this sense of connection leads to the desire to look after and care for these places for future generations.

“The creative arts are a rich source for innovative and imaginative solutions to the central issues being addressed by Heritage Horizons; climate, biodiversity and health.”

Lesley Young, Director at Bothy Project said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Cairngorms National Park Authority on this new residency opportunity. The partnership will support new work by a creative artist based in the Park, give them access to the wide knowledge held in the local communities and within the Cairngorms National Park Authority team, and connect them to Bothy Project’s networks across Scotland and beyond.”

As part of the Cairngorms 2030: Heritage Horizons suite of projects and supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund with thanks to National Lottery players, the Community Arts and Culture project will see a variety of initiatives rolled out in the Park and aims to create a greater connection to landscape and place and encourage a desire among Park communities to get involved in climate action.

Creatives in the Park who wish to apply should do so online by 11.59pm on Sun 18 September 2022 via this link on the Bothy Project website.

Image: Bothy Project, Inshriach Bothy from above, 2021. Courtesy Graham Niven

The Transforming Transport group of projects is part of Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 – supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players. This stage of the projects involves asking Park people what they think is needed to make it easier for everyone to get around the Park by walking, cycling and using a wheelchair.

Would you like to take the kids to school in an e-cargo bike or commute to work on an e-bike

We’d love to hear from everyone (you don’t need to have ridden an e-bike before) about where you might cycle or what you might use an e-bike for if you had access to one. As part of the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 group of projects we are looking to develop a network of e-bikes across the Cairngorms National Park, and we need your help to tell us what you think this could look like. So, please tell us your thoughts by completing our e-bike survey. Complete the E-bike survey here.

‘E-bikes’ are power-assisted cycles that give you a boost as you pedal so you don’t have to work as hard, which opens a world of possibilities for leaving the car at home and using a e-bike instead where it might not have been practical to cycle before.  E-bikes come in all shapes and sizes: regular bikes (can also add a cargo or child trailer), e-trikes, folding e-bikes, e-cargo bikes (for carrying loads or fitted with child seats) and adaptive e-bikes for wheelchair users or those with mobility limitations.  They can enable you to cycle further, reach destinations faster, carry heavy loads (shopping or children), increase the ability to cycle e.g., if unfit or have long-term illness/injury and best of all, you can reduce your car use and carbon footprint.

Active Travel consultations We’ve been asking for your thoughts about Active Travel and what a great response we’ve had! Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far – over 150 people have left comments online and there has been a good turnout at the local community engagement sessions we’ve held so far.  There is still time to have your say if you haven’t done so already, the consultation is open until the 30th September.  We are looking for your views on what is needed to make it easier and more enjoyable for everyone to get around the Park by walking, cycling, and using a wheelchair. Use this online map to tell us about active travel in your area.

Community engagement sessions – new dates added We’ve organised a number of drop-in sessions if you’d prefer to tell us your thoughts about Active Travel in person.  Everyone is welcome to come along and meet the Transforming Transport team and discuss your priorities and aspirations for local journeys over a cup of tea. Some new dates have been added below and you can view the full list of drop-in events here.

Richmond Memorial Hall, Tomintoul – Thursday 8thSeptember (12 noon – 6pm; where we will be joining a community drop-in event being held by Crown Estate Scotland to explore how the Glenlivet Estate might evolve over the next 30 years)

Dalwhinnie Village Hall – 20th September (4 – 8pm)

Braemar Village Hall – 21st September (4 – 8pm)

Blair Atholl Village Hall – 22nd September (4 – 8pm)

Contact the team If you need to get in touch directly you are welcome to email the team on transport@cairngorms.co.uk or call us on 01479 873535.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority is asking for the public’s help to make the Cairngorms more enjoyable for everyone to get around. A new online consultation has been launched, looking to find out what is needed to make it easier for everyone to get around the Park by walking, cycling and using a wheelchair.

The Transforming Transport suite of projects is part of the wider Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme, which will empower people who live, visit and work in the UK’s largest national park to tackle the climate and nature crises. The projects have received funding through The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, and funding through the Sustrans Places For Everyone fund.

Since being awarded the funding in 2021 the Cairngorms National Park Authority has been working hard behind the scenes and have put together a new Transforming Transport Team. The team consists of 3 active travel professionals; Anna Ronayne, Sjoerd Tel and Helen Wilson, who will develop the projects over the next 18 months ready for delivery in 2024-28.

The Transforming Transport team will be on the ground around the Park, seeking resident and visitor views on what could be done to improve active travel and transport in the Park, and where people think improvements are needed most. Through working with communities and partners, the team aim to develop high-quality walking, wheelchair accessible and cycling connections both in and between communities.

Family friendly Community Engagement sessions will be held in the following communities across the next few weeks. People are welcome to join the team for a tea and coffee to discuss community needs and aspirations:

Boat of Garten Community Hall – 18th August 4:30-8:00pm

Aviemore Community Centre – 23rd August 4:00-8:00pm

Carrbridge Village Hall – 23rd August 4:30-8:00pm

Newtonmore Village Hall – 24th August 4:30-8:00pm

Dulnain Bridge Community Hall – 1st September 4:30-8:00pm

Nethy Bridge Community Centre – 6th September 4:30-8:00pm

The sessions are open to everyone – if transport assistance is required, please contact the Badenoch and Strathspey Community Transport Company on 01479 810004 (during office hours).

Further dates to follow including in Moray, Deeside and Highland Perthshire.

Other projects that link to this initiative include creating a dedicated e-bike network for residents and visitors to use, investigating future transport options for the route between Aviemore and Cairngorm Mountain, and improving the way public transport could operate in Deeside.

Grant Moir, Chief Executive at the Cairngorms National Park Authority said: “Views on active travel and accessibility in the Park came through strongly in the Partnership Plan consultation and with transport accounting for over a third of Scotland’s carbon emissions, how residents and visitors travel to and around the National Park will need to change if we are to achieve our net zero targets.

“Through these projects we have a chance to put active travel at the heart of a greener and healthier future and for the Park to become a rural exemplar for sustainable and active travel. This will not happen without the support and involvement of those that live and work here and we encourage as many people as possible to get involved with the consultation.”

In the months ahead the Transforming Transport team are keen to hear views from everyone living and working in and visiting the Park. Opinions can be given online here: https://cairngorms2030.commonplace.is or you can get in touch with the team by e-mailing transport@cairngorms.co.uk