Action Plan for 2008

Below is The Society's Action Plan for 2008. Please note that a copy of the action may be downloaded here

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1. INTRODUCTION

The Society’s first Action Plan was issued in 2004. This, the Society’s fifth Action Plan, was approved by the Society’s Executive Council on 5 December 2007. It seeks to set out the Executive Council’s modus operandi, its short and medium-term objectives and its aspirations for the future.

2. BACKGROUND

2.1 The inaugural meeting of the Society was held on 29 March 2003. The raison d’être for that meeting was a willingness to take forward two specific objectives stated in the Pentland Hills Regional Park Integrated Management Strategy; viz, the wish to establish “an independent friends group” and the wish “to encourage wider participation by the public”.

2.2 A Constitution was adopted on 19 November 2003; the Society’s first Annual General Meeting was held on 11 May 2004 and the Society became a recognised Scottish charity on the same date. The membership of the Executive Council is shown at Annex A.

2.3 The Society supports SNH’s contention that natural heritage contributes to people’s quality of life and health via an awareness and enjoyment of their surroundings. An understanding and appreciation of natural heritage fosters local cultural identity and a sense of place. The Pentland Hills are the ‘green lungs’ of Edinburgh and have the capacity to contribute to improving people’s physical and mental health by providing a place for informal recreation – walking, cycling, horse riding, sitting, socialising and ‘breathing space’ to take time out from the stress of modern life. The Pentlands provide a home for wildlife and enable people to appreciate biodiversity and natural heritage.

3. MISSION STATEMENT

The Society seeks to act as a catalyst to promote the conservation, protection and enhancement of the Pentland Hills, with particular emphasis on recreational quality, public access, cultural heritage, landscape and biodiversity.

4. AREA OF INTEREST

4.1 The Society has defined its area of interest as being the area delineated by:

·        The Regional Park in the north;
·        The A702 in the east;
·        The A70 in the west and
·        The minor road from Dolphinton, via Dunsyre to Newbigging, and then the A721 to Carnwath in the south.

4.2 While the Society’s practical activities will be conducted within the area defined at paragraph 4.1 above the Society also has an interest in developments which impact on the visual landscape of the Pentland Hills, either when seen from the Pentlands or from the surroundings of the Pentlands.

5. MODUS OPERANDI

5.1 The Executive Council seeks to ensure that, as far as is practical, the Society’s work demonstrates its all-embracing aspirations; its wish to be a catalyst for integrated action; its enthusiasm for advocacy; its wish to avoid being overtly political, yet retaining its right to lobby when necessary, especially with regard to perceived threats; and its hope that its work will, in the long term, lead to an inspirational approach to the environmental protection and enhancement of the Pentland Hills.

5.2 Furthermore the Executive Council will:

Operate within the terms of the Society’s Constitution.

Comply with relevant guidance from the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) and, in accordance with that guidance a ‘Code of Conduct’ was approved in 2006.

Provide a Report to members at the Annual General Meeting.

Submit Accounts annually to members for approval.

Ensure that the Society’s policies and actions conform to Government guidelines in relation to equal opportunities and other non-discriminatory policies.

Use its membership of the Pentland Hills Regional Park Consultative Forum to co-operate with the Regional Park, bearing in mind, however, that the Society’s interests may not always coincide with those of the Park, and that the Society’s area of interest extends well beyond the boundaries of the Regional Park.

6. STRATEGIC PRINCIPLES

6.1 The Society recognises that, as an all-volunteer body, its capabilities and influence are limited. In recognition of that reality the Society will seek, whenever appropriate, to obtain advice from and/or work with bodies that have greater expertise in the field of natural heritage.

6.2 Notwithstanding the above the Society’s aspirations and activities will be guided by the following strategic principles.

(a) The conservation, protection and enhancement of the Pentland Hills are for the benefit of present and future generations. The Society will, therefore, seek to protect existing opportunities and develop new opportunities.

(b) Activities in relation to conservation, protection and enhancement must be guided by those with specialist knowledge.

(c) Access to natural and cultural heritage is for the benefit of present and future generations. The Society will seek to promote exiting opportunities and develop new ones.

(d) The heritage of the Pentland Hills should be accessible to the widest possible range of people. The Society will seek to promote access, especially in those areas that are least visited.

(e) Enjoyment of the natural and cultural heritage of the Pentland Hills should be encouraged in a variety of different ways. The Society will seek to provide a varied programme of activities and, where practical, will open its activities to non-members.

(f) Providing a variety of educational opportunities is an investment in the future heritage of the Pentland Hills. The Society will provide a programme of educational opportunities for its member and, where practical, to non-members.

7. SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVES

The Society’s short-term objectives are defined as those its Executive Council aims to achieve by 31 December 2008.

7.1. Educational, Environmental and Promotional Objectives.

(a) To offer a programme of educational walks for Members on themes such as biodiversity and social history.

(b) To offer two winter talks, open to both Members and the general public, on topics consistent with the Society’s mission statement.

(c) To offer a programme of walks, open to both Members and the general public, to foster the enjoyment of healthy walking, appreciation of the environment, and the enjoyment of the company of fellow walkers.

(d) To offer a programme of ‘work days’ to enable members to contribute to practical environmental tasks.

(e) To promote a ‘Walk of the Season’ to encourage Members to explore and appreciate the Pentland landscape.

(f) To improve waymarking in the southern Pentlands in co-operation with the Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society.

(g) To install an interpretation board at Carlops in co-operation with the local community.

(h) To monitor the proposal to develop a wind farm at Auchencorth Moss and formulate an appropriate response.

7.2. Administrative Objectives

(a) To achieve 300 members by 31 December 2008.

(b) To recommend to the Annual General Meeting subscription rates for the various categories of membership for 2009.

(d) To hold events, such as ‘Tea & Cakes’ days, to raise funds for minor environmental projects while simultaneously providing an opportunity to promote the Society’s objectives.

(e) To issue Pentland Post three times per year.

8. MEDIUM-TERM OBJECTIVES

The Society’s medium term objectives are essentially of an ongoing nature, although they will be reviewed annually.

(a) To maintain a mutually beneficial relationship with the Regional Park and the organisations represented on the Regional Park Consultative Forum.

(b) To maintain mutually beneficial relationships with those organisations that share the Society’s aspirations, eg Scottish Natural Heritage, the Paths for All Partnership and the Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society.

(c) To maintain mutually beneficial relationships with Local Authority Access Officers, landowners, and other organisations with an interest in the Pentlands.

(d) To continue to promote the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

(e) To support, and where appropriate assist with, specific Regional Park tasks which are compatible with the terms of the Society’s mission statement.

(f) To pursue biodiversity projects to enhance the landscape and improve habitats.

(g) To pursue projects to maintain and, where necessary, improve existing paths.

(h) To monitor planning applications lodged with Local Authorities to ascertain their potential impact on the Society’s area of interest and, when necessary, to submit an appropriate response.

(i) To maintain contact details of organisations, and individuals, with whom the Executive Council considers it appropriate to liaise, or establish a working relationship.

(j) To maintain a ‘Friends of the Pentlands’ web site.

9. LONG TERM ASPIRATIONS

(a) To develop an on-going comprehensive assessment of developments, threats and opportunities within the area of the Pentland Hills in order to focus and prioritise the future work of the Society.

(b) To consider the possibility of establishing a voluntary ranger service for that area of the Pentland Hills which lies outwith the boundaries of the Regional Park.

(d) In co-operation with other interested parties to develop a tree planting strategy.

(e) To seek to identify, and subsequently promote, specific proposals for improvements in relation to public access.

10. FINANCE

(The figures in this paragraph are for 2006 and will be updated once the end of year figures are available for 2007.)

(a) The Society aims to continue to meet its administrative running cost from

income from membership fees. During 2006 membership income amounted to £1,720 while expenditure on administration was £1,363.

(b) The Society aims to fund minor projects through a mixture of donations, internal fundraising initiatives and minor grants. During 2006 the Society raised £857 from fundraising activities and received £830 in donations.

(c) Major projects which the Society undertakes will continue to be funded from grants, while the Society’s contribution will be met in kind by time, managerial or labour, or both.

(d) During 2006 the Society obtained grants totalling £5,865 to fund a major project. The Society allocated a further £1,091 from its own funds to cover project work expenses.

(e) As at 31 December 2006 the Society’s accounts showed a surplus for the year of £1,035.