Joining up Agendas Key Issues for CGTs

1. Joining up Agendas Key Issues for CGTs Verena McCaig Historic Landscape Project Officer South East Region

2. State of Conservation National Policy Issues Historic Environment Records – Heritage Assets Localism / National Planning Policy Framework Development and PPS5 – site significance Local Listing Heritage at Risk Funding Spending Review – impact on LAs/EH/NE Heritage Lottery Fund Higher Level Stewardship Other Closer working partnership – AGT, GHS, The Garden Museum, Parks & Gardens UK

3. Stakeholder Priorities – EH & NE Supporting the involvement of the voluntary sector in protecting heritage – especially Grade II Registered and locally important landscapes Harnessing local knowledge Greater access to knowledgeable and skilled individuals for advice on historic environment Raising awareness and information exchange on ‘At Risk’ assets Building up information for Historic Environment Records (HERs) Improved targeting of Environmental Stewardship funding to protect the historic environment

4. Emerging Issues for CGTs Pro-actively engaging with the conservation agenda Focus – for research, for conservation Recruiting and retaining ACTIVE volunteers Training Geographic spread Profile, particularly with statutory agencies Communication with LPAs and GHS

5. Bringing the strands together • At Risk agenda – support with research, for owners etc • Local listing – researching sites to ensure they are on the local list / understood • Research put on the HER and P&GUK • Contributing to NE Higher Level Stewardship information • Getting involved in Conservation Management Plans • Responding to planning applications

6. EH At Risk Agenda • Condition • Vulnerability • Management • Trajectory

7. Local Listing Encourages local people to identify important local Heritage Assets which warrant greater protection Gives LPA better understanding of Heritage Asset through research and recording No additional consent requirements BUT Conservation and contribution to the local area will be a MATERIAL CONSIDERATION Feeds into local planning processes – clarifies constraints and opportunities of the landscapes

8. Higher Level Stewardship Targeted land management incentive scheme Objectives include protecting the historic environment Funding for: Conservation Management Plans and Tree Surveys Reverting fields from crops to grazing or mowing Tree planting and protection Dredging ponds and lakes Opening up lost views Funding feature restoration e.g. follies, traditional farm buildings

9. Research for Conservation Ensuring sites are mapped / noted: vistas, sight lines, approaches, features If the site is on the HER it is more likely to be picked up properly Local listing - awareness of criteria P&G UK - gives NE officers and others ready access to solid information and links Knowing the HLS ‘pipeline’ Helping owners research their estates Site visits, contributions and comments on management plans One step ahead! Target development lands and settings / At Risk

10. How does this benefit CGTs? • Opportunity for focused research • Research acknowledged • Applied • Making a practical difference • Permanent record publicly accessible • Gives a lever for recruitment – recruiting with an end goal • Volunteers gaining and honing personal skills whilst making a contribution of lasting and practical benefit • Higher profile for the CGT • Closer working with LPAs and SDNP – more likely to trigger information re planning applications • more likely to be involved in county initiatives, attract new members, be approached for advice etc

11. Going Forward • Develop focused projects for recruiting active volunteers - start small • Consider HLF smaller grants – Your Heritage • Encourage members to take up training offered + use HLP web resources • Ensure sustainability - train and mentor new volunteers for addressing planning issues • Continue to develop external relationships, particularly with HERs, LPAs, SDNP, EH and NE – and with other CGTs • Develop focused research to support • Local listing + Natural England HLS • SGT Conservation Sub-committee • Maintain awareness of EH At Risk sites • Reflect research and conservation work and opportunities in newsletters