MSc Rural and Regional Resource Planning students at Aberdeen University have been working together with people from communities of Nigg, Cove and Kincorth and relevant council departments on a project aimed at improving the Loirston Recreation Area.
The project, initiated by Nigg Community Council through their interest in protecting and promoting the area, aims to provide educational tools in the form of a report and website for the community to raise awareness of the value of the Loirston Recreation Area, located to the south of Aberdeen.
The project examines the wider context, including relevant national and local policy concerning the Loirston Recreation Area in order to explore future possibilities for the site, establishes key problems through consultation with the surrounding communities and relevant council departments, and has resulted in the creation of a website about the Loirston area.
Consultations were held with members of Cove and Nigg communities and relevant Council Departments, including the Planning Department and the Arts and Recreation Department, to determine the main problems associated with the area. Themes which reappeared most frequently included issues associated with the fragmentation of the area and issues concerning lack of knowledge of, or appreciation of the area. A wide range of possible activities leading to the improvement of both integration and awareness were explored. These included developing the footpath network, advertising with posters and organising activity days.
As the project was initiated by the local community, the question of whether the communities can make a difference in protecting and enhancing local areas was raised and considered in the light of examples of wider experiences of community participation drawn from a number of case studies.
From these activities, the student group chose to develop a website with co-operation and consultation with the communities and council. The website aims to promote and raise awareness about the Loirston Recreation Area, and will be there to encourage the public to utilise, enjoy and value the area.
One of the MSc Rural and Regional Resource Planning students, Bruce Strachan, said, “Areas such as the Loirston Recreation Area are valuable as they contribute to the achievement of both national and local policy objectives across a wide range of areas. This includes sustainable development, public health, biodiversity and nature conservation objectives."
The area also includes Kincorth Hill, now designated a Local Nature Reserve, which has a colourful history going back thousands of years, with evidence of human occupation from as early as 5000BC.
A community group composed of members of the Loirston area, representing the needs and priorities of the various communities and interest groups will continue to work together to facilitate various activities required to conserve, enhance or improve the Loirston recreation area.
Further Information:
Website: www.loirston.care4free.net
or
Further Information:
University Press Office on telephone +44 (0)1224-273778 or email a.ramsay@admin.abdn.ac.uk.