phase 2: developing Scottish exemplars

The second phase of our action research programme is taking forward work on a series of Scottish exemplars looking at the potential for changes in the design and management of greenspace and public spaces to contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Creating climate change parks
This project focuses on the ways that urban parks (as high profile examples of greenspace) can be managed to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Working with partners we have developed a representation of a typical urban park based on real parks within Scottish cities (to allow us to develop realistic cost and resource projections) but not tied to the specifics of an individual park (which might constrain the options which can be considered and restrict the transferability of the findings).

Using this ‘composite’ park as a starting point, we have developed a visualisation of what a ‘climate change park’ would look like and identified the opportunities for park design and management to contribute to climate change action. This concept plan will be supported by guidance notes for specific components of the park (e.g. pitches, play areas, ponds). These provide information about traditional management, likely impact of climate change, potential climate change actions, challenges and constraints, costings and links to technical guidance.

The creating a climate change park e-resource will be available in early summer 2012.

This project was supported by Scottish Natural Heritage.

In 2012 and 2013, we plan to work with a small number of local authorities and Friends of Parks groups to develop pioneer climate change parks. If you are interested in becoming a pioneer park, please contact us for more information.

Urban greening
In the second strand we are working on a number of demonstration projects on ‘real’ streets to explore opportunities for adapting the streets to better deal with the impacts of climate change through the use of greenspace (such as green roofs, rain gardens, swales and street trees). In 2012/13, we are working on five streets in Glasgow with Glasgow City Council, SEPA and other local partners. We are looking to develop similar projects in other Scottish towns – if this is of interest to you, please contact us for more information.

We’re working now to raise funds to support these projects. Can you help?