A PROJECT in Dumfries which ties together ecology, heritage, and wellbeing has won funding and praise.
The Crichton Trust has been successful in The Open University’s (OU) Open Societal Challenges programme.
It was selected as one of nine winners from over 200 submissions, with judges praising the strength and innovation of their proposal, titled “Developing a Framework for a Tool to Measure Progress Towards Regenerative and Heritage Greenspace,”.
It aims to come up with a tool to measure progress towards regenerative and heritage greenspaces, emphasising biodiversity, community wellbeing, and sustainability.
Jennifer Challinor, head of research and development at The Crichton Trust, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for the Trust, aligning perfectly with our vision for innovation and our focus on the wellbeing of people, place, and the planet.”
She explained that the initiative aims to address the challenge of balancing net-zero carbon goals with biodiversity preservation and community well-being on large heritage estates.
The Trust are working on a definition of what constitutes regenerative greenspace; and a framework for measuring progress.
And it is expected there will be significant benefits, from influencing policy to fostering sustainable practices among heritage and conservation organisations nationwide.
The OU’s judging panel praised the initiative, stating: “The Crichton Trust proposal places sustainability at the heart of its work and crucially ties together ecology, heritage, and wellbeing in a truly innovative way. These are all values which The Open University holds dear. The plans for regenerative greenspace can also serve as a beacon for sustainable living in other places.”
Professor Kevin Shakesheff hopes it will lead to meaningful change and said: “The framework developed through this project with The Crichton Trust has the potential to inform global practices, benefiting green spaces and communities far beyond the UK.”