Scottish Landscape Forum
Scotland’s diverse and distinctive range of landscapes constitutes a very significant component of the country’s natural and cultural heritage. For the most part our landscapes make an important and very positive contribution to the economic and social well-being of the nation – although this can often go unrecognised, or be taken for granted. But there is also some evidence of the consequences of poor practice or simply neglect to be found in some landscapes. So proper landscape care can not be taken for granted, and SNH considers that renewed effort is called for.
What is the Forum?
The Scottish Landscape Forum was established by SNH with the support of the Scottish Executive in June 2006. It brings together some of the key stakeholders with an influence upon or stake in the state of the landscape. Its terms of reference include facilitating discussion, preparing advice and promoting action for the better care of Scotland’s landscape, thereby enabling its diversity, quality and integrity to be maintained for future generations to enjoy.
The Forum was originally established for 9 months, but has been so successful
that it will continue. Its initial work focused on considering the implications
of the UK's recent signing of the European Landscape Convention, and advising
the Scottish Executive on the landscape content of new planning policy guidance
on the natural heritage. Forum members presented the Deputy Minister
for Environment and Rural Development with their report, 'Scotland's
living landscapes - places for people' (1.3MB) ,
in March 2007 (press
release).
| A short leaflet promoting the key messages in the report has also been produced. |
 |
PlaceBook Scotland
The Forum launched an exciting new project in June 2008. PlaceBook Scotland is a web-based project for all of Scotland's people to share their impressions of the places they have a strong association with. Everyone will be able to post their own photos, prose, poetry and even music on the website, which they feel captures their neighbourhood's identity and sense of place. By the end of the project PlaceBook Scotland will provide an important record of how people perceive Scotland today, and enable this to be shared around the world.
For more information about this project visit placebookscotland.com and register your interest.
Note that e-mail correspondence received will be published on the website.
Who are members of the Forum?
- Activity Scotland Association
- Architecture & Design Scotland
- Association of Scottish Community Councils
- Black Environment Network
- Built Environment Forum Scotland
- CoSLA
- Edinburgh College of Art
- Forestry Commission Scotland
- Greenspace Scotland
- Highlands and Islands Enterprise
- Historic Scotland
- Homes for Scotland
- Landscape Institute Scotland
- National Farmers Union Scotland
- Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland
- Scottish Council for Development and Industry
- Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
- Scottish Enterprise
- Scottish Environment Link
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency
- Scottish Natural Heritage
- Scottish Rural Property and Business Association
- VisitScotland
Meetings and papers
The agenda, papers and minutes of meetings can be viewed here:·
- First meeting was held in Edinburgh on 22 June 2006
- Second meeting was held in Edinburgh on 25 September 2006
- Third meeting was held in Edinburgh on 14 December 2006
- Fourth meeting was held in Edinburgh on 21 February 2007
- Fifth meeting was held in Edinburgh on 19 March 2007
- Sixth meeting was held in Edinburgh on 22 June 2007
- Seventh meeting was held in Perth on 12 September 2007
- Eigth meeting was held in Edinburgh on 26 November 2007
- Ninth meeting was held in Edinburgh on 13 March 2008