Climate Ready Ken and Adaptation Scotland project members in Dumfries

This case study shares the insights of local partners from the Loch Ken Trust in Dumfries and Galloway, about their journey embarking on building climate resilience in the area as part of Adaptation Scotland’s localities work programme 2020 – 2022.

Improving river quality and reducing flood risk with the communities of the Eddleston Water in the Scottish Borders.

The Eddleston Water is a sub catchment of the River Tweed. It measures 69 square km. The main stream is 12km. Lying to the North of Peebles in the Scottish Borders, the Eddleston Water covers a large area of hill and improved grassland. The Eddleston Water Project aims to reduce flood risk and restore the Eddleston Water for the benefit of the local community and wildlife.

The project is a partnership initiative led by Tweed Forum, with the Scottish Government, SEPA and University of Dundee, and works with a range of other key partners, including landowners and the local community so that everyone can contribute ideas and follow the project’s progress.

Work to slow the flow and increase storage of flood waters is ongoing across the catchment, including using techniques such as:

1. Planting native woodland on floodplains and in hill cleuchs. The trees and coarse grass generated will help slow the surface flow rate which will help take the peak off the flood water.
2. Creating new water retention ponds to capture flood water. Re-meandering canalised ditches and watercourses will encourage a more natural watercourse ecosystem to develop.
3. Installing log-jams in the headwaters to slow down run-off. This will benefit water quality, wildlife and the fisheries.

Play video

This film includes more information about the work that is being carried out in the Eddleston Water catchment

For more information, see the project website here where there is also a progress report from 2021 available to download.

Between 2019 and 2022, Adaptation Scotland worked closely with the Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership’s Climate Change Working Group to support climate adaptation planning in the islands.

This project culminated in the publication of two reports:

• A Climate Rationale, setting out a shared understanding of the climate challenge in the Outer Hebrides, based on evidence gathered from member organisations of the Community Planning Partnership and local communities
• A Case for Action, outlining the Climate Change Working Group’s vision, purpose and priorities for action to adapt to climate impacts and improve climate resilience in the Outer Hebrides

These two reports have subsequently informed Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Climate Change Strategy.

This case study shares our experience of developing a pilot approach for using participatory mapping to gather lived experience and local knowledge of climate change impacts and community priorities for adaptation in North Uist. It is part of our wider work with partners in the Outer Hebrides.

It provides details of the approach taken, some of our key learning and recommendations for use in other locations and contexts. It also provides links to some of the tools and resources used.

Find out more about our work in the Outer Hebrides, or read our guide to running a similar mapping activity in your own community.

Scotland has seen a significant change in its climate over the last 50 years – on average our weather has become warmer and wetter and we have seen more extreme events. This trend is set to continue with impacts felt across all parts of society.

The amount of information on climate change risks and potential adaptation measures in Scotland is increasing – at the national level, within sectors, and for specific locations. However, it can be difficult to access the breadth of information and consider it in an integrated way.

The six places

The Climate-Ready Places resource takes six typical Scottish ‘places’ and identifies:

• the key climate change impacts and risks identified for Scotland; and
• the adaptation measures that could contribute to a climate ready (adapting) place.

The visuals

The visuals will be used to introduce adaptation to a broad audience – providing visual representation of climate impacts and a shared vision of ‘climate ready places’. They will be used to engage with specific audiences (e.g. planners or communities) to identify what they could contribute to achieving a ‘climate ready place’.

The adaptation ideas were gathered at a dynamic workshop that brought together people working on adaptation across Scotland and from many different sectors. The images used in the tool were drawn by professional illustrators as participants described the characteristics of each place, how climate impacts them, and how our adaptation responses would change that location.Adapting uplands

The resource can be used by anyone with an interest in exploring adaptation ideas, from planning professionals to school children, community groups to corporate business.

It is worth remembering that this resource is a collection of ideas – it is not descriptive, it is not a plan. There will be many more ways to get your own place climate ready.

The ideas for adaptation were gathered from a dynamic workshop with people working on adaptation across Scotland and in many different sectors. The discussions at this workshop were captured in images drawn as participants described the characteristics of each place, and then how climate impacts and our adaptation response would change that location. 

Funding

The project received additional funding from the Scottish Government, Scottish National Heritage and Historic Environment Scotland.

Downloadable resources

The Climate-Ready Places pictures and the expert information behind them are now available as downloadable resources for you to print off and use to start an adaptation conversation of your own.

Below you will find A3 printable versions of all six of our typical Scottish ‘places’, showing them as both unadapted and adapting areas. There are also Information Sheets for each of the six places, explaining the changes that have been made.

Printing note: To get the best out of these resources, we recommend printing the A3 posters single-sided. This allows them to be set down side by side, making it easier to see what has changed.

Lesson plans

Lesson plans for primary and secondary schools using Climate-Ready Places have been developed. These allow students to think about their place and different environments and how a changing climate might impact their place.

Restoring the natural peatlands of the Forsinard Flows nature reserve with RSPB Scotland.

Many peatland habitats are damaged and therefore vulnerable to changes in climate such as warmer temperatures and periods of dry weather. Restoration of damaged peatland back to a healthy condition is important if these habitats are to provide a steady flow of services to people, including wildlife to enjoy, carbon storage, water storage, recreation and employment.

RSPB Scotland is actively involved in the restoration of damaged blanket bog at its Forsinard Flows nature reserve.

Drains and ditches have been blocked across Forsinard to raise the water table and enable the bog surface to re-vegetate and new peat to form. Trees in forestry plantations have also been removed.

The work has attracted wading birds, such as golden plovers, and breeding birds like hen harriers, short-eared owl and meadow pipits are returning to the areas previously covered by trees. Restoration has increased the resilience of the habitat and ensured it can withstand periods of dry weather and warmer temperatures.

The above image was sourced from www.geograph.org.uk © Copyright Greg Fitchett and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The above image is licensed and reproduced with permission from Big Stock Photo.

These resources allow students to think about their place and different environments and how a changing climate might impact their place. It allows students to consider and debate the positive and negative aspects of their place and how they might improve it. These resources also provide students with an opportunity to consider their own place in the context of a changing climate.

They can be used for general education purposes to raise awareness about place-making and climate change adaptation, or more specifically to help young people express their views about changes in their environment, or to contribute effectively to any climate adaptation strategy, plan or action process. The activities in the lesson plans could be run individually over the course of several weeks, or run consecutively as a one-off lesson.

Primary School

1. Climate-Ready Places Primary School Lesson Plan
2. Resource 1 – Background information for teachers
3. Resource 2 – Different environments
4. Resource 3 – Weather introduction
5. Resource 4 – Information sheet on landscape scenarios

Secondary School

1. Climate-Ready Places Secondary School Lesson Plan
2. Resource 1 – Different environments
3. Resource 2 – Presentation for students
4. Resource 3 – Key consequences
5. Resource 4 – Information sheet on landscape scenarios
6. Resource 5 – Place standard

Climate Cards

1. Climate Cards
2. Climate Cards – City
3. Climate Cards – Coastal
4. Climate Cards – Industrial
5. Climate Cards – Lowlands
6. Climate Cards – Suburbs
7. Climate Cards – Urban

Copyright

1. Copyright

Climate-Ready Places: Print Resources

Downloadable resources showing unadapted and adapting landscapes

The Place Standard with a Climate Lens has been developed to help people understand how climate change might play out in a local area and support them to design their future place with climate in mind.
It builds on the core Place Standard tool and is designed to support a joined up, collaborative, and participative approach to climate action within a place.

The tool was jointly developed by Sniffer, Sustainable Scotland Network and Architecture & Design Scotland, together with and funded by Public Health Scotland and Scottish Government.

The Climate Lens includes a suite of tools for facilitators and organisers of Place Standard sessions, including:

• extra guidance and questions in the main Place Standard tool guidance
• a climate change prompt document for facilitators
• a glossary of terms
• support videos
• online and in person-tools to help facilitators host effective climate-focussed sessions

Play video

Video introducing the Place Standard with a Climate Lens resources

Communities

Every community is uniquely impacted by climate change. No matter what kind of community you are, there are actions you can take to build resilience, prepare for climate change, and make your area healthier, safer, and more comfortable for people and wildlife.

Community Climate Adaptation Routemap

The Routemap offers clear steps for local action groups, community councils, and development trusts to build your resilience to climate change.

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