The Scottish Government

What is this about?

To improve public understanding and awareness of the countryside, for example, farming, forestry, natural environment, and conserving the architectural heritage, through the provision of small scale recreational opportunities, on-site displays and exhibitions, farm visits, open-days, advisory signage, guided walks or interpretive trails.

What will this achieve?

This improved understanding will enhance the value and enjoyment of people's visits whilst also improving rural land managers' skills and understanding in relation to access and recreation. It will also help to raise awareness, and promote respect and understanding of our countryside through 'first hand' experience.

This is an effective way for rural land managers to promote what they do, and improve the environment in which they live and work, using effective, interesting and interactive approaches.

Facilities provided through this measure will be a sustainable resource, which benefits nearby communities and enterprises. This measure aims to generate broad social and economic benefits, raise public awareness and understanding, improve information provision, increase people's enjoyment of the outdoors and provide a source of cultural inspiration and creativity.

There are a range of benefits from providing facilities which deliver a more inclusive approach, both to the applicant and the public:

• Better quality of experience for visitors.
• Increased visitor numbers from new visitors and increased repeat visits.
• Improved service delivery and greater staff satisfaction.
• A positive image associated with making efforts to improve information and awareness through increasing people's enjoyment of the outdoors.
• More effective use of resources and less wastage from temporary measures.
• Greater ability for applicant to have a larger diversity of staff and volunteers.
• Conservation of your area is balanced with improved access provision, through greater public understanding.

What you can do?

You can provide information on a range of themes including a focus on the production of food, timber, conservation of the natural and historic environment, management of the landscape, production of bio fuel crops or on rural land managers and the contribution they make to Scotland. You can also provide small scale recreation, education and interpretive provisions and services, and development of market services using outdoor access to enhance awareness and understanding.

You can undertake one or more of the following activities:

• Providing publications and other media, including booklets, leaflets, workshops, audio visual programmes, tapes and CDs. These items must include information that is suitable for the target audience and may include general information for the public on land management practices, the environment, ecology, topography, maps, land use and changing land use, built heritage, the access code and responsible behaviour.
• Providing information panels/interpretation boards, trails and signage which must provide information to the public on the area and/or activities they can see around them when they are out on a trail, to aid their understanding of the rural environment, architectural, cultural, archaeological and historic heritage. This information can include map boards.
• Accessibility improvements for the public, including ramps for disabled users and induction loops.
• Coach parking and turning areas for school groups and disabled parking.

When you are planning your proposal it is worth considering the full range of available Options. It's often assumed that improvements involve physical change but this is not always the case. Some of the most effective improvements come from simple, low-cost changes to interpretation, the way things are done, and how visitors are looked after. It's difficult to do everything for everyone. In your proposal, aim to create a balance so that everyone is able to enjoy their experience.

Capital items must meet the minimum technical specifications contained at the end of this Option.

To ensure value for money we require you to provide 2 competitive quotes for any capital items applied for which are based on actual cost. If, however, you are seeking grant support towards something so specialised it is only available through 1 source then we would accept 1 quote. Please see the guidance on quotes and estimates for more information.

Who can apply?

This Option is available to all rural land managers, community groups and non-profit organisations. Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate that they have consulted and have the support of relevant organisations, for example, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), local authority ranger service or access officer, Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET), National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS), Cairngorm National Park Authority and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority.

Eligibility criteria?

This Option is available to all rural land managers, community groups and non-profit organisations in Scotland that own or occupy land.

Training, publication and other media items for training rural land managers are not eligible for funding under this Option.

Your proposal must be for at least one of the listed information and awareness activities and must meet all of the minimum technical specifications for the capital item.

Eligible capital items available under this Option cannot be supported for the same information and awareness purposes as those in being provided for in other SRDP Options:

• Sustainable management of forests and woodlands
• Woods in and around towns challenge fund
• Support for diversification outwith agriculture
• Support for the development and creation of micro-enterprises
• Provision, development or upgrading of small scale tourist facilities by land managers
• Improving access
• Areas access management and monitoring, and creation and upgrading paths and routes
• Forest of people challenge fund
• Provision of leisure, recreation, sporting, catering and other rural community services and facilities.

The applicant will need to ensure that they comply at all times with the Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) that applies to all their land.

If you want to undertake this Option, in your proposal you must include the following information:

• In your application you must identify how you propose to promote and market your project. You must include information on the activities you propose to do, and you must provide written confirmation from your local ranger or local access officer in your local or national park authority area that you have liaised with them before you submitted your application.
• With your application you must submit a 1:10,000 scale map showing the detail of your project including the location of any capital items you have included in your application. A copy of the map must be submitted by you to your local access authority before you submit your application. You must also submit written evidence from your local access authority (usually the access officer in your local authority) confirming they have received the map before you submit your application. Note - the information you provide may be used as the basis for public information on access opportunities in the area. Any other public bodies which have given advice should be notified for their information.
• With your application you must submit at least two quotes for each item being claimed for under this Option.
• In your application you must confirm that your project is not in receipt of other funding sources, such as Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) or from their local access group for any items being applied for under this Option.
• You must keep expenditure receipts for the period of the scheme.
• You must keep records of the relevant biosecurity and health and safety requirements you have undertaken to support this Option.

Rate of Support?

We will pay up to 75% of actual costs for capital items up to a maximum payment of £500 per item, in arrears, supported by receipted invoices. We will pay for items referred to in the technical specifications which deliver improved information and awareness. We will also consider new and innovative items which deliver the same objectives for this Option.

Inspections/verification?

Will be subject to inspection and verification by staff, normally Area Office staff of the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID).

Application appraisal inspection:

• An appraisal inspection will only be needed if there are any doubts about technical aspects of an application. During any inspection appropriate photographic evidence must be obtained.

Claims inspections:

• At least 5% of all claims will be selected using risk analysis. These inspections will be mandatory but Area Offices may choose other cases if there is any doubt about the details of a claim. These inspections may take place at any time.
• The inspection will consist of 2 parts:

1. An examination of the works to ensure that they are as set out in the approval and are technically sound and that the claimed costs are justified.
2. A wider technical farm inspection to ensure that the standards of Cross Compliance are being complied with. During any inspection appropriate photographic evidence must be obtained.

You must make available at inspection:

• Your original 1:10,000 scale map to hand and make it available for inspection, showing the location of your project and identifying the location and type of capital items being claimed for.
• Your receipts for any costs incurred and records showing all the relevant biosecurity and health and safety requirements that have been undertaken to support this option.

Minimum Technical Specifications

Guidance on publications and other media, including booklets, leaflets, workshops, audio-visual programmes, tapes and CDs, etc.

Providing information panels/interpretation boards, trails and signage which must provide information to the public

Accessibility improvements for the public, including disabled parking, ramps for disabled users and induction loops

List of links to relevant technical guidance

The following further technical information will help you in developing your proposal.

There are two Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005 which make it unlawful for the providers of goods, facilities and services (and certain other bodies) to discriminate against anyone on the grounds of their disability. The Acts require that reasonable adjustments should be made where a service provider has a practice, policy or procedure or there is a physical feature that makes impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to make use of the service the Disability Rights Commission's Code of Practice (2002) gives some helpful guidance.

You may wish to develop an access plan as part of your proposal. Improvements for information and awareness raising purposes and associated with that purpose can benefit a wide range of individuals. Those who are likely to benefit from improvements made include disabled users, their friends and families accompanying them, people with children and pushchairs, some older individuals who may not consider themselves disabled but who do appreciate easier access.

You may wish to seek the expertise of Local Access groups to undertake an access audit of your project.

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