Projects

Gain has completed a six month piece of work on behalf of Cornwall Council, developing a large-scale nature recovery programme for the River Fal, Estuary, and marine area in Cornwall, facilitating landowners and stakeholders to develop the following broad outcomes,

·         Large-scale recovery of habitats and species, including temperate rainforest restoration and interventions for target species

·         A significant improvement in water quality and flows through sustainable land practices.

·         Restoration of fish populations and control of invasive Pacific Oysters.

·         Support for thriving Native Oyster, Seagrass and Maerl beds in the marine environment.

·         Climate-resilient farming practices and carbon-sequestering landscapes.

·         Sustainable farm businesses through regenerative practices and a thriving local food economy.

·         Collaboration among farmers to share knowledge and best practice.

·         Enhanced access on land and water.

·         Increased community engagement , skills development and training.

The programme working group includes key landowners such as the National Trust, Tregothnan Estate, Trewithen Estate, Imerys, and the Duchy of Cornwall, along with other stakeholders - the Friends of the Fal, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, The University of Exeter, the West Country Rivers Trust, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Forestry Commission and the Cornwall National Landscape.

The Sturton Estate covers 4300 acres in North Notts, close to the River Trent and the West Burton Power Station, now the new site for testing nuclear fusion (STEP). The estate wanted to produce a masterplan to 2050 that looks ahead on a long time horizon to assist the estate to manage change effectively and sustainably.

The Masterplan is intended primarily as a guide for the estate itself and also to guide the work of industry partners operating on estate land. It also has a key role in communicating the estate's intended direction to the Local Authority, The Parish Council and the local community.

The Masterplan sets out a clear vision for the estate grounded in a cleaner, greener future. It establishes the estate at the heart of a thriving community with high-quality employment and recreation opportunities on the doorstep.

The Masterplan establishes how the landscape will be enhanced with a much-restored natural heritage, providing valuable benefits such as carbon capture, flood control, water quality and good soils. The masterplan also positions the estate central to the bigger picture regarding climate change with large-scale NSIP solar energy contributing to the net zero efforts of UK PLC.

Gain has completed a comprehensive Open Spaces Strategy on behalf of Bodmin Town Council. The Bodmin Open Spaces Strategy is in two parts.

Part I is the strategic assessment which establishes if Bodmin has enough of the right types of open spaces and whether the are close enough to the communities that they serve. It reinforces the size of new open space to be delivered via new strategic developments in Bodmin. The strategy also establishes key management principles for Bodmin Town Council’s Open Spaces and outlines future strategic open space projects. The strategy was informed by the results of a comprehensive community consultation.

Part II examines 19 parks and open spaces under the management of Bodmin Town Council. It sets out a detailed profile, describing the open space and identifies pressures and condition issues, making recommendations for future management.

Gain supported Land Use Consultants in the production of a new Landscape Character Assessment for Cornwall, using our in-depth knowledge of Cornwall’s unique landscapes. The revision of Cornwall’s LCA involved creating a character types map for Cornwall, reviewing and remapping of Character Area boundaries, revision of the Landscape Character Area descriptions and, importantly, a review of the local planning designation of Areas of Great Landscape Value (AGLV).

Gain has been the lead consultant taking forward this 18-month long Defra funded research project for the Cornwall AONB. We worked with a great group of farmers down on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, partnering with the University of Exeter and FWAG South West, pathfinding approaches to the new UK system of agri-environment support. Check out Field Notes for more info and see the results of the whole trial on the Cornwall AONB website

A comprehensive piece of research on behalf of Cornwall Council to make recommendations regarding the future direction and structure of the Cornwall Sustainability Awards, involving investigating different ways of rewarding environmental successes, interviews with key stakeholders, and the development of case studies. Gain is looking forward to watching the awards go from strength to strength, flying the flag for environmental best practice in Cornwall.

Gain was commissioned by the Landscape Institute to author seven aspects of the LI’s new Competency Framework, aimed at making their Pathway to Chartership more inclusive for a wider range of landscape professionals.

Colette Beckham authored the following competencies on behalf of the Institute, reflecting her broad experiences across many spheres of landscape practice.

• Heritage Landscapes/ Places

• Landscape Places/ People (including tourism)

• Management of Landscapes

• Natural Resources and Ecosystem Services

• Place Management

• Protected landscapes/ places

• Soils Conservation, Conservation and Improvement