The Nature of Scotland – Autumn 2011 – Issue 13

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Nurturing nature and
people at Blarbuie
Woodland.
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GalGael participants
connect with nature at
Falls of Clyde.
“It’s good to get
connected with
the land, to value
yourself among all
of nature.”
GalGael participant
For the last 18 months, we’ve been working with five community
and voluntary sector organisations to get a better understanding of
the barriers faced by groups that are typically under-represented in
enjoying the outdoors.
Along with the Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC), SNH
supported the local groups to plan and carry out ‘action research’. This involved
them in looking at what they do and finding out what could make it better in terms
of helping people enjoy, learn about and care for nature.
The GalGael Trust in Govan (Glasgow) provides support to long-term
unemployed adults, some of whom have addiction, homelessness and mental
health issues. They use woodworking skills, traditional boat-building and outdoor
trips to help people reconnect with work and a sense of identity.
“Cultural heritage is often intertwined with natural heritage like a strand of
DNA,” remarked Tam McGarvey of the trust. “Offering people a chance to get
out in the landscape can go a long way to helping them retrieve a sense of
connection and meaning.”
GalGael used campfire focus groups and a local survey to explore why people
from deprived urban areas can find it hard to get out and enjoy nature. Lack of
transport, no-one to go with and money were the main issues, as well as a lack
of information on places to go by public transport and safety concerns in some
inner city parks. A key recommendation from GalGael’s research is the need
for more healthy urban green spaces, such as community gardens, that provide
opportunities for local, shared experiences.
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www.snh.gov.uk 15