Guidance Notes
Introduction
This document explains the work and objectives of the Derbyshire Magnesian Limestone Landscape Partnership scheme branded as Limestone Journeys. The purpose of this note is to assist agricultural and non-agricultural rural businesses in understanding the different measures under this landscape programme in order that the future projects comply with rules under State Aid.
The partners within the scheme include:
- Creswell Heritage Trust
- Derbyshire County Council
- Bolsover District Council
- Bolsover Countryside Partnership
- Junction Arts
- Bolsover Community and Voluntary Partners
- Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group
- Natural England
- The Forestry Commission
Limestone Journeys aims to conserve, enhance and restore the distinctive landscape character and heritage of the Derbyshire magnesian limestone which is predominantly located in Bolsover District (annex 1).
This scheme will be pivotal to the socio economic future of this area of Bolsover District which has been dramatically affected by the decline of the regions industrial base resulting in pockets of deprivation defined by a low skills base, low numbers of business start ups, low levels of training, and poor education attainment compared with regional and national averages. Consequently Bolsover District has been identified as a priority funding area and received a large amount of support through European Funding Programmes.
Limestone Journeys aims to build on this previous work and contribute to the regeneration and future prosperity of the Derbyshire Magnesian Limestone Landscape area through a number of measures that enhance the areas cultural and natural heritage and improve the lives of communities and visitors to the area by enabling greater access to that heritage.
In summary Limestone Journeys aims are to:
- Conserve the natural and heritage features of the Derbyshire magnesian limestone landscape for future generations and to act as drivers for tourism and regeneration
- Enhance engagement between the local community and their natural and cultural surroundings
- Enable people of all abilities to access the natural landscape and the cultural heritage of their local area
- Empower people to have a positive influence on the landscape by developing new skills which will facilitate positive activity and which will continue after the scheme
Limestone Journeys’ objectives are to:
- Deliver projects which will conserve and enhance key species, habitats and heritage features
- Involve, educate and attract the local community with activities celebrating their landscape and heritage
- Create and improve facilities and access routes between the local community, visitors and heritage sites
- Provide training opportunities, courses and placements in relevant traditional and conservation skills
The different measures under the scheme are divided into four main programme areas:
- Conserving and Restoring Landscape Journeys
- Personal Journeys : Engaging Communities
- Gateway to Limestone Journeys
- Journeys of Discovery
Programme A: Conserving and Restoring Limestone Journeys
This programme area aims to enhance and protect for the future specific heritage assets within the Magnesian Limestone landscape as well as documentation that enables us to learn about and understand the areas heritage. The aim is to preserve the overall visual character of the area and ensure that people living, working and visiting the area have a positive experience. Priorities include the conservation of heritage features, enhancement to the areas biodiversity especially magnesian limestone grassland, lowland meadows, lowland fens and mixed deciduous woodlands.
Measures to enhance the landscape include repairing drystone and lime mortared walling; re-instating and ‘gapping-up’ hedges and the restoration and improvement of target habitats.
A key element of the scheme is that local communities will be involved in this and other programme areas. Under this area activities will include identifying, surveying, recording, restoring and managing landscapes and archives. Volunteers will also be actively involved in scrub clearance and other landscape activities.
This will be delivered in accordance with Article 5(2) of 1857/2006 and NN11/2002 (National Heritage Memorial Fund).
There are six measures under this programme area:
A1) Small Grants Scheme for land-holders.
The Limestone Journeys scheme has identified a small budget which will enable land-holders to carry out small conservation and restoration tasks that aim to preserve the unique character of the Magnesian Limestone area. Typical examples include the protection of woodlands, limestone vales and outcrops, re-building drystone walls, re-planting hedgerows, and enhancing the visual quality of the landscape. Landowners can apply for small grants that assist with these conservation tasks. Areas visible from roads and visitor sites will be targeted initially, to create an enhanced visual impact. Linking corridors between sites will also be targeted to create sustainable habitats. Through these projects landowners will also be encouraged to allow training to take place on their land.
This will be delivered in accordance with Article 5 of 1857/2006. The Type of conservation measures that will be covered are;
- Conservation and restoration tasks
- Re-building drystone walls
A2) Community grants scheme to conserve key species and habitats.
The Limestone Journeys Scheme has identified a small fund that will enable community groups to carry out there own conservation projects in order to enhance the cultural and natural heritage of the limestone area. Community groups can apply for funding for a range of conservation measures including training in archaeological/ biological or habitat management skills, the survey of archaeological/ habitat sites, and / or the restoration of archaeological or ecological sites.
The conservation measures include activities like:
- Biological survey work to identify sites that have a high/low biological value
- Training voluntary community organisations in archaeological surveys, habitat and woodland management
- Restoration and conservation work associated with archaeological features/structures and biological sites to enhance nature conservation value particularly Magnesian Limestone grassland
- Tree planting and creation of wild flower meadows
This measure will be in accordance with NN11/2002 (National Heritage Memorial Fund) for areas not involved in agricultural production. If any restoration work of archaeological features takes place on land involved in agricultural production it will be in accordance with Article 5(2) of Regulation 1857/2006.
A3) Natural, archaeological and geological conservation work.
Projects under this measure will seek to restore degraded habitats within the scheme area, focusing on different locations and techniques throughout the life time of the scheme. Volunteers will be trained volunteers in habitat surveying and practical habitat management.
Natural, Archaeological and Geological Conservation and survey work activities include;
- Construction of a Sand Martin Wall as a breeding area to encourage and extend the natural habitat.
- Increasing the conservation value and species diversity of Magnesian Limestone grassland through habitat management, woodland creation and management spreading wildflower seeds
- Training volunteers and conducting habitat survey and habitat management with the view of enhancing the conservation value
- Production of education and interpretative material (leaflets, on site help) to raise awareness to local communities about biological value
This will be delivered in accordance with NN11/2002 (National Heritage Memorial Fund) for land not involved in agricultural production. Any archaeological and geographical conservation work carried out on land involved in agricultural production will be in accordance with 1857/2006.
A4) Conservation of built landscape features.
This project will fill in the gaps in the list of “unlisted” buildings of interest and train volunteers in the condition assessment of vernacular structures in their parish including drystone walls. Training and support will be provided to volunteer groups.
All areas of work will be carried out in accordance with state aid NN11/2002 (National Heritage Memorial Fund)
A5) Oral history projects.
One of the historical archives that survive is oral accounts of past events. These oral accounts form an important part of the areas social history and this measure seeks to ensure that they are preserved through the creation of a digitised and accurately archived record. The projects will also seek to record new oral accounts and to provide training for volunteers and community groups to carry out their own oral history recording projects. Some of these historical and present day recordings will be used to create personal and exciting interpretation about the historical and natural landscape.
All areas of work will be carried out in accordance with state aid NN11/2002 (National Heritage Memorial Fund).
A6) Production of good practice training guides for cultural and natural heritage.
A series of good practice guides will be produced aimed at the management of heritage sites and features as well as promoting the enhancement of biodiversity on the Magnesian Limestone. This information will be presented through printed material as well as in a digital form via the internet.
All areas of work will be carried out in accordance with state aid NN11/2002 (National Heritage Memorial Fund).
Programme B: Personal Journeys: Engaging Communities
The long term success of the project relies on helping to create strong and well connected community networks and individuals who understand and treasure the cultural and natural heritage within the scheme area. Therefore planned activity under this programme area will involve inspiring and creative community focussed projects working with artists, craft workers and other advisors, as well as staging community events and festivals. Projects will also result in permanent interpretation along footpaths and trails as well as heritage sites.
All measures under this programme will be delivered in accordance with NN11/2002 (National Heritage Memorial Fund).
B1) Small grant scheme for community groups
This measure is designed to help community groups to apply for small grants that enhance the interpretation and access to local heritage features from a small fund managed by the Limestone Journey’s Steering Group. Examples of the range of projects this scheme will grant aid include researching and creating local guides and leaflets, developing site interpretation, and arts based interpretation that engages visitors in the areas rich heritage. Under this measure there is a focus on traditional gathering places within the community. The staff employed by the project will be available to provide support for groups during the application process.
B2) Small scale interpretation and information grants.
This measure is another community grants scheme with a focus on enhancing the interpretation through leaflets, guides and other forms of media along trails and footpaths, especially the Creswell Archaeological Way.
B3) Heritage Interpretation programme.
Under this measure all of the projects will enhance the interpretation and access to the distinctive features within the Limestone Journeys project area. Specifically identified projects, which will be delivered by the project partners in association with local community members and volunteers, include:
- a series of guided walks and talks at specific venues and throughout the landscape at key locations
- interpretation workshops at Forestry Commission managed woodlands
- a parish mapping project where volunteers will work alongside the Derbyshire Environmental Trust and other organisations to map and assess the condition and characteristics of features within specific parishes and their promotion through a published map to be used by local people, schools, other organisations and visitors.
- art based community engagement projects.
All of these projects will be identified and co-ordinated through the landscape partnership scheme office in consultation with the Limestone Journeys Steering Group, project partners and local communities.
B4) Heritage events programme
Limestone Journeys will stage a programme of events at various venues across the area including existing attractions. These events will celebrate the wealth of the areas heritage both to visitors from outside the area and to local communities, as well as actively involving groups and volunteers in the design and running of the events.
Programme C: Gateway to Landscape Journeys
This programme area mainly focuses on the enhancement to the trail and footpath network throughout the scheme area including major capital works providing new access links to heritage sites and features. The measures include:
All measures under this programme will be delivered in accordance with NN11/2002 (National Heritage Memorial Fund).
C1) Improving the accessibility and promotion of the Archaeological Way and creating new links with villages and heritage assets
C2) Creating a new bridge link to multi-user paths in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and interpretation of the history of Pleasley Vale
C3) Development of a multi-user greenway network
C4) Events and activities to target under-represented groups
Programme D: Journeys of Discovery
This final programme area addresses the ongoing support and conservation of the areas heritage assets by investing in the skills base and understanding by local communities and schools of the areas rich heritage and how to care for it in the future.
Aid to non-agricultural businesses and activities under this measure will be provided in accordance with EC Regulation 1998/2006 on de minimis aid. De minimis aid is a certain category of aid which does not need to be notified to the European Commission providing that the recipient does not receive more than €200,000 worth of de minimis aid over 3 years from all Government sources.
D1) Heritage Landscape skills training programme in practical conservation and heritage interpretation
This measure specifically involves running training programmes in practical conservation and heritage interpretation and will include hands on projects employing traditional crafts to renovate dry stone walls, lay hedges, coppice woodland and use lime plastering techniques. The training will take on a mix of private and public land as well as practical training taking place at training centres within the scheme area. The heritage interpretation training will involve the theory and practice behind developing access guides and site interpretation boards.
D2) Improving the skills base of volunteers through mentoring for landscape projects
This measure will focus on developing the skills of volunteers in archaeological survey techniques. There will also be specific projects that will educate volunteers how to enhance the access and interpretation at wildlife sites.
D3) Heritage Education Programmes for Schools
This programme will deliver workshops to schools in order to develop their understanding and appreciation of the heritage assets of the area.
D4) Community Governance and Fund Raising / Developing Community Educators
This final measure is aimed at strengthening the governance of local community groups in order that they will be in a position to take a more custodian role over the landscape in the future. Training and support will be conducted through various delivery mechanisms including workshops, open meetings, and one to one surgeries.
Eligibility
The involvement of individuals and groups under this Landscape Partnership scheme is not limited to those in the agricultural sector. The scheme is open to all SME’s and micro enterprises once the activity fits into the schemes aims and objectives outlined above and takes place within the scheme project boundary area. The availability of grants under this schemes are also open to all individuals or groups who live and / or are active within the Magnesian Limestone area of Bolsover District and whose activity brings benefits to the local communities and the conservation of the areas heritage assets.
Only Small/Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are eligible for the scheme – (SMEs are defined in Commission Recommendation EC No 364/2004, as being enterprises which: have fewer than 250 employees; have either an annual turnover not exceeding €50 million or an annual balance sheet not exceeding €43 million; and conform to specified criteria of independence (in general, not more than 25% of an SME can be owned by other companies).
State Aid Compliance
Aid to agricultural businesses under this scheme will be provided in accordance with Article 5(2) at an aid intensity of 100%. In the case of a scheme where production is increased the aid intensity set out in 4.2 of 60% will be used as specified in Article 5.3 of Regulation 1857/2006.
This scheme complies with the state aid regulations Articles 5 of EC Regulation 1857/2006, payments direct to an agricultural producer, or to an individual, community or voluntary group or organisation where the proposals will be implemented on land owned by an agricultural producer, will be restricted to the measures.
European law restricts the amount of State Aid given to agricultural businesses. This document sets out the parts of the scheme that are subject to agricultural State Aid regulations and are covered by the Block Exemption Regulation 1857/2006.
This document covers the programmes within the project. It is covered by the Agricultural State Aid Block Exemption under Articles 5(2) of EC Regulation 1857/2006:
Aid to non-agricultural businesses and activities under this scheme will be provided in accordance with EC Regulation 1998/2006 on de minimis aid. De minimis aid is a certain category of aid which does not need to be notified to the European Commission providing that the recipient does not receive more than €200,000 worth of non agricultural de minimis aid over 3 years from all Government sources or it would be cleared under NN11/2002 (National Heritage Memorial Fund).