Section 1 - About your organisationGeneral Contact Details for Your Organisation1.1 Name of Community Body (CB) (or unincorporated association if applyingunder the Sponsored Sale of Surplus Land)

Tele one 07962181956E-mail

Lesmahagow Development Trust (LOT)

anisation

Reg Address:17,Abbeygreen,Lesmahagow,

Postcode ML11 0

Title Mr First Name Jeff Surname Frew

Environmental Port folio Officer

Address

PostcodeTele hone I

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.Ad~res,s "or;>'CQr~espoAdtm€e1'if,d'ifiietent from the main €QRtact address.,

"Addressl_,

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PostcodeTelephone I

E-mail r . ,_. - - ._-

1.4 What is the purpose of your organisation?

• Paths to Progress and Community Orchard Project• Community Plan• LOT Office and Credit Union Feasibility Study• Jubilee Hall Campaign• Main Street Improvements Grant Award Implementation• Silver Surfers Computer Lessons• Gaelic Lessons• Pensioner Hall Community Buy Out Initiative• Grow a Lot Lesmahagow (GLL) Allotment Project

Briefly explain the main purpose of your organisation, and what activities and servicesyou undertake. 100 word maximum.

• ' .• • . • .' -.' 't~"\ .....i''f ~ v~~

Lesmahagow Development Trust (LOT) is an indepelident, not-for-profit organisation "with charitable status and a limited company. It was established in 2009, with theobjective of securing funding to implement projects that will enhance the social, cultural,economic activity and surrounding environment of Lesmahagow.

Activities and Services:

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1.5 What type of organisation are you?Descri ption Documents to be

enclosedCompany Limited by xGuarantee (required undercommunity Acquisition)Yes - please tick

Memorandum and Articlesof Association -Appendix1+2+2Certificate of IncorporationAppendix 3

Unincorporated Association Constitution / Set of RulesYes - insert dateestablished

~~ ....~~~ ..~~~~~If yes, please give your registered Inland SC040828Revenue Charity Number and provide a copyof ur letter or

1.10 Please tell us about your community.

We need you to describe your community to allow us to decide whether you havedemonstrated community support for the application (see Criteria 3, p14). You mustinclude the location, population size, and a description of your community. This mustalso include a geographical definition such as community council boundaries, electoralwards, or postcode unit maps. Please also tell us who your neighbouring communitiesare. 300 words maximum.The population of your community Village:3400, Outlying:3300

Lesmahagow is in rural South Lanarkshire. Population: 3400, GR NS 71 820390.

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100/0 most deprived communities in Scotland.Within this area:• 270/0 of the population is Income Deprived (Scottish average = 15%)• 21% is EmploymentDeprived (Scottish average = 12%)

Appendix 5-Post Codemap contains all post codeswithin Community Councilboundary.

Appendix 6.-Community Councilboundary map

This project is called Growa Lot Lesmahagow(GLL)-it is an allotment project

A range of community engagement activities identified a demandwithin thevillage for allotment plots. An allotment would provide a new resource for thebenefit of the entire community. Theworks to establish the allotment will bedelivered as a training project to improve the economiccircumstancesof thelocal longer term unemployedand those with long term mental health issues.

LDThasconsulted with: Co'mmunityCouncil;WRVS;local churches; localschools; Rainbows,Brownies, Guides,Cubsand Scout groups and localbusinesses.All contacted have expressedtheir support for the allotmentproposalswith a number expressing interest in securing plots.

We have had regular consultations with the local population via articles/features in the local press.We hold regular community events and always usethis as an opportunity to gauge interest in our allotment proposal. Fromthis wehave created a waiting list of potential allotment holders. We haveto datesecureda ClimateChallengeFund (CCF)grant of £89,000.00with furthermonies and support pledge from one of our partners, the Clydeand AvonValleyLandscapePartnership. ( CAVLP)SeeAppendix 7

The LesmahagowHigh School has registered an interest in securing anallotment for educational purposes.SeeAppendix 8

Wehave also had meetings with social care organisations with a view tobuilding appropriately sized and accessibleplots for individuals who havedifferent accessneeds.SeeAppendix 9

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... • ... • • • • ...• •• •2.1 Please give the name and location of the land you want to acquire.

You must attach a map clearly showing the land and outlining the boundaries in red(Forestry Commission Scotland will provide you with a copy of the map that you cansubmit)The land designated for the allotment project forms a small triangular sectionof a larger field. This is currently leased out on an annual basis as a grazingplot. In conjunction with this the field is given over to the local AgriculturalSociety on a good will, free of charge basis for one week per year to hold theannual agricultural show event. This field forms part of the larger NationalForest Estate in the Lesmahagow area also known locally as the Auchlochanpurchase. This particular O.Shectares of land was selected as it was felt afterlocal consultation and site visits to be by far the best possible area suited to thecommun 's needs. This took into consideration factors such as distance from

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village, soil quality, drainage, south facing aspect, shelter, accessibility forwheelchair users and those with mobility issues, ease of conversion toallotment use, vandal proof issues, sources of mains water connections andgeneral visual impact. A lease from part of the National Forest Land Estate wasfelt the best option given our past options appraisal on allotment possibilitieswithin our geographical boundary and in fitting with the local Fe Design Plan.See Appendix 10 outline boundarySee Appendix 10 (a) options appraisal

Lease xOwnershi

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2.4 Please describe how the community has "a substantial connection withthe land" (Criteria 2, p14).

The community should be situated by, near to, or on, the land. This could also include adescription of how the community currently accesses or uses the land and othercommunity interests in the land. 300 words maximum.The land proposedfor this GLLallotment project is approximately O.Smilesfrom the village of Lesmahagow's30 mile signs.

At present accessby individual membersof the community to this land is usedmainly for dog walking and larger organised events like the annualLesmahagowAgricultural Show.

TheGrow a Lot Lesmahagow(GLL)allotment project will provide a newgreenspaceresourcefor the benefit of all Lesmahagowresidents within easywalking Icycling distance for most of the population. This allotment project willprovide growing plots for local schools, interest groups and individual membersof the community. Thesize and scaleof the allotment site is best described inour allotment plan. Appendix 11

This project seeksto tackle a general lack of environmental projects withinLesmahagowand low economicopportunity within the area and to meet themboth in a financially sustainable way. The project also seeksto buildcommunity strength and cohesionby the way it operates.

Evidenceof this needfor comesfrom several sources: firstly, the experienceofthe Trust itself and the demandexpresseddirectly to Trust members; secondly,the Trust has conducteda range of community engagementand consultationexerciseswith individuals and community groups and others representingdifferent stakeholder interests.

LesmaghagowDevelopmentTrust is well established in the village with agrowing membership.TheTrust maintains formal links to communityorganisations e.g. CommunityCouncil,WRVSand informal links to others via itsindividual memberse.g. children's groups, local businesses,farmingcommunity and external bodies like Clydeand Avon Valley LandscapePartnership,ClydesdaleCommunity Initiative, Forestry Commission,localbusinessesand SocialCareorganisation's looking to possible therapeuticoutlets for their client base.TheTrust also have regular contact with SouthLanarkshireCouncilwho have no plans for community allotments in or aroundLesmaha ow in the foreseeable future.

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See Appendix12

LOT has consulted with many local groups eg: the Community Council; localschools; Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Cubs and Scout groups; and localbusinesses e.g. Auchlochan retirement village.All organisations have expressed support for the allotment proposals with anumber expressing interest in applying for plots.Appendix 13

We have at present 20+ individuals signed up for an allotment plot

2.S Tell us why your organisation wants to acquire the land?

Please give a brief outline of your plans for the land including the long term objectivesyour wish to achieve, and how you will manage the land differently. 300 wordsmaximum.

The plan for this land is to lease it for our project (GLL) which will be toestablish, manage and run a successful community allotment project. This willenable local demand from schools, interest groups and individuals to grow theirown produce, thereby reducing food miles, food waste, carbon reductions,improving lifestyles and creating better community cohesion.GLL's long term objectives is to enable key behavioural changes to take placewithin the Lesmahagow community to:

• Reduce carbon emissions• Reduce food waste• Increase composting• Encoura e healthier eatin

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• Improve health through physical activity• Improve mental health through social interaction• Strengthen community cohesion• Provide opportunities for lifelong learning• Alleviate poverty

The land will be managed differently as it will be the full responsibility of thecommunity trust and not the Forestry Commission (under the lease agreementand terms) to ensure all aspects of project objectives are delivered and meteffectively and professionally.

During the construction phase, decisions as to the management and delivery ofthe project will be taken jointly by the GLL partners. A lease will be completedand agreed with the FC.This process has already begun.As a minimum, the partners will meet monthly to evaluate progress of theproject, identify any deviation from plan and agree upon corrective action andcommunity consultation where required.Decisions as to the daily and ongo~ng management of the allotment project wmbe madeby the locally formed LesmahagowAllotment Committeecomprisingelected plot holders/growers and representatives of LDTwho will havcethefinal say on any decisions,with partners to the project participating in anadvisory capacity if necessaryand relevant.Best practice guidancewill be sought from outside organisations like theScottish Allotments &.GardensSocietyand appropriate managementmethodologyand practicewill beassessedand implemented to ensuresuccessespecially in relation to action/reflection monitoring and evaluation methods.

Section 3 - Demonstrating Community Support3.1 If the land has a market value of less than £50,000 please provideevidence of community support, eg petition, ballot, attendance record andminutes of public meeting (if more than £50,000go to 3.2).

A similar question was askedabout community support in 1.10where you refer

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to criteria 3 page 14.To avoid repetition as stated in your introduction please accept the followinginformation as additional:Land is valued at less than £50,000.00. as informed from our meeting with BobFrost and lohn Ogilvie from the Forestry Commission on 7thNov 2013.

To date we have:

Conducted a consultation of community opinion/ support (2009/10) forallotment ground during our negotiations relating to the sale of BirkwoodEstate walled garden site-unsuccessful

Conducted open consultations via the local press culminating in press coverageand political support.See Appendix 14

Prepared questionnaires for distribution.See Appendix 15

Conducteddiscussionsat LDTmeetings and local events -throughout 2013 wehave had 8 events where questionnaires were used to gaugecommunityopinion. The following statistics from Village markets held on 27thApril, 17thAugust, 26thOctober 2013, from specific consultation and focus group meetingsheld on 8thApril, 1stluly, 5thAugust, site visit focus group 17thAugust showedby returned forms of 73 of which 65 fully supported the allotment project.

Sent out email consultations.Refer back to Appendix 13

Conductedweb pagediscussions-we ran a facebook and twitter consultationand received responsesof 42 positives out of 59 total replies.

Discussedallotment issuesas standing item at our Trustees meetings.SeeAppendix 16-minutesSeeAppendix 16- minutes cont

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3.2 Where the land has a market value of £50,000 or more, a ballot isrequired to demonstrate community support. Please provide the followinginformation.a. Date of ballot.

b. Question which was put to ballot.

c. Number of people eligible to vote.

d. Number of eligible people who voted,including details of the number of proxy votes.e. Percentage of those eligible to vote who %voted (d/c x 100) = ,"

f. Number of eligible people who voted infavour of acquiring the land.g. Percentage of those voting, that voted in %favour (f/d x 100) =

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Title First Name SurnameAddress

PostcodeTele honeE-mail

)'.

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Section 4 - Capacity to Manage Land

Decisionsas to the managementof the land and delivery of the project will bethe responsibility of the LesmahagowDevelopmentTrust who will consult withthe GLLpartners. They are LesmahagowAllotment Group,Clydeand AvonValley LandscapePartnership (CAVLP).

The partners will meet monthly to evaluate progressof the project, identify anydeviation from plan and agree upon corrective action where required.Thereafter, decisionsas to the ongoing day to day managementof theallotment project will be madeby the LesmahagowAllotment Groupcomprisingplot holders and representatives of LesmahagowDevelopmentTrust. All finaldecisionsmadewill be the full legal responsibility of the lesmahagowDevelopmentTrust (LOT).

Trustee's relevant expertiseSeeAppendix 4

Manyof our individual trustees are involved in land related managementwork.LOTregularly seeksnew trustees to join and bring in new skills and closeanyskills gaps. LOTalso seeksadvice on a regular basis from outside professionalsand organisations.

Our managementand development plans regarding GLLallotment project.Seeappendix 17 pages7, 8 and 9The above plan also contains financial informationSeeAppendix 18This should be read in conjunction with........,....endix 7 CAVLPadditional fundi email

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Section 5 - Showing that your plans for the land willprovide additional benefit, are consistent with theprinciples of sustainable development, and are in thepublic interest.

Acquisition should achieve a range of additional public benefits for the community.These can be listed as economic, social and environmental benefits (but may not involveall of these). The benefits will come from your planned activities and outputs. Inaddition the land to be acquired should be sustainably used or developed. See Criteria 6and 7, pp15-16.

5.1 What economic benefits will the land acquisition bring to you and the

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wider community?

Economic benefits might include new jobs, greater job security, benefits from tourismincome, generation, timber sales or processing, a wider mix of economic activity in yourarea, development of renewable energy schemes etc. 300 words maximum.

GLLwill deliver a sustainable greenspaceasset for the community to useandenjoy for decadesto come.Health andwellbeing benefits will improve people'squality of life aswell as their economicopportunities.

Theworks to establish the allotment will bedelivered in part asanemployability project. It is also our aim to engagewith long term unemployedas trainees in this project to allow them to develop confidenceand skills. Theywill receive training andwork to create the allotment under the supervision ofqualified industry professionals.Traineeswill gain certificated qualificationsthroughout their participation in this project which will improve theiropportunities in the job market.

Theallotment will enable over 20 plot holders and their families in thecommunity to grow its own fruit and vegetables. Itwill give the opportunityexpressedby local schools to engagepupils and educate them about where ourfood comesfrom and how it is grown, harvested and used.

Growing produce locally will reducefood miles, require fewer trips to thesupermarket and reducefood waste. LOTwill accessresourcesand supportavailable through ZeroWasteScotland's 'Love FoodHateWaste' and 'HomeComposting' programmes.This will help saveon family budgets and allow abetter and more sustainable managementapproachto householdfinances. Theproject will improve the economiccircumstancesof local people.

The development of the project and on-going managementof the allotmentpresentsan excellent capacity building opportunity for the local community. Itwill also provide additional volunteering opportunities for the communitywhere skills can be learned, confidencebuilt and life skills developed.This willprepare people better for applying for work opportunities in the future.

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A promotional campaign will be undertaken via the LOTwebsite and within thevillage to highlight the GLL project. LOTmembers will promote GLL tocommunity groups and individuals. Our volunteer membership will playa vitalrole in raising awareness and involvement in the project. This will consolidateour vision of a more cohesive and participative community approach andimprove the social interaction of our community.

Volunteers will be sought to take on the role of 'Composting Champions' toencourage other residents to begin composting. Cooking classes will be held tohelp community members use fresh produce from the allotment in their--meals,to better plan what they buy from shops and to reduce the amount of foodwasted.

Increased access to recreational activity that this project will bring can only beof benefit to our residents and will encourage a more interactive communityand healthy environment for physical activity and social intercourse to takeplace.

We will also provide raised beds and accessible allotments for groups/individuals with accessibility issues and individuals with disabilities to improveintegration and inclusion and equality of opportunity for all residents.

Local schools will use their plots as educational resources as well as a source offresh produce. This will allow children to learn about where their food comesfrom. They will learn how growing produce locally can reduce food miles,therefore reducing carbon emissions. Pupils will also learn about theenvironmental and economic benefits of reducing food waste and ofcomposting. Monitoring behaviour change will be supported through theSchools Global Footprint tool kit.

This project will afford the opportunity to become more interactive which willhelp to engender a feeling of shared ownership, a sense of worth and an activeand engaged community.

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5.3 What environmental benefits will the project bring?

Environmental benefits might include improvements to the way in which the land ismanaged, habitat benefits, improved deer control, protection or enhancement ofarchaeological features etc. Including information on environmental and heritagedesignations. 300 words maximum.

This project will create a more bio-diverse environment comparedto thepresent grazing status of this pieceof land. This will encouragea more variedand qualitative wildlife zoneand habitat for all to enjoy. Schoolswill use thesite for wildlife identification and environmental teaching and the generalpopulation will beencouragedto visit enjoy the greenspacebenefits.

This educational resourcewill ensure that awareness is raisedabout widerissuessuchas climate changeand bring about positive changesin the adults oftomorrow.

Itwill also be part of a wider movement recognisedat Governmentallevel toincreasethe numberof allotment plots available to our population as a whole.TheMinister for RuralAffairs, RichardLocheadstated recently in the article zs"October in Third force News"CampaignersdemandRight to Grow LawstoBoostAllotment Use"that growing your own food is continuing to grow inpopularity and allotments provide a rangeof benefits suchas an opportunity tolearn new skills, an understandingof where our food comesfrom and betterhealth.

This project will also reducecarbonemissionsby growing local food thereforereducing food miles, reducing food related shopping trips and reducing foodwaste.Volunteerswill besought to take on the role of 'CompostingChampions'toencourageother residents to begin composting.

5.4 Tell us how you will deliver these economic, environmental, or socialbenefits.

What projects or outputs will bring these benefits about?

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Tell us about the capital costs involved in the delivery of the projects, and how these willbe met. Please refer to any plans or other documents you are submitting. Please alsoidentify the risks of the project not delivering, and how these risks will be managed.Please attach any additional documents. 300 words maximum.

LOTwill playa fundamental role in bringing the partners together on a regularbasis to ensure efficient and effective implementation and evaluation of allproject outcomesand will ensure that the community support for the project ismaintained and developedby using regular reporting mechanisms.

Capital costs will be met by our grant award from the CCFof £89,000.00.Wehavealso been pledgedadditional support monies for this project's capitalallocation and all costs covered for the training element from CAVLP.SeeAppendix 7

Capital costsSeeAppendix 18

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Whencapital costs are addedto by CAVLPmonies identified in Appendix 7-itgives a break even position in the first phaseof this project. Wehavehighlighted in the next question below how we intend to sustain the projectand raise the maintenancecost estimated at present at £4k per year oncewehavesatisfied all conditions of grant from CCFmoniesaswe are not permittedto incomegenerate during the drawdown of this monies.This post CCFfundingposition will allow us to implement our incomegenerating initiative and ensurefinancial sustainability of the long term project for our ongoing maintenancecosts.

If we do not begin works by the spring of 2014 at the latest then we will haveto withdraw from the grant acceptanceas the CCFwould no longer be able toyet again roll over the grant award into another financial year.

We have discussedthis as part of our risk assessmentand haveconcludedthatwe would continue for another year to secure the necessaryfunds to continuewith this proposal as there is now muchexpectations from the villagers. Weareconfident we could achievethis but are also of the opinion that the amount ofwork neededis immenseandwould rather be successful in the presentproposal aswe havealready beenawarded significant grant monies tocomplete this project. Weall feel it would be very disappointing to fall at theve last hurdle when we haveall voluntari so much into this ect over

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the last year and half.

Part of this section is N/ A for Forest Management/Plan as this is a very smallscale allotment project.

A Sustainable Action Plan has been discussed on several occasions by the Trust.We have so far drafted our development plan as a first stage approachsustainability.See Appendix 17

Once the initial capital grant has been successfully used in setting up theallotment project we envisage that the only on-going cost would be some smallgeneral maintenance work. Allotment holders would sign up to an agreementthat they would be responsible for their own plot upkeep, maintenance andensuring that the condition of the plot is kept to a high standard. This is a self­sustaining policy that we will introduce as part of our allotment contracts withindividuals holders. We will use our partnership group to ensure that anygeneral maintenance is done by local volunteers and perhaps trainees fromother environmental initiatives as part of their training schedules.

We do have as part of our grant condition from CCFthat we cannot charge orgenerate income during the time the project is running under the terms of thegrant but once this has been completed and signed off we intend to look atmore income eneratin activities.

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We will hold local fundraising events and apply for small grants awards toensure our maintenance costs are met in part or in whole.

We also intend to develop a training package that can be rolled out at cost toother community organisations who are considering allotment developments.

We also will have a poly tunnel erected on site which we will use for incomegeneration to add to our ongoing maintenance costs.

We will after the CCFgrant allocation runs out start to charge holders anannual rent to support our sustainability in this project.

As stated we cannot under the terms of CCFgrant generate income until wehave used and signed off our grant allocation and fulfilled our grant terms. Thiswill be after year two of our launch as the CCFgrant covers for this time period.We will use this time to plan and prepare for sustainable income generation.. -

5.6 What negative economic, social, or environmental consequences(if any)may occur asa result of your plans for the land?

Noneanticipated

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5.7 How would you propose to minimise these?

N/A

5.8 L_LriRSto other strategies

How will your plans support or compliment local/regional/national strategies?

The application should take into account local strategies and community plans. 100words maximum.

Relevanceto local, regionalandnational policiesand plans

This project specifically is in accordance with the Scottish Government'sobjectives for Scotland: wealthier and fairer, smarter, healthier, safer andstronger, and greener. The Community Empowerment Action Plan, jointlydeveloped by the Scottish Governmentand the Conventionof Scottish LocalAuthorities (CoSLA),details specifically how community acquisition or leasingof assetscan havea huge impact on empowerment. The project is relevant tothe achievementof the 15 outcomes in the South LanarkshireCouncilSingleOutcomeAgreement. Theproject is alignedwith the SouthLanarkshireCouncilRural Strategy strand 5.4 of "Growing our Rural Economy". The project alsosupports the Scottish Governmentplan that "development in rural economiesshould be recognisablysmaller in scaleand basedon community engagement,community planning and exploiting opportunities for asset basedcommunitydevelopment".

A rangeof communityengagementactivities identified a demandwithin theviii e for allotment lots. LOThasestablishedan excellent relationshi with

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Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS), helped greatly by successful delivery ofthe Paths to Progress project.Forestry Commission Scotland had included the idea of a community allotmentin their Forest District Design Plan on a site on the eastern boundary of thevillage.LDT then made contact with CAVLP, Leader and CCI to discuss this project andthe delivery of the construction works as a work experience and trainingproject. Funding was then secured from CCF.

5.9 It will be helpful to show that you have gained the support of keystakeholders and user groups for your proposals, including site users fromoutwith the immediate community.

You can show this through letters of support from local authorities, relevant governmentagencies, and local community groups or using Scottish Land Fund endorsement forms.Please submit any letters of support or endorsements with your application and recordthem on the checklist.

See Appendix numbers:7,8,9,12,13,14,19

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Finishing Your ApplicationApplicant Signature

An Office Bearer of the applicant organisation should sign this declaration. It must be adifferent person to the main contact given in Section 1.

Part of the information that you give us will be held electronically. It will be used foradministering and analysing applications.

I declare that:

The information given in this application and in any other documentation that supportsthis application is accurate.

Title Mr I First Name David I Surname McCollPosition held in your ChairpersonorganisationDate 22/11/13 Signature will be on hard copy

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Contact

The National Forest Land Scheme TeamForestry Commission ScotlandNational Office231 Corstorphine RoadEdinburghEH127AT

Tel: 0131 334 0303Fax: 0131 314 6152E-mail: fcscotland@forestry.gsLgov.ukWeb: www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland

Published by - Forestry Commission Scotland © Crown Copyright 2009

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