1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Glasgow
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Linn Park
Short description of the intervention
The aim of the project was to protect and enhance the areas of core nature conservation interest and adopt environmental management principles to help reduce the impact of management operations on the environment. Linn park and Local Nature Reserve (LNR) is the second-largest park in the city. Linn Park comprises a mosaic of riparian woodland along the White Cart corridor principally broadleaf in character, mixed woodland plantation blocks connected by a series of mixed-species shelterbelts, scrub, meadow, amenity grassland, and parkland trees. The woodland provides habitat for a great variety and number of birds both resident and migratory. Some areas of the woodland have good ground flora diversity including the occurrence of Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) in patches.
The park is particularly of note for its floristic and bird diversity with some 250 and 60 species recorded respectively. Some animals and plants of interest include Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), Otter (Lutra lutra) and Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and Great-spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) and Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria) in the woodlands. It is scarce in Scotland and Linn Park and is one of only 3 sites in Glasgow this species is found (Ref 4). Linn Park and Local Nature Reserve (LNR) was awarded a Green Flag in 2013. The Green Flag Award is the benchmark national standard for quality parks and green spaces (Ref. 3).
Address

Glasgow G44 5TA
Glasgow, UK
Glasgow
United Kingdom

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary
POINT (-4.256611 55.813291)
POINT (-4.254784 55.810948)
POINT (-4.254842 55.807964)
POINT (-4.247763 55.807418)
POINT (-4.256214 55.801323)
POINT (-4.268531 55.804006)
POINT (-4.263891 55.810402)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Title: Linn Park Area Image. Source: Google Maps. Available at: https://www.google.com/maps/search/linn+park/@55.8042296,-4.2693288,2795m/data=!3m1!1e3. Accessed on 26th July, 2020.
Total area
820000.00m²
NBS area
555000.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Public Greenspace Area
Website of the intervention
http://www.linnpark.org.uk/
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2012
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2013
End date of the intervention
2018
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Please specify "other" stage of the intervention
The intervention is restructuring and implementing the overall project.
Goals of the intervention
The objectives were to bring the woodlands into positive management and to improve visitor access and enjoyment. This included sustainability issues affecting Linn Park with considerations of (a) Environmental Management System (b) Reduce use of Pesticides (c) Use of Horticultural Peat (d) Green Waste Disposal (e) Horticultural and Arboricultural Standards and Butterfly and other species Conservation. Other objectives included the renovation of the park area with considerations of (a) lighting the tree canopy of the entrance, (b) replacing signage, (c) addition of new directional fingerposts, (d) replacement of park furniture and (e) provide access to disabled people. (Ref 5)
Quantitative targets
Unknown
Monitoring indicators defined
CO2 sequestration, number of species preserved, number of satisfied tourists, local air temperature reduction. (Ref 5).
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change mitigation
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Environmental quality
Air quality improvement
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Tourism support
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Climate change mitigation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Sequester and store carbon
Climate change mitigation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Increase green urban nature for carbon storage (wetlands, tree cover)
Improve carbon sequestration through selection of more adaptable species
Invest in public transport/bicycle infrastructure as a means to prevent car use
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Protect and enhance urban habitats
Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
Protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect species
Means for conservation governance
Raise public awareness
Public engagement
Implementation activities
The council developed a five-year management plan (2013-2018) to restructure the park. The activities include (a) conserving Natural Features Wildlife and Flora (b) preserving species of note associated with the river including Dipper (Cinclus cinclus), Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), Otter (Lutra lutra), Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) and Daubenton’s Bat (Myotis daubentonii). In addition to this, the meadows were extended while still leaving ample amenity grassland for visitors. Also to renovate the area with creating, restructuring and replacing the main entrance, signage, park amenities and fingerposts. This was done in a way to make the park and the LNR to provide easy access to the physically disabled people. Other implementation activities included engaging the public and raise awareness through the improvement of marketing and promotion.
Type of NBS project
Maintenance and management of urban nature
Knowledge creation and awareness raising
Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Parks and urban forests
Large urban parks or forests
Vegetation Type
Grass
Shrubs
Trees
Flower beds
Garden beds
Please specify how many trees were planted
unknown
Amenities offered by the NBS
Benches and drinking water stations
Playgrounds
Educational or biodiversity trails
Educational and research amenities (nature protection centre, monitoring stations)
Complementing infrastructure (bathrooms, café)
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Local climate regulation (temperature reduction)
Air quality regulation
Carbon storage/sequestration
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Tourism
Aesthetic appreciation
Recreation
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Citizens or community groups
Marginalized groups
Marginalized groups
People with functional diversities
Governance
Governance arrangements
Government-led
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
Glasgow City Council owns Linn Park and the intervention was done by the Parks Department (Ref. 1). The park also has two partner organizations, Glasgow life and Friends of Linn Park. But they didn't have any governance role in the intervention (Ref 5).
Key actors - initiating organization
Local government/municipality
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Business association or network
Citizens or community group
Social enterprise
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Dissemination of information and education
Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)
Citizen monitoring and review
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005, Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, UK Biodiversity Action Plan and Local Agenda 21.
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
Linn Park Management Plan 2013-2018 (Ref 3), Glasgow Open Space Strategy 2012 (Ref 5). Linn Park Woodland and Open Habitat Management Plan 2011-2015, Glasgow’s Buzzing, Glasgow Alliance Strategy (Ref 5).
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Spatial planning guidance
Environmental regulation
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Management Plan Framework for Linn Park 2012-2017 (Ref 5). Linn Park Woodland and Open Habitat Management Plan 2011-2015, Glasgow Open Space Strategy 2012 (Ref 5).
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
Glasgow’s Buzzing, Glasgow Alliance Strategy (Ref 5).
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
Biodiversity strategy or plan
Municipal / city level environmental plan or programme
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Green Space Scotland, Friends of Linn park (Ref 5).
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
National Lottery Fund Programmes - Heritage Lottery Fund, Parks Development Programme (PDP) budget, WIAT funding (Ref 5),
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Yes
Co-governance arrangement
A fund / grant
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Set up specifically for this NBS
Financing
Total cost
€2,000,000 - €4,000,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
More than 270,000 pounds (Ref 5)
Source(s) of funding
Public national budget
Public regional budget
Public local authority budget
Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
Crowdfunding
Other
Please specify other source of funding
National Lottery Fund Programmes - Heritage Lottery Fund, Parks Development Programme (PDP) budget, WIAT funding (Ref 5).
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Other
Please specify other type of fund used
National Lottery Fund Programmes - Heritage Lottery Fund, Parks Development Programme (PDP) budget, WIAT funding.
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Green education model
Green heritage model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Unknown
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Environmental quality
Improved air quality
Green space and habitat
Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
Increase in protected green space areas
Reduced biodiversity loss
Increased protection of threatened species
Please specify other economic impact
The project was expected to bring more tourists to the place but the results are not reported.
Description of environmental benefits
The following impacts were reported:
(a) protected and enhanced the areas of core nature conservation interest and adopted environmental management principles to help reduce the impact of management operations on the environment;
(b) protected and enhanced biodiversity throughout the site;
(c) protected and maintained the tree species which captures carbon and improves the local climate;
(d) rationalization of operational depots reduces the overall energy consumption, using fewer vehicles and plant helps with the air quality and carbon footprint, sourcing local provenance trees and shrubs preserves biodiversity and reduces the travel distance (Ref 2, 5).
Economic impacts
Unknown
Other
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
Education
Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Description of social and cultural benefits
The following impacts were reported:
(a) easy access for all brought more physically challenged visitors;
(b) increased local engagement with the park biodiversity, maintenance and benefits;
(c) improved perception of the green spaces in and around the city among the locals;
(d) the serene beauty of the place brought more visitors for walking, biking and to connect more with nature;
(e) the locals were consulted in all the stages to encourage them to get involved more. This includes providing them with the updates and the benefits of the park. the more involvement of the locals with the park has helped to improve their knowledge about the area and the added benefits it provides. (Ref 1, 4)
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Protected species including trees, birds and butterflies.
Increased number of visitors.
Increased number of locals interested in engaging with the park.
Increased awareness among the locals about the park and its benefits. (Ref 1, 4)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Environmental quality
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Analysis of specific impact categories
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Improved access to green and/or blue spaces
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
unknown as of July, 2020.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Collection of monitoring data continuously throughout the project to aid evaluation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Interviews
Observation (including virtual surveillance methods)
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
The water birds using the White Cart Water at Linn Park are counted monthly as part of a national survey, the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS). (Ref 5)
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Yes
Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Questionnaire
Interview
Submission of monitoring data (citizen observation)
Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Survey, Online Customer Survey System, Glasgow Citizen’s Panel, autumn 2006 and spring 2007, autumn 2007 and spring 2008, Friends Groups. Land and Environmental Services are currently assessing an on line visitor survey system called GreenSTAT. This is a standing survey which can be accessed on-line at any time and supplemented by additional on site, off site or face to face surveys if required. (Ref 5)
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Documents relevant to the intervention
Attachment Size
History of Linn Park (16.67 KB) 16.67 KB
Strategic Best Value Review and Implementation Action (2.18 MB) 2.18 MB
List of references
1. The Parks Department. Linn Park, et alia loca. Available at: http://www.linnpark.org.uk/. Accessed on 27th July 2020.
2. Linn Park. The Wikipedia, free Encyclopedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linn_Park. Accessed on 27th July 2020.
3. Linn Park and Local Natural Reserve. Glasgow City Council. Available at: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=16591 . accessed on 27th July 2020.
4. Linn Park LNR. Friends of Glasgow’s Local Nature Reserves. Available at: https://friendsofglasgowlnrs.wordpress.com/local-nature-reserves/linn-park-lnr/. Accessed on 27th July 2020.
5. Linn Park and Local Reserve Management Plan 2013-2018. Land and Environmental Services. Available at: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=31513&p=0. Accessed on 27th July 2020.
6. Linn Park Adventure Playground. Glasgow Life. Available at: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/communities/venues/linn-park-adventure-playground. Accessed on 28th July, 2020.
Attachments
Attachment Size
The Linn Park Management Plant (4.05 MB) 4.05 MB
Additional comments
1. “The park was acquired by Glasgow Corporation in 1919 and incorporated within the city boundaries in 1938. It was originally part of the lands of Hagtonhill and several others owned by the Maxwell family, who were extensive local landowners based at Pollok House” (Ref 2). “Linn Park was declared Glasgow’s 8th Local Nature Reserve on 4th July 2012” (Ref 4).
2. The Park operates under BSI Environmental Management System – ISO 1400. This certification process operates on a 3 year cycle and is independently audited by UKAS accredited auditors twice every year with the 6th audit being a re-certification visit. The certificate number is EMS 74572 and the scope is for ‘The management and maintenance of crematoria, cemeteries, parks, country parks, livestock, landscape work, and glasshouses. The operation and maintenance of golf courses, playing fields, outdoor events and outdoor recreation facilities.’ (Ref 5).
Comments and notes
Additional insights
“The Green Flag Award scheme is an established national standard for quality in greenspace management in England and Wales. It has been piloted as a scheme for benchmarking the quality of parks and green spaces in Scotland since 2007 by Greenspace Scotland in partnership with The Civic Trust in England. Following the success of the pilots the Green Flag Award scheme is now available in Scotland administered by Keep Scotland Beautiful” (Ref 5).
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/linn-falls.jpg
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/linn-park.jpg
Public Images
The Linn Park
The Linn Park
Source: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g186534-d214738-i52265539-Linn_Park-Glasgow_Scotland.html
The Linn Park
The Linn Park
Source: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g186534-d214738-i52265539-Linn_Park-Glasgow_Scotland.html