ADD 
                                 Dedridge Environment 
                                               Ecology Project  
                                West Lothian, Scotland 
                                                                           
                                                         The Research Agency of the 
                        An urban community greenspace management projeFoct orestry n a 3Com.5mi hass sioitn e  
                                                                             
                                                                            
                               Dedridge Environment Ecology Project 
     
    This case study is one of a set written as part of a Forest Research project. Some case studies are written by the community 
    group, others by researchers who visited and interviewed group members, but they have all been validated and endorsed by the 
    community groups.  
     
    Forest Research developed a standard method for describing the case studies, outlined in Lawrence and Ambrose-Oji, 2013 “A 
    framework for sharing experiences of community woodland groups” Forestry Commission Research Note 15 (available from 
    www.forestry.gov.uk/publications). 
     
    The case study comprises three parts:  
     
    1. The Group Profile provides essential information about the form and function of the community woodland group.  Profiles 
    were prepared following the methodology  
    2. The Change Narrative which documents key moments in the evolution of the community woodland group with a particular 
    focus on the evolution of engagement and empowerment  
    3. The Engagement and Impacts Timeline documents milestones in the development of the community woodland group, its 
    woodland and any assumed or evidenced impacts. 
    The case studies collectively provide a resource which documents the diversity and evolution of community woodland groups 
    across Scotland, Wales and England. The method ensures that the case studies are consistent and can be compared with each 
    other. We welcome further case studies to add to this growing resource.  
    For further information, and for the detailed case study method, please contact:  
     
    Bianca Ambrose-Oji: (Bianca.Ambrose-Oji@forestry.gsi.gov.uk) 
     
    For further information about this case study, please contact:  
    wilma2104@yahoo.co.uk 
    2    |    CWG Case Study:  CS37 Dedridge Environment Ecology Project |    Tom Cooper    |    March 2014 
     
                                                                                       Dedridge Environment Ecology Project 
            
           1. Group profile 
           Woodland: Dedridge Burn and associated Environment including Dedridge Plantation and Dedridge Pond 
           Map ref: NT 059 663 
           Webpage: http://www.spanglefish.com/dedridgeenvironmentecologyproject/  
           Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DedridgeEnvironmentEcologyProject/ 
           Date of profile: 30/03/14 
           Resources: In-person meeting 
            
           1. Institutional context (in March 2014) 
           1.1 Ownership of The land on which Dedridge Environment Ecology Project (DEEP) carry out their projects is publicly owned and 
           the woodland(s) maintained by West Lothian Council. 
                                        
                                       Classification of tenure: Informal agreement (public) 
                                        
           1.2 Access and  The land on which DEEP operate is publicly accessible and generally located along the corridor of the Dedridge Burn. 
           use rights to the Access along the burn is provided by one of the Livingston Greenways, and multi-user tarmac path network serving 
           woodland(s)                 the Livingston area. Paths linking to the greenway give access to adjacent woodland, parks, and pond features 
                                       which are located along the burn corridor. Dedridge Plantation has a number of these path links providing access 
                                       from housing areas adjacent to the woods. 
                                        
           1.3 Regulations/ The minimum legal requirements for H&S, historic monuments and pest and diseases management as outlined in 
           responsibilities  the UK Forestry Standard. 
           affecting the                
           woodland(s)                 The site is not designated and there are no legal constraints on the site or on its use.  The group does not have an 
                                       access agreement and have not found it necessary to have one.  All legal obligations lie with the site owners (West 
                                       Lothian Council). 
                                        
                                        
           3    |    CWG Case Study:  CS37 Dedridge Environment Ecology Project |    Tom Cooper    |    March 2014 
            
                                                    Dedridge Environment Ecology Project 
        
                         
       2. Internal organisation of the group/enterprise 
       2.1 Group        There are no restrictions of any kind to membership of the group. 
       members,          
       representation  The community is mainly a community of place who are the people who live and work in the Dedridge area as well 
       and decision     as other stakeholders who use the site.  The group feel they fully represent the community and have very good 
       making           relationships with other groups in the area including schools, youth groups, and churches.  The community is very 
                        well represented at meetings and in activities. 
                         
                        The committee meet in one of the member’s homes.  Decisions/issues are taken to open meetings held regularly at 
                        the local community centre, where matters are discussed and put to the vote.  There has never been a poorly 
                        attended meeting.  
                         
       2.2              The main methods of communicating the group’s activities are regular open meetings and information days. The 
       Communication  meetings are attended by members of the local community council who report back to their group. They also have a 
       and learning     website where achievements are posted.  A Facebook page has been established more recently which is updated by 
       processes        one of the groups’ volunteers. 
                         
                        The group advertise their meetings in a locally produced publication which is distributed to every home in Dedridge.  
                        Meeting dates and location are always advertised in West Lothian Courier (newspaper). 
                        Information days (approximately 1 per year) are also held.  Some activities are promoted by the Central Scotland 
                        Forest Trust both electronically and in hard copy (leaflets, fliers and posters). 
                         
                        The group report that their methods have been effective to date, but are aware of the need to further engage with 
                        key age-groups, in particular young adults within the community.  
                         
       2.3 Structure    The group was formally constituted in 2007 and is registered as a charity and regulated by OSCR.  The Objectives 
       and legal status  of DEEP which are written into the constitution are: 
       4    |    CWG Case Study:  CS37 Dedridge Environment Ecology Project |    Tom Cooper    |    March 2014