Cairngorms 2030 drop-in session in Ballater

Drop-in session in Ballater as National Park’s Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 community consultation roadshow continues

The Cairngorms National Park Authority will host a drop-in session in Ballater on 9 November, 1-6.30pm at the Victoria and Albert Halls and residents and businesses are being encouraged to drop-in, find out more about the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme and its suite of 24 projects and give their thoughts on the programme’s plans during this development stage.

Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 is putting the power to tackle the climate and nature crises in the hands of people who live, visit and work in the UK’s largest national park. The programme will put local people at the heart of decision-making; work with land managers to restore and enhance landscapes; make getting around the Park easier, safer, and greener; and foster healthier, happier communities with wellbeing at their heart. Heritage Horizons is an unprecedented partnership of over 45 organisations and is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The drop-in session is the latest community engagement activity to be hosted in the National Park following a number of online and in-person activities that have taken place over the past few months. These sessions have showcased some of the work the Park Authority hopes to develop through the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme, and crucially, will provide feedback from people in Park communities that can then be acted upon.

People in Ballater are invited to come drop-in and share their thoughts on how we can make the Cairngorms National Park a place where people and nature can thrive together.

Drop in information stands will be available on:

• Making it easier to get around Deeside by active and sustainable travel e.g. walking, cycling, using a wheelchair or public transport
• Community involvement in responding to the climate emergency
• Exploring what a wellbeing economy could look like for the Cairngorms National Park

Two topic-specific workshops will also be taking place at this event:

• Climate Conscious Communities – 3.30-5.30pm. Find out more and sign up here.
• Wellbeing Economies and the benefits they bring – 6-7 pm. Find out more and sign up here.

The drop-in sessions will focus on some key areas including active travel and sustainable transport, looking at how to make it easier to get around Deeside without needing to use a private car.

The climate crisis impacts us all and there are already communities coming together to see what they can do collectively to become more climate resilient. As part of the drop-in sessions, there will be a variety of workshops available to explore what could be possible within local areas to tackle the climate crisis, changes in local landscapes and to discuss what a wellbeing economy may look like for the National Park.

The Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players. The active travel projects are also supported by Sustrans Scotland Places for Everyone with funding from Transport Scotland.