Workshop outcomes: Understanding people’s landscape

On November 25, 2023, we invited visitors at the Blairgowrie market to envision their ideal landscape. Participants placed various land use activities across the Ericht catchment, revealing a shared desire for a diverse landscape featuring both agricultural and forested areas. A common theme emerged: they wanted more hedges in agricultural lands and more forests instead of the low vegetation typically found in the glens.

When asked to rank the economic benefits they wished for their communities, participants expressed a strong desire for more funds to invest in community land purchases. For environmental benefits, they prioritized secure local food production to enhance food security. In terms of social benefits, they wanted more opportunities to engage in local nature restoration projects and to build stronger relationships across the region.

This exercise provided valuable insights into the public’s vision and priorities for their landscape.

Different land uses placed across the landscapes, showing the participants’ vision in a diverse and multifunctional land.