The Crichton Trust, a heritage charity and social enterprise located in Dumfries, Southwest Scotland, has been awarded an Open Societal Challenges (OSC) funding grant for its “Regenerative Greenspace” project. This initiative aims to create a framework for measuring progress toward regenerative and heritage greenspace, integrating community well-being, biodiversity, and sustainable greenspace management. The funding marks a significant step for the Trust in its commitment to sustainability and innovation.
The Crichton Trust: A Hub of Heritage and Innovation
The Crichton Trust manages the former Crichton Royal institution estate, a sprawling Victorian asylum site encompassing 85 acres of green spaces and 27 buildings, 22 of which are historically listed. Today, the estate serves as a vibrant center for academia, business, and culture, hosting three universities and over 160 small to medium-sized enterprises. Its 85 acres of parkland are a valuable resource for residents, tourists, students, and the broader community. The Crichton Trust significantly boosts the economy of southern Scotland, contributing over 2.5% of the region’s economic activity.
Addressing Key Challenges
Jennifer Challinor, Head of Research and Development at The Crichton Trust, expressed enthusiasm for the OSC grant, emphasizing its alignment with the Trust’s vision of prioritizing people, place, and the planet. The project seeks to address a critical question: How can large heritage estates effectively balance the often-competing goals of achieving net-zero carbon emissions, enhancing community well-being, protecting biodiversity, and preserving their heritage.
Recognizing the challenges in developing a roadmap to Net Zero, The Crichton Trust and The Open University (OU) team are collaborating to create a comprehensive framework. This framework will support the Trust’s staff and other heritage estate managers in developing greenspace management plans that harmonize biodiversity, community well-being, and the economics of maintaining these spaces.
Collaboration with The Open University
The project will be conducted in partnership with The Open University’s interdisciplinary research team, which includes experts in co-design, regenerative design, environmental sciences, and smart city technologies.
The collaboration will focus on two key deliverables:
A Shared Definition of “Regenerative Greenspace”: Workshops will be conducted with stakeholders from various heritage estates to establish a consensus on what constitutes regenerative greenspace and to define measurable indicators.
A Framework for Measuring Progress: The team will design and pilot a tool that integrates metrics for net-zero goals, community engagement, biodiversity, and innovation. This tool will enable estate managers to develop evidence-based strategies, track progress, and communicate results to stakeholders and the local community.
Expected Transformational Impacts
The project is expected to yield significant real-world benefits, influencing policy and promoting sustainable practices among heritage and conservation organizations nationwide. The Crichton Trust and the OU research team are committed to disseminating knowledge through academic publications, conferences, and a policy brief aimed at shaping national funding and sustainability strategies. The framework has the potential to inform global practices, benefiting green spaces and communities worldwide. The project aims to build a foundation for a toolkit that demonstrates the impact of changing heritage space maintenance practices and promotes a holistic, asset-based approach to greenspaces.
Future Directions
The grant, which supports research activities from December 2024 to August 2025, will facilitate the involvement of emerging researchers, including an intern specializing in horticulture and community development. This project will lay the foundation for future funding applications, potentially leading to the creation of a fully operational toolkit for regenerative greenspace management. With this support, The Crichton Trust is positioned to become a leader in addressing global challenges such as climate change and societal well-being.
The OU’s Open Societal Challenges program aims to address critical societal challenges through impactful research, aligning with the OU’s mission to be open to people, places, methods, and ideas. The program focuses on tackling inequalities, promoting well-being, and fostering sustainability to drive societal change.
