Sustainable Rural Development - Environmental Consultants

Online Resources - Case Studies

Rural Resources staff and core associates lead specialist teams to deliver in our five core delivery themes. Please click on a link to view a listing of the typical projects recently completed for each area.

Community
Environmental
Organisational
Economic
Learning

Community Resources
Central Birkenhead Neighbourhood Forum - analysis of the communities needs in the Wirral, central Birkenhead.

Cefn Mawr - feasibility study for heritage trail based on heritage resource, using community consultation and socio/economic research.

STVEI (Small Towns and Villages Enterprise Initiative), in Llanrwst near Betws-y-Coed - where a committee was organised to carry out grant applications to improve the local area's buildings.

Wenlock Museum development - public consultation leading to the design of museum improvements to support better community use.

Llanfechain Shop - a feasibility study completed with the local people where the aim was to see if keeping the existing local shop open was worth while.

Whittington Castle - Community consultation leading to submission to the Countryside Agency Doorstep Greens Initiative for improvements to the castle grounds. It was carried out in partnership with Ashmead Price Landscape Architects.

Market Towns Initiative - Consultation leading to the formation of Action & Implementation Plans (Brigg, Craven Arms, Wem, Whitchurch, Market Drayton and Oswestry).

Return to top

Environmental Resources

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds / Birdlife International - Steve spent five months working as a PRA and project development advisor to the Uluguru Slopes Planning Project in Tanzania.

Natural Resources Institute - Steve represented ICCE as a consultant to the NRI-managed Lake Tanganyika Biodiversity Project in Tanzania (funded under the UN Global Environment Fund), using and developing participatory approaches for environmental education.

Training in community led environmental project support, Zambia - Steve developed a national PLA training course and support manuals for the Zambian Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources for developing local community driven environmental programmes which link to national strategy.

Cefn Mawr - feasibility study for heritage trail based on heritage resource, using community consultation and socio/economic research.
Severn Vyrnwy project - We helped carry out the initial economic assessment and have since been involved in a variety of aspects of the projects development.

Rural Greenway Consultation (for NIF), Lincolnshire - Rural Resources ran a consultation along the backbone of the Isle of Axeholme looking at access improvement opportunities.

Oswestry Hills Landscape Study - following production of the national Joint Character Map for the English landscape, Rural Resources carried out a study with the aim of characterising the landscape of the Oswestry Hills area. This provided a foundation for more integrated and effective countryside management.

Offa's Dyke Area Development Plan - following Foot & Mouth. This included desk research, liaison with interested bodies, contact with local community leaders and development of generic ideas for rural improvement.

Woodland management - this included support to a number of owners in developing woodland management plans and in carrying out works.

Bracken compost (as a land management tool) - we carried out a market assessment for bracken compost which was being trialed on the Long Mynd. Also the wider development of the product looking at the economics of the whole production life cycle and economics of production.

Return to top

Organisational Resources

Countryside Agency Vital Villages Programme - Rural Resources carried out a review of organisation and manpower of this England wide programme with support from the Tavistock Institute.

Community Fund International Grants Programme - Irene is an external grants officer, assessing applications for natural resource based and rural development projects. This includes financial, project planning and management, and sustainability reviews.

Concern Worldwide - Irene conducted an extensive literature review of participatory monitoring and evaluation in overseas development programmes, with recommendations for developing Concern's practices.

SRB - Stockport - Working with NIF we were involved in a number of projects in Stockport, including reviewing an SRB programme.

Christian Aid - Carrying out a meta-evaluation of evaluations made on projects by the organisation and others to draw out important learning points as pertaining to the evaluations themselves and to project development.

STVEI (Small Towns and Villages Enterprise Initiative), in Llanrwst near Betws-y-Coed - where a committee was organised to carry out grant applications to improve the local area's buildings.

Market Towns Initiative Forums - Partnership development support in the West Midlands Region.

Welsh Timber Forum - In addition to providing the network management support for the first year we also supported the development of the group and its first business plan.

DOSTI - (network of networks) Review and development of proposals to improve network running and set up a monitoring and evaluation system.

RFIS project - We are involved in carrying out an information management review for marine fisheries in 5 countries.

Students Partnership Worldwide - Over two years, we worked with SPW on staff training and carrying out a basic organisational development assessment

In addition to the contracts listed, Rural Resources has supported developmental discussions with a number of bodies/organisations (including the Marches Leader II programmes) looking at developing participatory internal monitoring and evaluation systems.

Return to top

Economic Resources

Offa's Dyke Study - desk-based and field research towards developing an integrated rural development strategy towards rural recovery following the Foot and Mouth crisis in the English - Welsh border areas.

Llanfechain Shop - feasibility study on the shop/petrol station in a small Welsh village.

STVEI (Small Towns and Villages Enterprise Initiative), in Llanrwst near Betws-y-Coed - organisation development work to rejuvenate this rural economic development programme, involving extensive partnership development and recommendations for taking forward the action planning process.

Colne Valley Social Business Study - feasibility study to assess the set up of a social business undertaking community research.

N.E. Wales Charcoal Group - investigation into the market opportunities (including customer profiling and market assessment) for charcoal and woodfuel producers.

Bracken compost - a different type of compost that is cheap and abundant in many areas. Rural Resources supported product development and carried out a marketing assessment.

Greenman - assessment of the needs of the wood users' businesses in the Conwy Valley area and the opportunities for maximising wood chain benefits, joint marketing and the appropriate training needs assessment.

Pigs Fly 2002 - this event was for rural entrepreneurs, businesses, alternative technologies and environmentalists. The aim was to bring together rural economy innovators from all sectors and around Britain. It was organised by Rural Resources in partnership with Insight Research, another Welshpool based business.

Welsh Timber Forum - Support in developing first business plan and Objective 1 bids.

Marches Countryside Product Forum - Steve chaired and supported the development and support of MCPF including detailed market assessment, customer and producer profiling and marketing development planning.

Micro business support - business development support for Special Branch, an arboricultural business in south Wales, carried out under the WDA's Timber II and environment programmes.

Discovery Links (sustainable tourism) - facilitation and development support to a community tourism project in south Shropshire in and around the AONB.

Return to top

Learning Resources

NIF training in the Wirral - Consultation meeting and training session.

Participation Cymru - Training courses and mentoring support, focussing on participation.

NIF - A wide variety of training development and delivery (see forthcoming events).

Middle Marches Partnership - Training needs analysis, to review the training available in traditional building, countryside management and furniture skills in the Middle Marches. The aim being to identify gaps, barriers and opportunities to develop new training (formal and informal).

Lake Tanganyika Biodiversity Project - Steve trained a local team in appropriate methods for participatory techniques for community management of catchments and fisheries.

Regional Fisheries Information System Project - Long term support as retained consultant on behalf of PMTC. This is carrying out training, information management and other support to 5 countries in southern Africa (SADC) towards improved marine fisheries management.

Return to top

Tel: 01938 555759 Fax: 0870 133 7852 Email: admin@rural-resources.co.uk
Web: www.rural-resources.co.uk
1 New Street, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 7SF

	Online Resources - Case Studies Rural Resources staff and core associates lead specialist teams to deliver in our five core delivery themes. Please click on a link to view a listing of the typical projects recently completed for each area. Community Environmental Organisational Economic Learning Community Resources Central Birkenhead Neighbourhood Forum - analysis of the communities needs in the Wirral, central Birkenhead. Cefn Mawr - feasibility study for heritage trail based on heritage resource, using community consultation and socio/economic research. STVEI (Small Towns and Villages Enterprise Initiative), in Llanrwst near Betws-y-Coed - where a committee was organised to carry out grant applications to improve the local area's buildings. Wenlock Museum development - public consultation leading to the design of museum improvements to support better community use. Llanfechain Shop - a feasibility study completed with the local people where the aim was to see if keeping the existing local shop open was worth while. Whittington Castle - Community consultation leading to submission to the Countryside Agency Doorstep Greens Initiative for improvements to the castle grounds. It was carried out in partnership with Ashmead Price Landscape Architects. Market Towns Initiative - Consultation leading to the formation of Action & Implementation Plans (Brigg, Craven Arms, Wem, Whitchurch, Market Drayton and Oswestry). Return to top
	Environmental Resources Royal Society for the Protection of Birds / Birdlife International - Steve spent five months working as a PRA and project development advisor to the Uluguru Slopes Planning Project in Tanzania. Natural Resources Institute - Steve represented ICCE as a consultant to the NRI-managed Lake Tanganyika Biodiversity Project in Tanzania (funded under the UN Global Environment Fund), using and developing participatory approaches for environmental education. Training in community led environmental project support, Zambia - Steve developed a national PLA training course and support manuals for the Zambian Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources for developing local community driven environmental programmes which link to national strategy. Cefn Mawr - feasibility study for heritage trail based on heritage resource, using community consultation and socio/economic research. Severn Vyrnwy project - We helped carry out the initial economic assessment and have since been involved in a variety of aspects of the projects development. Rural Greenway Consultation (for NIF), Lincolnshire - Rural Resources ran a consultation along the backbone of the Isle of Axeholme looking at access improvement opportunities. Oswestry Hills Landscape Study - following production of the national Joint Character Map for the English landscape, Rural Resources carried out a study with the aim of characterising the landscape of the Oswestry Hills area. This provided a foundation for more integrated and effective countryside management. Offa's Dyke Area Development Plan - following Foot & Mouth. This included desk research, liaison with interested bodies, contact with local community leaders and development of generic ideas for rural improvement. Woodland management - this included support to a number of owners in developing woodland management plans and in carrying out works. Bracken compost (as a land management tool) - we carried out a market assessment for bracken compost which was being trialed on the Long Mynd. Also the wider development of the product looking at the economics of the whole production life cycle and economics of production. Return to top
	Organisational Resources Countryside Agency Vital Villages Programme - Rural Resources carried out a review of organisation and manpower of this England wide programme with support from the Tavistock Institute. Community Fund International Grants Programme - Irene is an external grants officer, assessing applications for natural resource based and rural development projects. This includes financial, project planning and management, and sustainability reviews. Concern Worldwide - Irene conducted an extensive literature review of participatory monitoring and evaluation in overseas development programmes, with recommendations for developing Concern's practices. SRB - Stockport - Working with NIF we were involved in a number of projects in Stockport, including reviewing an SRB programme. Christian Aid - Carrying out a meta-evaluation of evaluations made on projects by the organisation and others to draw out important learning points as pertaining to the evaluations themselves and to project development. STVEI (Small Towns and Villages Enterprise Initiative), in Llanrwst near Betws-y-Coed - where a committee was organised to carry out grant applications to improve the local area's buildings. Market Towns Initiative Forums - Partnership development support in the West Midlands Region. Welsh Timber Forum - In addition to providing the network management support for the first year we also supported the development of the group and its first business plan. DOSTI - (network of networks) Review and development of proposals to improve network running and set up a monitoring and evaluation system. RFIS project - We are involved in carrying out an information management review for marine fisheries in 5 countries. Students Partnership Worldwide - Over two years, we worked with SPW on staff training and carrying out a basic organisational development assessment In addition to the contracts listed, Rural Resources has supported developmental discussions with a number of bodies/organisations (including the Marches Leader II programmes) looking at developing participatory internal monitoring and evaluation systems. Return to top
	Economic Resources Offa's Dyke Study - desk-based and field research towards developing an integrated rural development strategy towards rural recovery following the Foot and Mouth crisis in the English - Welsh border areas. Llanfechain Shop - feasibility study on the shop/petrol station in a small Welsh village. STVEI (Small Towns and Villages Enterprise Initiative), in Llanrwst near Betws-y-Coed - organisation development work to rejuvenate this rural economic development programme, involving extensive partnership development and recommendations for taking forward the action planning process. Colne Valley Social Business Study - feasibility study to assess the set up of a social business undertaking community research. N.E. Wales Charcoal Group - investigation into the market opportunities (including customer profiling and market assessment) for charcoal and woodfuel producers. Bracken compost - a different type of compost that is cheap and abundant in many areas. Rural Resources supported product development and carried out a marketing assessment. Greenman - assessment of the needs of the wood users' businesses in the Conwy Valley area and the opportunities for maximising wood chain benefits, joint marketing and the appropriate training needs assessment. Pigs Fly 2002 - this event was for rural entrepreneurs, businesses, alternative technologies and environmentalists. The aim was to bring together rural economy innovators from all sectors and around Britain. It was organised by Rural Resources in partnership with Insight Research, another Welshpool based business. Welsh Timber Forum - Support in developing first business plan and Objective 1 bids. Marches Countryside Product Forum - Steve chaired and supported the development and support of MCPF including detailed market assessment, customer and producer profiling and marketing development planning. Micro business support - business development support for Special Branch, an arboricultural business in south Wales, carried out under the WDA's Timber II and environment programmes. Discovery Links (sustainable tourism) - facilitation and development support to a community tourism project in south Shropshire in and around the AONB. Return to top
	Learning Resources NIF training in the Wirral - Consultation meeting and training session. Participation Cymru - Training courses and mentoring support, focussing on participation. NIF - A wide variety of training development and delivery (see forthcoming events). Middle Marches Partnership - Training needs analysis, to review the training available in traditional building, countryside management and furniture skills in the Middle Marches. The aim being to identify gaps, barriers and opportunities to develop new training (formal and informal). Lake Tanganyika Biodiversity Project - Steve trained a local team in appropriate methods for participatory techniques for community management of catchments and fisheries. Regional Fisheries Information System Project - Long term support as retained consultant on behalf of PMTC. This is carrying out training, information management and other support to 5 countries in southern Africa (SADC) towards improved marine fisheries management.
	Return to top
	Tel: 01938 555759 Fax: 0870 133 7852 Email: admin@rural-resources.co.uk Web: www.rural-resources.co.uk 1 New Street, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 7SF (c) Rural Resources Ltd. 2004