Inspiring rural heritage: sustainable practices to protect and conserve upland landscapes and memories
Lead Research Organisation:
Durham University
Department Name: Archaeology
Abstract
Europe's upland landscapes are a rich and complex heritage, born of the interaction of nature and culture over millennia. Local communities can play an active and essential role in conserving and protecting this heritage, benefitting wider society. However, current conservation measures and land-use decisions consistently fail to consider the historic dimension of upland landscapes and underestimate the contribution of local practitioners in sustaining their environment through active use. IRIS is a response to these concerns, and to the threats to upland landscapes from depopulation, abandonment, the loss of traditional skills and land use change driven by the climate emergency and economic trends.
IRIS aims to advance the socially and environmentally sustainable conservation, protection and use of upland landscapes. The project will research and develop a 'living heritage' approach to conservation, promoting the 'protection through use' of upland environments and adjacent rural areas. Through intensive and participatory research in five countries (Spain, France, Italy, Montenegro, the UK) and wider European research and knowledge exchange, IRIS will:
* Demonstrate how knowledge of historical processes and land use practices supports the conservation and sustainable development of upland landscapes;
* Define a 'living heritage' approach to conservation and best practices through which local stakeholders can embed in their cultural values, local expertise and traditions;
* Support collaboration among local institutions and communities and realise effective and diverse participation in the conservation, protection, sustainable development and use of upland landscapes;
* Provide local and European policy makers with new tools that will enable them to: (a) take into account the historical dimension of rural places, and; (b) implement a 'living heritage' approach to decision-making;
* Create a new research framework that advances knowledge of upland cultural heritage and its wider social and environmental values and benefits;
* Communicate and disseminate the research results at local, European and wider international levels.
Key words: living rural heritage, uplands, agro-forestry-pastoral practices, cultural memory, participation
IRIS aims to advance the socially and environmentally sustainable conservation, protection and use of upland landscapes. The project will research and develop a 'living heritage' approach to conservation, promoting the 'protection through use' of upland environments and adjacent rural areas. Through intensive and participatory research in five countries (Spain, France, Italy, Montenegro, the UK) and wider European research and knowledge exchange, IRIS will:
* Demonstrate how knowledge of historical processes and land use practices supports the conservation and sustainable development of upland landscapes;
* Define a 'living heritage' approach to conservation and best practices through which local stakeholders can embed in their cultural values, local expertise and traditions;
* Support collaboration among local institutions and communities and realise effective and diverse participation in the conservation, protection, sustainable development and use of upland landscapes;
* Provide local and European policy makers with new tools that will enable them to: (a) take into account the historical dimension of rural places, and; (b) implement a 'living heritage' approach to decision-making;
* Create a new research framework that advances knowledge of upland cultural heritage and its wider social and environmental values and benefits;
* Communicate and disseminate the research results at local, European and wider international levels.
Key words: living rural heritage, uplands, agro-forestry-pastoral practices, cultural memory, participation
Publications
Gerrard C
(2022)
The Routledge Handbook of Property, Law and Society
Kincey M
(2022)
Metals, mines and moorland: the changing lead mining landscapes of the North Pennines, UK, 1700-1948
in Post-Medieval Archaeology
| Description | The research has established that a 'living heritage' of skills and knowledge survives amongst hill farming communities in the Cheviot Hills, and it has documented how this living heritage has evolved over time and dynamically shaped local landscapes and communities. The research has also established that this heritage is at risk - because of depopulation, changes to land management and land use strategies, and changes to farming practice driven by social and economic trends and the policy environment - but there is a desire amongst local communities and institutions to sustain it creatively into the future. The research is providing an evidential basis for discussions amongst stakeholders (including farmers, estate owners and managers, community organisations and public authorities) about the actions needed to sustain inherited farming skills and knowledge and about the potential contributions of this heritage to addressing climate, biodiversity and social goals. |
| Exploitation Route | The research has generated new evidence on the character and survival of the 'living heritage' of farming skills and knowledge in northern England and southern Scotland, and it is generating new understanding of how this heritage can contribute to a range of climate, biodiversity and social goals. Farmers and land managers might use this knowledge in developing locally-appropriate land use and land management strategies and practices. Public authorities and community organisations might use the information to develop their provision for safeguarding cultural heritage, supporting community development and promoting sustainable agriculture and action on climate and biodiversity. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| Description | Other than the specific activities reported upon elsewhere on Researchfish (museum exhibition, virtual exhibition), and specific impact within academia, our work has emerging social and cultural impact. This has been driven through our networks arising from this project, for example with Northumberland National Park and the Glendale Gateway Trust. This has led to contact with other initiatives such as a local commission to paint a mural for Wooler bus shelter by Anthea Wood. Our research provides the inspiration for the artistic themes Anthea will draw upon, so we anticipate ongoing legacy of the project well into 2024 and 2025, perhaps with the possibility of follow-up AHRC funding. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Creative Economy |
| Impact Types | Cultural |
| Title | DATASET, WEBGIS AND OTHER OUTPUTS FOR THE OPEN ACCESS PLATFORM |
| Description | The WebGIS deliverable for this project was conceived as a working tool showing the outputs obtained by different tasks, such as the database, the layered landscape stratified and the risk maps. The database is the main repository of the study sites information obtained from the literature and from the field surveys realized during the IT IS project. The information comprised in the database in not only the source of the symbols visualized on the maps but is available to the user on the left part of the screen. The layered heritage maps are visualized in the IRIS WebGIS platform and obtained by retrieving existing and new data on the tangible and intangible heritage of the case study landscapes stored in the IRIS database. Now this information can be easily retrieved from the IRIS website, by clicking on the WEBGIS application. The layered heritage maps (D1.1 - Layered Heritage Maps) and the risk maps (D1.3 - Risk Maps) obtained from the common database can be visualized by connecting to the IRIS website. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Too recent to gauge |
| URL | http://iris-jpi.eu/ |
| Title | Historic Landscape Analysis |
| Description | Uses existing data sets to map the character of the existing landscape. This includes information about ecology, archaeology and history, some targeted fieldwork and archive research with some participant observation with local residents, land managers etc. |
| Type Of Material | Data handling & control |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This task is currently in process. The main impacts will be 1) a layered 'heritage map', 'participatory maps', 'risk maps' - all of which will in due course form the basis for our cultural routes and exhibition. |
| Title | Layered Heritage Maps |
| Description | This WebGIS deliverable was conceived as a working repository to comprise the outputs from different tasks, such as the database, the layered information for the landscape stratified and risk maps. The layered heritage maps are visualized in the online WebGIS platform which is now active on the IRIS website: https://iris-jpi.eu/. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This is too recent to define any impacts |
| URL | https://iris-jpi.eu/webgis.html |
| Title | Mapping present management & conservation practices in the Case Study Area |
| Description | Analysis of the key instruments adopted by governmental bodies and international NGOs, and identification of examples of good practice from the UK. The UK database considers polices which cover: a) the UK as a whole (UK Government); b) Scotland only (Scottish Government) or England only (UK Government), and; c) the two regions in which the case study sits, Scottish Borders and Northumberland (each of which has its own regional government). Step 1 data and methods include: • A systematic review of published policy documents (e.g. policy statements, guidelines, strategies, plans; formal evaluations of policy implementation); • A review of the research literature (where available for the country/area in question); • Analysis of unpublished policy documents, where accessible (e.g. reports from government agencies/public bodies or NGOs); • And - where necessary to fill any significant gaps in understanding - interviews with selected stakeholders e.g. officials from government or from public bodies, staff from national or regional-level NGOs. In Step 2, we will identify and assess good policy and practice and critically assess how these examples of good practice are supporting living heritage in the case study area, promoting the development of the associated communities, and contributing towards wider societal goals of biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, food security and/or rural community development; identify any key policies and measures through which government (at the relevant levels) is supporting living heritage and its use in the case study area; critically assess what been done to put these policies and measures into practice, and what the results have been; describe and assess the support which is being provided to local communities and practitioners by other external actors, e.g. NGOs. Data and methods could include: • A stakeholder analysis to identify and prioritise potential research interviewees and other contacts; • Interviews (e.g. with community representatives, public servants from local government or national/regional parks, NGO staff); • Meetings or workshops (e.g. with community groups and organisations, staff from local government/public bodies); • A systematic review of published or unpublished policy documentation (e.g. park management plans; reports produced by local administrative authorities); • A review of published research (where available for the case study area). |
| Type Of Material | Data handling & control |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The key impacts are: a) Mapping the main instruments - e.g. laws, policies, strategies - through which the relevant levels of government are incorporating the international frameworks and principles into domestic policy and practice; b) Evaluating the practical measures through which the relevant levels of government are implementing these frameworks and principles (e.g. funding/subsidies, regulations, guidelines, training schemes, practical programmes and actions); c) Assessing the effectiveness of the different policy measures in realising the internationally-recognised principles, goals and objectives ; d) Identifying examples of good practice (from outside of the IRIS case study area in each country); e) Assessing how these examples of good practice are supporting living heritage and realising its benefits for biodiversity, climate change, food security and/or rural community development. |
| Title | Oral history and participatory mapping dataset |
| Description | This dataset comprises: (1) interviews with farmers, estate staff and others in the Cheviot Hills area (audio recordings and transcripts), and; (2) associated maps created by the interviewees to show previously unrecorded details of land management and land use practice and how they have changed over time. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Too early to assess impact - the research and associated impact activities are ongoing. |
| Title | Risk Maps |
| Description | These risk maps in the project WebGIS, identify and help to monitor at-risk rural cultural heritage. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Too recent to gauge this |
| URL | https://iris-jpi.eu/webgis.html |
| Title | Supporting upland communities and living heritage in Europe. Inventory of Good Practices |
| Description | The examples in the inventory are organised in four sections. The first contains examples of community-led governance and management of the land, and the second looks at public sector support for living heritage. The third section focuses on examples where living heritage is playing an important role in economic development. The final section concentrates on how living heritage can contribute to conserving and enhancing habitats and the character of upland landscapes. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The Inventory contains 14 examples of actions and programmes which have helped or are helping upland communities to sustain their inherited land use practices and systems, realise their rights and aspirations, and deliver a range of benefits for people and nature. |
| Description | Durham University/GEODE UMR5602 (CNRS and UTJ2), Université Toulouse II Jean Jaurès (GEODE) IRIS collaboration |
| Organisation | University of Toulouse |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | DU/Inherit provide a complementary UK case study and will manage tasks which involve GEODE UMR5602 (CNRS and UTJ2), Université Toulouse II Jean Jaurès (GEODE). |
| Collaborator Contribution | GEODE UMR5602 (CNRS and UTJ2), Université Toulouse II Jean Jaurès (GEODE) provide the French case study for the IRIS project and manage tasks. |
| Impact | Too early in the project |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Durham University/Genoa University IRIS collaboration |
| Organisation | University of Genoa |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Durham/Inherit part of the IRIS project is defined by the ERC application and includes management of some tasks and the development of a UK case study in the Cheviots on the Scottish-English border. |
| Collaborator Contribution | UoGenoa is one of the JPICH partners for the IRIS project |
| Impact | Too early in the project |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Durham University/Granada University IRIS collaboration |
| Organisation | University of Granada |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Durham University/Inherit will manage elements of the IRIS project undertaken by Granada University and provide a complementary case study |
| Collaborator Contribution | Granada University will undertake a Spanish case study as part of the IRIS project |
| Impact | Too early in the project |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Durham University/INHERIT (York Archaeological Trust) IRIS collaboration |
| Organisation | York Archaeological Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Briefly, we will all contribute time and effort to the IRIS project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | INHERIT collaborated on the UK case study research for the project, and helped to coordinate some of the project-wide tasks and deliverables for which Durham University is responsible. In particular, INHERIT - which is part of a heritage charity, York Archaeological Trust - used its expertise in community engagement and participatory research to engage with members of the local community and local stakeholder organisations in the case study area, gaining their input to the research. |
| Impact | n/a |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Durham University/University of Montenegro |
| Organisation | University of Montenegro |
| Country | Montenegro |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Durham University/Inherit will manage elements of the IRIS project undertaken by Montenegro University and provide a complementary case study |
| Collaborator Contribution | Montenegro University will undertake a Montenegrin case study as part of the IRIS project |
| Impact | Too early in the project |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Ad Gefrin (meeting) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with Ad Gefrin CEO Chris Ferguson to discuss local and regional contacts, research topics, museum space at the distillery, options for leafleting and trails. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Ad Gefrin Trust |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with trustees of the Ad Gefrin Trust responsible for the Yeavering archaeological site which lies within the bounds of our Cheviots study area |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | Article in Glendale Live |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We published an article about the research in a local (print and online) magazine called Glendale Live. The purpose of doing this was to share the ongoing research with local audiences and to invite potential research participants to contact us. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | College Valley Estate (meetings) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Several meetings with College Valley Estate (a landowner in our study area) to: (a) present the project to them; (b) discuss collaboration to facilitate the research and to feed the results of the research into estate management and land use activities (laying the groundwork for deriving impact from the research) and; (c) having secured their collaboration, to progress particular tasks and actions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Exhibition, Museum of Kolašin, Montenegro |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The physical exhibition "Future through tradition: Inspiring living heritage for the protection and promotion of European mountain landscapes" opened in the Museum of Kolašin, Montenegro on 20 October 2023 and is scheduled to be on view for 6 months. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Glendale Agricultural Show |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We ran a stand at the Glendale Agricultural Show (in our study area) providing information about the research through posters, leaflets and talking to show attendees. The purpose of doing this was to share the ongoing research with local audiences and recruit further research participants. We engaged with local farmers, members of the public, representatives of local businesses, community organisations and public bodies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Glendale Agricultural Society (meetings) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Meetings with Glendale Agricultural Society (association for local farmers) to faclitate the research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Glendale Gateway Trust (meetings) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Meetings to discuss possible and ongoing role of GGT in the IRIS project, use of space for meetings, contacts with other local and regional organisations, use of library and resources held by GGT. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | Glendale Local History Society (meetings) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Meetings with the GLHS to discuss collaboration, events, outcomes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Hill farming heritage trail |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Our trail comprises 7 milestones along a route in the College Valley. This is one of a number of valleys which radiate out from The Cheviot (815m a.s.l.), the highest peak in the Cheviot Hills. It is part of the College Valley Estate (www.college-valley.co.uk) and lies within Northumberland National Park (www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk). We have defined the route track (gps format). length and gradient, - difficulty (Low, medium or high), and provide a a description of the route. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Meeting with Northumberland Archives |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with Northumberland Archives (public archive service for Northumberland) to discuss and agree collaboration on the project. The Archives agreed to facilitate our research and, at the end of the project, to receive research material (particularly oral history interviews) for long-term archiving and public access. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Northumberland National Park (meetings) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Developing project with NNP representatives, especially Chris Jones. Topics included contact lists, venues, outputs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | Open access online platform |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Website https://iris-jpi.eu/ was conceived as a working portal to inform the general public about rural heritage. Moreover, this website was also conceived as a dynamic repository in which IRIS partners could presents their main documents and achievements. There are seven public sections available on IRIS website. These are: - Home - News & Blog: information on IRIS project, study areas and the international partnership - The Project - Network: list of international and national organizations, agencies and research bodies with which IRIS partners are collaborating - Virtual exhibition: 28 panels of IRIS exhibition consisting of three introductory panels illustrating the international partnership and the IRIS Project, and five panels dedicated to the five study areas in: France, Italy, Montenegro, Spain and United Kingdom. - Closing conference, with five interactive subsections: Conference Program, Press Release Conference Opening, Conference presentations, Conference Report, Conclusions and Recommendations - WebGIS |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://iris-jpi.eu/ |
| Description | Sinjajevina Workshop, closing conference of the IRIS project, 19-21 October, Kolasin, Montenegro |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Nearly 50 participants attended the Sinjajevina Workshop. Participants included representatives of IRIS project partners from France, Italy, Spain and the UK along with international experts from Croatia, Italy and Albania, as well as different local and national actors related to Sinjajevina, including representatives from Ministry of Culture, Administration for Heritage Protection, Environmental Protection Agency, University of Montenegro, municipalities of Kolašin, Mojkovac, Žabljak and Danilovgrad, National park Biogradska gora, different NGOs including Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Porokletije, Center for the Study and Protection of Birds of Montenegro, Foundation Petrovitch Njegosh, Peaks of Montenegro, Natura, Sinjavinski Marathon and Save Sinjajevina as well as representatives of local communities. At the conference there were also the main representatives from the Joint Programming Initiative on Cultural Heritage and Global Change (JPICH secretary general and chair), who also represented the French Ministry of Culture. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://iris-jpi.eu/closing-conference.html |
| Description | Virtual exhibition |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 28 panels in all, consisting of three introductive panels illustrating the international partnership and by five panels dedicated to the five study areas in: France, Italy, Montenegro, Spain and United Kingdom. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://iris-jpi.eu/ |
| Description | Workshop at Wooler, north Northumberland 16-18 January 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Durham University and Inherit delivered a one-day event in the UK study area which was attended by members of the local community and by local stakeholder organizations 16-18 Jan 2024 (including local government, public bodies, local environmental NGOs, community organisations, and landowners). The results of the IRIS UK case study research were presented and a series of discussions held about the living heritage, its protection, and its future role in community development and sustainable land use. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |