1. Working together for Economically-prosperous Communities through Assets of Natural heritage WECAN Project Steering Group Meeting: 2 April 2012

2. WECAN Project 1.Highlights 2.Work Package Progress 3.2012 Plan 4.Current Priorities

3. Progress - Highlights 11 projects started since Sept SG Benefits to VRP businesses: £6422 (contracts) £13238 (PR) Business sponsorship: £7300 EV, WV and Corporate Engagement Plans WV Woodland Plan Terms of Reference Caerau & Maesteg SUDS schemes started on-site Big Pitch short-listed for national Award www.thevalleys.org.uk/wecan.html

4. Progress – WP1 Caerau SUDS scheme http://www.wales.groundwork.org.uk/bridgend--neath-port- talbot/what-we-do/market-garden-blog.aspx BG Native Tree Nursery feasibility NER / WECAN evaluation (Phase 1) HOV Woodland Plan support WV Woodland Plan support

5. Western Valleys Woodlands

6. Western Valleys Woodland Plan Actively engage the Community Produce a Strategy & Vision Produce an Action Plan Deliver an ‘early win’ Develop and apply an evaluation strategy

7. Progress – WP1

8. Green Infrastructure Tool Training completed 3 pilot projects WG interest

9. Corporate Engagement WP2 Goal = WIN:WIN Build Track Record e.g. HOVIP, Big Pitch, BGG, Roots Mag Contact Target Audience e.g. TOP 300, Turning Heads Club, Corporates Develop Marketing Plan & Collateral e.g. website, business flyer, presentation Create Investment Opportunities e.g. Loyalty Card, Guardians, ‘wish-list’ Develop Strategic Partnerships e.g. Green Chip? VRP Awards & Marketplace, Environment Foundation

10. Progress – WP2 Blue Green Gym Pilot Big Pitch Rock UK Short-listed national ‘Quality Partnerships’ Award Best Practice Visit Little Pitch Build Track Record

11. Progress – WP2 Investment ‘Wish List’ Natural environment focus Template Plan  Complete template (end April)  Review priorities & validate (May / June)  Website (June / July)  Obtain investment (May+) Create Investment Opportunities

12. Progress – WP3 Digital Visitor Payback pilot - deferred Green Loyalty Card Beneficiaries / 2 pilots Stakeholder support (May) Project manage & deliver (June+) Create Investment Opportunities View offers Provide Offers Support Environmental Projects View Environmental Projects

13. Progress – WP4 Environmental Guardians Role Paid + voluntary Hosting & support Finance Model VRP scoping (June / July) 2 pilots (Aug+) Create Investment Opportunities Invest in a guardian

14. Progress – WP4 Maesteg School Community Food Growing Project BTCV Food Growing Feasibility Study (Ebbw Fach) Positive early results re: demand Coleg Gwent support Valleys Veg Feasibility Study Build Track Record

15. Progress – WP4 Micro-hydro VRP scoping study Forgotten Landscapes Project Feasibility Study Discovery Festival Magazines / Posters

16. 2012 Plan 2012 Version 2.0Quarter 1Quarter 2Quarter 3Quarter 4STATUS JanFebMarAprMayJunJulyAugSepOctNovDec GENERAL Budget Planning Communication Plan Euro Partner Visit WP1 GI Training / Pilot SUDS scheme Native Tree Nursery NER Evaluation WP2 Blue Green Gym Pilot Big Pitch Little Pitch Investment opps. WP3 Loyalty Card scoping Loyalty Card pilots WP4 Ebbw Fach T&F grps. HoV Woodland Plan WV Walking Hubs Western Valleys Plan WV Woodland Plan Rangers (WP2/3/4): scoping pilot Discovery Festival

17. Current Priorities Partner visit (16-21 May) Eastern Valleys  Hov Woodland Plan Report  Guardians Pilot  Ebbw Fach Trail support Western Valleys  WV Woodland Plan ‘active consultation’  Walking Hubs  Guardians Pilot Corporate Engagement  Investment opportunities  Guardians scoping and stakeholder consultation  Loyalty Card Pilot Project Brief (x2)