With over 100 projects generated across all six themes since 2003, not surprisingly these represent a massive learning opportunity. It is hoped that partners will see fit to post their experiences onto this site (just email Mike Render and he’ll ensure your observations are up-loaded) so that others contemplating, planning or actually undertaking activity can learn directly from each others’ experiences.
To kick-start this process we have outlined below just a few basic lessons derived from the six case studies illustrating the Progress Report on the Regional Woodland Strategy published in autumn 2007. Interestingly these are consistent with other action-oriented projects. For example, the key learnings from Leader + have been that the most successful approaches are tailored interventions directed at specific local needs, securing delivery through broad partnerships and adopting co-ordinated approaches to issues. A set of results remarkably similar to some of our Regional Woodland Strategy outcomes.
Organising projects
1. Despite the heavier investment in set-up and negotiating progress, partnership working tends to lead to more satisfactory outcomes.
2. Broad-based action programmes are more likely to deliver a successful outcome than narrow ones.
3. A comprehensive approach, tackling an issue on a number of levels, can often secure greater dividends.
4. Continuity of effort and persistence are invariably as vital as other determinants if a successful project is to be achieved.
5. Dedicated staff allocated to a specific project are not a luxury as they will be enabled and can also be impelled to drive a project forward faster than part-timers.
Developing markets
1. Market-making requires co-ordinated and intense effort to ensure supply growth and end user stimulation developments go hand in hand, until a critical market mass is reached and growth becomes self-perpetuating.
2. Creating new markets is by definition hard graft. It demands vision, determination and long-term marketing involving in equal measure consideration of target needs, provision of and commitment to consumer education, plus quality and continuity of product supply.
Feel free to share your experiences with others contributing to the Regional Woodland Strategy.
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