Treasured remains is a graveyard conservation and engagement project that works with community groups, local volunteers, landowners, Friends groups and cemetery managers to provide structured training opportunities, guidance and specialist support for the care of historic graveyards. The project was developed and is delivered with Kirkyard consulting and builds upon the successful methodology developed for the Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership (CAVLP) which delivered engagement and learning opportunities for groups and volunteers and developed management, interpretation and research strategies for five Lanarkshire historic graveyard sites that were identified by community groups as being important to them. The project aims to:
- To support local people to understand the extent and condition of the historic remains.
- To create or update records of the site (including 3D images of selected memorials).
- To offer a learning experience to groups, local people, students and other participants.
- To build capacity within heritage volunteers within the area
- To develop site management plans using the results.
The Treasured Remains project focuses on enabling community-led stewardship of these important historical assets through the provision of a number of training workshops and by developing relationships with local groups and partners, including those stakeholders that have statutory and non-statutory responsibilities for graveyards.
The project is split into 3 main areas.
- Training Workshops
- Site Recording and vegetation management
- Site Management- including assessments, planning, Statements of Significance and management conservation plans
The principal focus then, is on understanding the needs of the historic graveyard and on the training needs of the participants and local community. The project will develop full assessments of the significance of the graveyard, its conservation needs and how the site can best be managed for the future. In addition a number of practical activities will take place over the course of the project either as bespoke training workshops or as site works, such as vegetation management.
Workshops
The project has developed a suite of 3-12 themed but optional workshops that can be organised throughout the project (depending on the needs of the site). We offer a wide range of thematic workshops in order to engage with as wide an audience as possible whilst providing the core skills needed for the participants to record and manage their Historic Graveyards. Opportunities will be provided for all participants to get involved in the project at a level that they feel comfortable with, no matter the level of experience. Full support and training will be provided in order to facilitate this and focus the project on the very real work that the participants are undertaking. The development of transferable skills will be a key outcome of the project, which in turn will be increase capacity with heritage volunteering at a local level. A key part of the project will be realising these learning outcomes through physical participation in the heritage project.
The workshops are:
- Historical Research and Interpretation Workshops (inc. graveyard recording)
- Site Assessment Recording Training- Prioritising and Monitoring
- Digitisation Workshops- Photogrammetry and RTI
- Project Management- Planning, Fundraising, Permissions, Governance and Health and Safety
- Measured Survey Workshop- GIS, Manual and Drone Survey
- Sharing Your Project- Public Events, Tours and Open Days
- Sharing Your Project- New Audiences and young people
- Geophysical Survey
- Managing Vegetation- Practical training and working with owners and stakeholders
- Managing Data- reporting and managing data sets
- Conservation and Stewardship- stone cleaning, buried stones and stone types
- Mapping and understanding the Stakeholders or Conservation and Stewardship- For owners and cemetery managers
A final decision on which workshops to be included as part of the project, will be co-designed with your team and the local community.
Outputs and Outcomes
The project will have the following outcomes;
- The historic graveyard will have had a site visit, project proposal and Statement of Significance produced
- Up to 6 training workshops will have been delivered
- There will be raised appreciation, stewardship, and ownership of the site by the local community
- Volunteers will have developed new skills, supporting future, sustainable work
- Increased co-operative working with groups and owner/managers
- The workshops will have recorded and developed new information
| Outputs: | Measure: | |||||||
| Raised understanding of the sites | Open day and engagement activities undertaken | |||||||
| Safeguarding of the sites. Raised appreciation, stewardship | Committed interest from local people. Creation of Management plans and 3D models where appropriate | |||||||
| Higher volunteer numbers trained with capacity and skills raised | + trained volunteers | |||||||
| Information accessible for researchers and interested local people | Report/publication produced. | |||||||
Costs
There may be a charge for this programme
Contact the team to discuss your project adopt@archaeologyscotland.og.uk