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Walking-the-Talk

Walking the Talk is a small environmental consultancy offering services in a number of specialist areas throughout Scotland, and beyond. We have a wide range of clients in the public,  private and third sectors, and the following list of projects should give you an idea of our skills and capacity:
Path Attributes Research

Client: Scottish Natural Heritage

Summary: We have been commissioned to undertake research on 'Path Attributes'.  The research will look at ways of describing paths in a 'standard format' so that people can gauge for themselves whether a path is suitable or interesting to use. This work involves engaging with a wide spectrum of path users and hopefully people who don't currently use paths. In addition we will work with path managers to find out how practical it can be to produce the descriptions.

 
Visitor impacts on the Loch Lomond islands

Client: Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park Authority

Summary: Working in partnership with Macaulay Scientific Consulting Ltd and Paul Johnson, we are helping the National Park Authority to better understand the impacts of visitors on the ecology of a number of islands on Loch Lomond.

 
Path Management Advice

Client: Scottish Natural Heritage & Cairngorms National Park Authority

Summary: We are part of a framework agreement to provide specialist advice on path management, including specifcation of repair works and Health and Safety considerations (e.g. compliance with Construction Design Management Regulations, 2007)

 
Scottish Community Land Network

Client: Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Summary: Facilitation of the Scotland-wide network of community groups with an interest in Community Land Initiatives. This involves the design and management of a web portal, with monthly newsletters sent by email to subscribers. The newsletters are a digest of the articles produced for the website and provide an overview of network members' activities on the site.

The website can be found at : www.communityland.org.uk

 
Formartine Partnership - future strategy

Client: Formartine Partnership

Summary: The development and implementation of a community consultation process for a rural partnership, including structured interviews with the wider public and a workshop with stakeholders. A final report was produced which analysed the findings of the consultation work and provided recommendations for future strategy.

 
Afon Teifi river restoration project

Client: Countryside Council for Wales

Summary: Production of a programme of works and two funding bids for a large-scale river restoration project. This work includes assembling a database of potential project actions, liaising with key stakeholders and project partners to establish a coherent project plan and completing funding applications for the finalised project.

 
Gaelic Signs Strategy

Client: Forestry Commission Scotland

Summary: We were asked to develop a strategy and plan for introducing Gaelic language signs on the National Forest Estate in Scotland. This work was developed with the FCS Gaelic Team, ahead of their Gaelic Plan.

 
Guidance for Ecological Networks

Client: Scottish Natural Heritage

Contract Summary: We have been contracted to develop guidance for a range of audiences to explain some of the concepts in spatial ecology, focusing particularly on ecological networks.

Read more...
 
Inchailloch Visitor Management Overview

Client: Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park Authority

Summary: We are currently preparing a visitor management overview for the Park Authority to enable them to better manage and communicate with visitors on Inchcailloch Island. The island forms part of the Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve.
 
Path benefits toolkit

Client: Paths for All Partnership

Summary: We developed a toolkit to allow community groups to undertake evaluations of path networks to investigate the economic and social benefits of path development and use. In addition, we provided strategic advice to the Partnership regarding their support to community path groups.

 
Directional sign guidance

Client: Cairngorms National Park Authority

Summary: Developed technical guidance to provide a coherent approach to directional signs and intermediate waymarking on paths throughout the National Park. This involved bringing together key stakeholders to identify common issues and agree a way forward, as well as the final design of the generic signs.

 
Arran Paths and Tracks Feasibility Study

Client: Arran Access Trust

Summary: We were commissioned to undertake field survey of paths across Arran and develop proposals for future funding. This involved both strategic and specification surveying techniques as well as community engagement in the selection of paths for inclusion in a project.