contact me:

01830 520 065

07786 072 404

jo@joscott-heritage.co.uk

It is hard to imagine a stranger year than 2020, but  here we are in 2021 and still not back to normal. Despite the challenges of the Covid world, I’m pleased to say that I am busy and finding creative ways to engage with my clients and colleagues on site and online.

Here’s what has been keeping me busy so far this year...

Jo was a most entertaining and

gracious speaker, who made us

all feel valued. Very professional.

Training workshop participant,

Kielder Viaduct Heritage Project.

My last site visit before the first lockdown was with Rob Robinson to the historic Silverburn Flax Mill on the Fife coast, on a gloriously sunny but chilly February day in 2020. Rob and I have prepared an interpretation plan for the mill, one of the last remnants of the hugely important but largely forgotten Scottish flax and linen industry. The amazing team at Fife Employment Access Trust are leading the project to restore the building as a visitor centre and community hub, to ensure the future of the mill and the park in which it sits.

My first ever outdoor interpretation planning workshop last October, at the glorious Ellon Castle Gardens near Aberdeen, was going brilliantly until the wind whipped away all  my post-it notes! Fortunately, it didn’t stop me and the Bright team coming up with an exciting interpretive vision for the ECG team. The volunteers have done an amazing job restoring the gardens and are now poised to develop their offer for local people and visitors, including their family audience.

I am developing a major interpretation plan, with Bright, for the new River Tweed trail for Tweed Forum and partners, as part of their visionary Lottery-funded Destination Tweed project. The team is delivering a series of environmental, education, economic and cultural activities to coordinate and enhance the river and environs as an even better place to live, work and visit. We are excited to be adding the branding and interpretation to the mix, to coordinate and develop the offer.

I am also working with Carolyn Lloyd Brown to deliver an exciting range of heritage activities for Guisborough’s handsome Town Hall. The building is being restored by Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and partners, with funding from NLHF. Our aim is to raise awareness of the many heritage skills involved in the restoration, and build local confidence and skills in engaging the community and visitors in the story of the building and town. It’s been a challenge creating covid-friendly activities to do this!    

I am a long standing full member and former trustee of the Association for Heritage Interpretation, and am very proud to be part of the team delivering AHI’s biannual awards scheme. I have been working with the team to review and re-brand the awards for 2021, with the aim of making the awards more inclusive and to encourage more organisations, groups and communities to showcase their projects through the scheme.  The great news is that we have had a record number of entries as a result!  Visit AHI to find out more.