EUROPE INVESTS IN NORMANDY. LEADER in Normandy, France. The Normandy Region and Europe invest in rural areas

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1 EUROPE INVESTS IN NORMANDY LEADER in Normandy, France The Normandy Region and Europe invest in rural areas

2 EDITORIAL BY HERVÉ MORIN, PRESIDENT OF THE NORMANDY REGION THE EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT FUND (EARDF) IN NORMANDY PROVIDES A BUDGET OF MORE THAN 411M EUROS TO SUPPORT FARMERS, YOUNG PEOPLE, INNOVATION, INDUSTRY SECTORS AND LOCAL PRODUCTS IN ADDITION TO RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SUPPORT FOR RETAILERS, PUBLIC SERVICES, DEVELOPMENT, ETC.), VIA THE LEADER INITIATIVE. The LEADER initiative enables each area to use European funding for priorities which have been decided on at a local level. The people behind the projects can benefit from local support, organised by co-ordinators in each of the areas in which LEADER is present, to help with the development and organisation of each project. LEADER is the symbol of a new approach, going further than mere financial subsidies from the European Union. This system enables European funds to be managed locally to ensure local development, with decisions taken in consultation with local people by representatives of local authorities and civil society figures in each LEADER area. In view of the challenges in terms of social cohesion and economic diversification in these rural areas, in Normandy, we ve chosen to allocate the LEADER programme a total budget in excess of the 5.4% required by the European Union. The local development strategies of the 17 LEADER areas in Normandy aim to encourage thinking outside the box, test new forms of public services, invent new methods of production, distribution and consumption, develop new connections between different stakeholders, between towns and villages, promote new co-operation and more. The different LEADER projects illustrate the vitality and creativity of Normandy's rural areas: health services, participatory projects, travelling libraries and shops with multiple functions. The LEADER initiative represents a direct, strong and tangible link between Europe, the Region and rural stakeholders. Laurent Bicherel and the children of the École du Marais primary school in Norville (Seine-Maritime)

3 NORMANDY AN OPEN, DYNAMIC REGION Normandy has developed a reputation for its landscapes, countryside and unique light, made famous by renowned painters and writers, its fascinating history and its rich heritage such as the Vikings, Mont Saint-Michel and the D-Day beaches, and its cuisine and local products including cider, Calvados and cheese. Normandy has succeeded in making the most of its natural assets the sea and the countryside by developing a number of dynamic sectors: food production, the equine industry, boating and (in the near future) marine renewable energy. KEY INFORMATION Normandy has: 5 departments: Calvados, Eure, Manche, Orne, Seine-Maritime 3.3 million inhabitants (6th biggest region in France) a GDP of 27,180 per inhabitant (5th highest figure among French regions) 18.6 million annual visits to tourist attractions (2014) 2/3 of the area is used for agriculture HOW THE LEADER PROGRAMME WORKS IN NORMANDY 2 Rural Development Programmes (RDP) cover the entire Normandy area: The RDP for Calvados, Manche, Orne, The RDP for Eure and Seine-Maritime NOTE : Applications for financial aid are completed by the Normandy Region which is the Managing Authority of the European Agricultural Rural Development Fund (EARDF). There are no calls for tender for collaborative projects which can therefore be submitted on an ad-hoc basis to the Managing Authority for completion. There are 17 LAG (Local Action Groups) in Normandy. They are responsible for: destablishing their rural development strategy and choosing projects; supporting the people behind the projects, helping them to put together their applications; choosing projects; facilitating co-operation within the area and with other LEADER areas in France and Europe. 2

4 LEADER AREAS GAL PAYS DIEPPOIS TERROIR DE CAUX GAL DE SEINE EN BRAY GAL DU COTENTIN GAL PAYS DE COUTANCES GAL SAINT-LOIS GAL PAYS DU BESSIN AU VIROIS GAL SCOT CAEN MÉTROPOLE GAL PAYS D'AUGE GAL SEINE- NORMANDE GAL DU VEXIN NORMAND GAL SUD CALVADOS GAL PAYS DE LA BAIE DU MONT-SAINT-MICHEL GAL PAYS DU BOCAGE GAL PAYS D'ARGENTAN, D'AUGE ET D OUCHE GAL D'AVRE, D EURE ET D ITON GAL PAYS D'ALENCON GAL PAYS DU PERCHE ORNAIS LEADER FACILITATOR CONTACTS CALVADOS GAL Scot Caen Métropole federica.segna@caen-metropole.fr GAL Sud Calvados leader.pays.sud14@gmail.com GAL Pays du Bessin au Virois leader.bessinvirois@calavados.fr GAL Pays d Auge leader.paysdauge@calvados MANCHE GAL du Cotentin charlotte.viste@lecotentin.fr GAL Saint Lois remi.carville@saint-lo-agglo.fr GAL Pays de Coutances c.guerard@communaute-coutances.fr GAL Pays de la Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel ip@petrmontsaintmichel.fr ORNE GAL Pays du Bocage e.roussel@petr-paysdubocage.fr GAL du Pays d Alençon contact@paysdalencon.fr GAL du Pays du Perche ornais leader.payspercheornais@orange.fr GAL P2AO (Pays d Argentan, d Auge et d Ouche) contact@p2ao.fr SEINE-MARITIME ET EURE GAL Seine normande contact@leader-seine-normande.com GAL de Seine en Bray leader.pdb.pesb@gmail.com GAL du Pays Dieppois-Terroir de Caux leader@smpdtc.fr GAL d Avre, d Eure et d Iton marion.guenette@inse27.fr GAL du Vexin normand Natacha.Jegues@ccvexin-normand.fr

5 PRIORITIES FOR ACTION LEADER AREAS PAYS D AUGE EXPANSION LAG Revitalisation of town/village centres Architectural heritage Transport Environmental and natural heritage Local product Wood and eco-materials Regional situational analysis Economic development Training Tourism Culture Sport Health Circular economy/waste Energy efficiency and renewable energy Social services Agriculture CALVADOS PAYS DU BESSIN AU VIROIS LAG CAEN MÉTROPOLE LAG SUD CALVADOS LAG Pays de la Baie du Mont St-Michel LAG MANCHE Pays du Cotentin LAG Pays de Coutances LAG Saint-Lois LAG Pays d'alençon LAG ORNE Pays du Bocage LAG PAPAO Pays d Ouche LAG Perche Ornais LAG SEINE MARITIME & EURE Avre, Eure and Iton LAG Seine en Bray LAG Seine Normande LAG Pays Dieppois LAG Vexin Normand LAG KEY Topic not included in local development strategy Secondary topic in local development strategy Topic which features strongly in local development strategy Key topic in local development strategy 4

6 ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY TRANSITION Although it is a major energy-producing region, Normandy is also a major energy consumer and a significant emitter of greenhouse gases. To promote the energy transition in Normandy, Local Action Groups use their strategies to promote the use of renewable energies, the creation of low-impact transport, projects to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and the development of green building processes. A FEW EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS WHICH HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED ENERTERRE, tackling fuel poverty Cotentin / GAL du Pays de Coutances / GAL Saint-Lois LAG CREATION of an anaerobic digestion unit Pays du Bessin au Virois LAG The Le Mouchel family farm, which specialises in milk production (150 cows and an annual production of 1.7 million litres), plans to create an anaerobic digestion unit. The farm, which already has three photovoltaic solar installations, intends to use this unit to further reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and to produce renewable energy by using manure. Based on an innovative system of mutual assistance, Enerterre helps low-income families to carry out work to improve their insulation by means of participatory projects supervised by professionals. A local exchange system records the time spent and the contributions of every person (hours worked, equipment lent, transport, etc.), to ensure a fair exchange. Anyone interested in environmentally friendly renovation work and volunteering can contribute to this initiative which prioritises work with local specialists. STREET ART for better recycling! Sud Calvados LAG Decorating 15 bin shelters with graffiti to raise residents awareness of the importance of sorting and recycling rubbish: that s the original initiative of the Confédération Syndicale des Familles in Condé-sur-Noireau, with the help of young people from the 3 districts involved. When street art becomes a way to develop social connections too. Association Enerterre A NEW CYCLE path Caen Métropole LAG To encourage its residents to use their bikes more and to be less reliant on cars, the town of Ouistreham will create a new cycle path on the RD 514. This 3m-wide cycle path will connect the Colleville roundabout and the water tower, passing alongside the local garden, Le Jardin du Petit Bonheur. CAR-SHARING in a rural area Pays du Bocage LAG The town of Tinchebray made available an electric car-sharing service for its residents in September This short-term rental system enables users to make trips which are only feasible by car. In addition to promoting an alternative and non-polluting mode of transport, the project improves mobility in rural areas and ensures that everyone can use a vehicle to access services and to commute to work. The municipality wants to extend this service to the towns of Frênes and Saint-Cornier-des-Landes. 5

7 LOCAL SERVICES By 2050, if current trends continue, Normandy will have a significantly ageing population. This trend, with major social and economic consequences for the region, will require developments to infrastructure in terms of health, housing, transport, etc. The aim is to adapt services to the needs of the population by improving the quality of life in rural areas. A FEW EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS WHICH HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED CAFÉ IN: a sociable initiative, focused on recycling Seine normande LAG The Café In initiative is a network of volunteers who visit lonely, elderly people in Duclair s 13 municipalities. But that s not all: the team of volunteers also works to help the people they visit to sort and recycle their rubbish (in exchange for a coffee). Glass, batteries, light bulbs and plastic lids are then collected by Café In, using an electric buggy. CADVANCE CARDIOLOGY consultations Pays d Alençon LAG A DIGITAL PLATFORM for Le Baluchonnage Pays du Perche ornais LAG To encourage home care for people with Alzheimer's disease or any other type of disability or dependency, the National Union for Home Care and Home Help in the Pays d Alençon Perche has developed a replacement service for carers: Le Baluchonnage. A team of home helpers work day and night shifts for round-the-clock care during the carer s absence. A digital platform can be used to post requests for cover and home helpers availability for work, making schedule management easier and helping to co-ordinate carer/helper relationships (qualified staff selected by the National Union for Home Care and Home Help). HOUSING FIRST, with young people s involvement Sud Calvados LAG This is a new service offered by the hospital in Sées for people who have been diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases. Having acquired a cardiac ultrasound scanner and having secured a weekly visit from a specialist at the Alençon-Mamers intercommunal hospital, the hospital can now provide regular, quality monitoring for its patients. Pays d Alençon How can housing/training/employment issues, three essential factors in social integration which are often treated in a fragmented way, be better integrated? How can young people become more involved in these issues? The Mission Locale branch in Falaise has found the answer: providing young people with free self-catered accommodation for a limited period of time in exchange for minor renovation work. The young person is supervised by a housing mentor during the renovation work and is given additional support to work on his or her plans for training and/or employment. 6

8 CULTURE Although rural Normandy has an exceptionally wide range of historical and heritage sites, its towns and villages may be thought of as less appealing. Cultural creativity is a way to revitalise town centres: innovative cultural projects can forge new links with local residents, develop tourism and attract new residents. A FEW EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS WHICH HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED THE BIBLIOTACOT Sud Calvados LAG 100 VILLAGES in Seine en Bray for Ma Normandie ( My Normandy ) Seine en Bray LAG A decorated van, converted into a mobile reading area with a range of children s literature, travels around Condé-en-Normandie, targeting young people. The aim is to reach people who don t use their local media library. It s a new tool for cultural engagement: a fun, playful approach to encourage children to learn to read and write. MEDIA LIBRARY NETWORK in the Pays du Perche Ornais Pays du Perche ornais LAG The 6 media libraries in the Pays du Perche Ornais now operate as a network. With the online publication of the libraries shared catalogue (books, DVDs, etc.), users can view and reserve items on the internet. Other resources are also available online: newspaper and magazine subscriptions, language classes, videos, etc. Another new service: using jointly purchased digital materials to produce Web TV videos which promote writers, heritage and the area. L'Atelier Médiathèque Condé-en-Normandie One hundred multidisciplinary and intergenerational concerts and shows, with some 5,000 participants (singers, dancers, musicians, singers, actors) of all ages, including primary and middle school pupils: that s this project s goal. The idea of My Normandy, land of global culture is to revive traditional culture in the broadest sense: tales, music brought back by Normandy s sailors, Viking songs, compositions and more. FOCUS on cultural activities Pays du Bocage LAG To fight against local towns loss of appeal (which leads to businesses closing down, resulting in vacant premises), the municipalities of the Pays du Bocage wanted to share experiences and find new solutions. Following a European-wide call, a working group was set up, bringing together Local Action Groups from Northern Ireland, Poland, Bulgaria and Portugal, the Pays du Bocage LAG and local partners (Bagnoles de l Orne, Domfront, Flers Agglo, Tinchebray) to focus on the issue of how to revitalise small town centres. The idea is to focus on cultural activities, using public spaces and vacant premises to host occasional cultural events (concerts, exhibitions, etc.). 7

9 TOURISM A key holiday destination, Normandy has natural, cultural, architectural and gastronomic heritage of international renown. Tourism is both an economic opportunity and a challenge for rural areas. The challenge: making our region more attractive while protecting natural areas. A FEW EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS WHICH HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED LA MAISON de la pomme et de la poire Pays de Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel LAG La Maison de la Pomme et de la Poire, a cultural and tourist attraction in the heart of the area which produces perry and Calvados Domfrontais, needed a makeover. Plans to upgrade the site include a new museum and a new recommended route which will include 6 outdoor stops (origins, hedges, apples, pears and orchard meadows, hives, buildings) and 4 exhibition rooms, explaining the different stages of the transformation.. DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT of tourist offices Pays du Perche ornais LAG As part of the intercommunal tourism development plan and the opening of new tourist offices, innovative digital tools have been created: a website for visitors which presents the tourist and cultural attractions of the area in an appealing, practical way, along with accommodation and restaurants and interactive touch-screen terminals which are accessible 24 hours a day and can be used to access the website and all of its local information. Marie-Hélène Labat AN UNUSUAL GÎTE in an old school building Pays d Argentan, d Auge et d Ouche LAG Having been obliged to build a new school, the municipality of Sarceaux near Argentan decided to convert the old school building into a rural gîte. Dating from Jules Ferry s time and ideally located in the heart of the town, the building has been fully renovated and decorated with a nod to its past life (old maps, posters explaining conjugations, coat racks, bunk beds). It contributes to the area s holiday accommodation and can welcome families and groups of up to 15 people. NEW PARCABOUT TREE-TOP adventure equipment Pays d Argentan, d Auge et d Ouche LAG The outdoor activity centre in Saint-Evroult Notre-Damedu-Bois will be modernised with new Parcabout tree-trop adventure equipment, to be installed in a forest area covering 1000m 2. With its tree-top structures made of netting (trampolines, rope bridges, bridges, mazes), it will be the first of its kind in the Orne department. Base de loisirs St-Évroult Notre-Dame du Bois - Parc aventure dans les arbres 8

10 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Rural development aims to maintain and develop a local economy (shops, small artisan businesses, personal services, etc.), thereby generating long-term local jobs. To respond to this challenge, rural areas must be pioneers when it comes to innovation and the development of the community-oriented and circular economies. A FEW EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS WHICH HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED PRODUCTION of aromatic and medicinal plants Sud Calvados LAG DEVELOPING A LOCAL NETWORK for wooden construction and renovations Pays d Auge LAG Although it s not well developed in Normandy, the production of aromatic and medicinal plants is fast-growing. So the Terres de Simples farm decided to set up a workshop to produce and process aromatic and medicinal plants in the southern Calvados area. The objectives were to create a multifunctional workspace to welcome consumers and for sales on the farm, to promote local resources, to optimise energy savings, and to strengthen communication with regard to aromatic and medicinal plants. Ouest France Launched by the Profession Bois association, this initiative aims to develop wooden construction and renovations in the Pays d Auge by creating: a network of local experts and stakeholders involved in the sector; a guide to best practices when renovating old half-timbered houses; a report on the use of this technique to build new homes. In addition to supporting new economic investments, this also helps to safeguard iconic Normandy landscapes and local expertise. Profession Bois 9

11 LA FÊTE DES MÉTIERS D ART (Arts & Crafts Festival) Pays de Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel LAG An important event for craftspeople who come to exhibit their creations and share their passion, the Fête des Métiers d Art in Villedieu-les-Poêles is a symbolic project and an economic showcase. The aim is to go further, encouraging craftspeople to settle here by creating a dedicated area in the town centre with pop-up shops. The ambition is threefold: to highlight craftsmanship and specialist expertise, to promote local businesses which continue these traditions (especially in the key industry of brass-making, for which the city is famous) and to encourage young people to consider careers in these sectors. MAINTAINING local shops Avre, d Eure et d Iton LAG In Chennebrun, the municipality is continuing its work to encourage retailers to open local shops. After the success of the launch of a bar-restaurant in premises belonging to the municipality in the village square in 2014, the town bought the vacant bakery and opened a multi-purpose shop (selling local products and bread and providing concierge services). Villedieu Intercom A MULTI-SERVICE RESTAURANT on the Route des Chaumières Seine normande LAG Although the village of Aizier is very popular with hikers, it no longer had any shops. With the help of the LEADER programme, the municipality renovated a building which it owned in the centre of the village for a couple of restaurateurs. They also offer locals and tourists a grocery store, a multi-service point, bread delivered daily and a tea room which is open at the weekend. GRAINE des champs Vexin normand LAG The Graine des Champs co-operative, which was created in Vascœuil in 2010, focuses on the sustainable economy, distributing products from 55 partner farms and artisan producers. Closely involved in the village s revival, it has also created an artisan cannery and developed a catering and takeaway service. The next step is to open a friendly, high-quality fast-food restaurant which uses local products. Région Normandie 10

12 FOCUS NORMANDY S RURAL NETWORK Normandy s rural network has a dual role as an ambassador and as a key stakeholder involved in the implementation of the EARDF. It works: to manage and connect people involved in rural development in Normandy, encouraging them to share their experiences to communicate about European funds, providing information about funding opportunities and promoting funded projects to provide technical support to the 17 LEADER areas in Normandy and to support the implementation of local development strategies and encourage innovative collaborative projects. All of Normandy s rural network s projects are co-funded by the European Agricultural Rural Development Fund (EARDF). WITH NORMANDY S RURAL NETWORK, THE EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITIES AND THE REGIONAL PLANNING AUTHORITIES, THE NORMANDY REGION IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THE 17 LEADER AREAS TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THEIR PROJECTS. If you want to find out more about LEADER in Normandy and Normandy s Rural Network: Reseau_Rural_Normand@normandie.fr Conception & réalisation 09/2018