Impact of diversity of ownership scale on social, economic and environmental outcomes

Appendix 2 - Case Study Semi-Structured Interview prompt

Understanding economic, social and environmental changes in [case study parish] over the past 100 years

Interview aims:

• To talk about the history of each parish as remembered by the interviewee
• To identify key events/changes that have happened in the parish
• To understand the reasons for these changes
• To explore economic, social and environmental dimensions
• To identify other interviewees and/or focus group participants

Each interviewee will be given a copy of the map of the parish, showing the boundaries of the area we are talking about. Suggested length of interview: 40-60 minutes.

Notes:

i.When interviewing, try to ascertain the extent to which the interviewee feels ownership/management of the land has impacted/facilitated changes in the area versus other factors.
ii.Try not to lead them with this suggestion (prompts are included below if this does not enter into discussion naturally).

Interviewee background and memory

Aim: establish how long interviewee has lived/worked in the case study area, how connected to the community they are and how positive/negative they are in general about the area.

1.How long have you lived/worked in [parish]?
2.What is it like to live here in [parish]?
3.Activities/role in the parish:
a)[For landowner/farmer] Can you tell me more about the [estate/farm] and the activities that you carry out here?
b)[For community/heritage organisation/local business] Can you tell me more about [organisation] and its role in the community?
c)[For community member] Can you tell me what sorts of activities you take part in within the parish (e.g. work, leisure, family/friends etc.)?

History of [parish]

Aim: enable the interviewee to recount their memories of how life has changed (or not) for them in the parish.

4.We would like to understand what things have changed in [parish] over the past 100 years. You needn't think that far back but can you spend a few minutes talking about your memories of the area when you moved here, compared to now?
a)Do you feel that [parish] is a better or worse place to live/work now than in the past?

Identifying key events and understanding why they happened
5.Can you pinpoint any particular changes/events in the time you have been here (or before) that have led to positive changes in the local economy, community or environment?
[ Prompts: for example, a business setting up, changes to local services such as schools, changes in housing, infrastructure, new footpaths, etc. NB. Prompts can be tailored for each case study, based on profile data.]
6.Why do you think these positive changes happened?
[ Prompts: for example, change in land ownership, change in funding, etc.]
a)[Only for landowner] Are any of these positive changes related directly to the management of this estate?
7.Can you pinpoint any particular changes/events in the time you have been here (or before) that have led to negative changes in the local economy, community or environment?
[ Prompts: for example, demographic change/community decline, changes in businesses, changes to local services such as schools, changes in housing, flooding, etc.]
8.Why do you think these negative changes happened?
[ Prompts: for example, change in land ownership, change in funding, etc.]
a)[Only for landowner] Are any of these negative changes related directly to the management of this estate?

Impacts of the changes on our outcomes
Aim: to understand how these positive and negative changes impact on the ten outcomes we have identified.
9.We have identified nine 'ingredients' that make a 'healthy' and 'resilient/thriving' rural community. Thinking about the key events/changes we've just talked about, can you expand on how you think these changes have impacted on any of these?
[ Prompts: see list below - use visual cards to help to jog people's memories. Aim here is to allow for some clarification of earlier points in relation to the ingredients and for additional points to be added which are specific to the list below.]

Nine ingredients for a healthy and resilient/thriving community:

1. High-quality jobs
2. Successful businesses
3. Enough people
4. Good-quality, affordable homes
5. Opportunities for outdoor recreation [prompt: how much uptake of these opportunities]
6. Community activities and spaces
7. Communication between different parts of the community [prompt: land managers]
8. Healthy environment [prompts: clean water, healthy soils and biodiversity]
9. Reduced carbon footprint [prompts: energy usage, recycling]

Other contacts and follow-up
10.We are planning to invite a selection of community members, local businesses and land managers to three separate focus groups to discuss these changes in more detail. Would you be interested in attending the [community/business/land manager] one?
11.Are there any other individuals in the community that you are aware of that might be well-placed to discuss these topics in an interview, or as a participant in a focus group?
[ Let them know focus groups dates/times]