It helps local communities to define and present themselves and their local landscape, looking at the special natural and cultural heritage of the area, developing a sense of place, as well as a sense of ownership and stewardship for the environment.

Contents

Section D: Interpretation - Introduction

• How this toolkit works
• What is interpretation?
• What’s in it for your community?
• Interpretation in the Brecon Beacons National Park
• What type of interpretation
• Advantages of interpretive planning
• Interpretation Planning – an overview

Section E: Interpretation – Planning your Interpretation Project

1. Why are you doing it – and who should be involved?

Decide why you want to do it

Setting the aims for your interpretation

Aims for interpretation could include

Your team- who should be involved and what skills do you need?

Getting professional help

Partnerships can bring shared glory

What kind of group?

What consultation do you need to do?

2. Who are you doing it for – who is your audience?

Decide who you are interpreting for and what they want to know

Collecting background information

Visitor surveys

Questionnaires

Using your visitor data

Who doesn’t come and why?

Who do you want to attract?

Your target audience

Including as many visitors as possible

Disabled Access

3. What are you going to interpret?

What are your stories?

Gathering your information

Site based information

Information about services and events

Information about problems

SWOT analysis

Storing your information

Decide what you want to tell people – your theme

4 How are you going to do your interpretation?

What kind of interpretive media do you want to use?

Personal interpretation

On site interpretation

Printed and graphic interpretation

Electronic interpretation

Advantages and disadvantages of different interpretive media

5. How will it be managed?

How are you going to fund your interpretation?

Potential funding sources

Using grants for your project

How to design a ‘fundable’ project

Timetabling the work

Looking after your interpretive project

Maintenance agreements

A finite life

6. Is it working?

Section F: Interpretation - Implementation of your project

• Ready to get going
• The writing stage
• Tips for writing interpretation
• The design stage
• Tips for designing interpretation
• General points to consider for developing interpretive media

Appendices:

• Appendix 1: Pre Contact Contact Sheet