• First project awarded £8 million through The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Landscape Connections initiative
• 130-mile stretch of precious coastline and coastal waters will benefit from ten-year, large-scale funding
• Habitat restoration, community engagement and nature-based solutions will encourage coastal and marine environment to thrive
From salt marsh to sea cliffs, sandy beaches to sheltered coves, Scotland’s 210-mile Solway Coast offers a spectacular diversity of stunning scenery. Now it is set to be supported by £8 million as the first project to secure funding through The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s £150 million Landscape Connections initiative.
Thanks to National Lottery players, Solway Coast and Marine Project Landscape Connections (SCAMP Landscape Connections) will receive £1.4 million of investment to shape plans which will unlock further National Lottery funding of up to £6.4 million and act as an exemplar project in attracting further green finance.
The world class seascape of the Solway Firth in Dumfries and Galloway stretches for more than 200 miles from edge of the land border between Scotland and England round Scotland’s most southerly point, the Mull of Galloway, to the shores of Loch Ryan. Last week a WWF report found that the UK’s muddy saltmarshes were vital to combat climate change.
SCAMP Landscape Connections will take a whole seascape approach to understand, conserve, restore and develop the potential of the natural and cultural heritage of the Solway Firth coast, working with the local community to deliver an extensive programme of habitat restoration.
The project is the first of around 20 across the UK which will be supported by the Heritage Fund through Landscape Connections, a long-term, large scale investment initiative aimed at boosting nature recovery, allowing rural economies to thrive, and connecting more people to our most treasured places.
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “This is the perfect project to kick-start our UK-wide £150 million Landscape Connections initiative, demonstrating the scope of our ambitions to support nature recovery on a vast scale.
“The Solway Firth’s rich natural heritage has supported communities along its length since the earliest settlement. The heritage of millennia of human habitation are reflected in the landscape and history of the people, places and communities, and this will be enhanced with National Lottery player support to deliver large-scale, long-term, meaningful change for the environment and its people, furthering our vision for heritage to be valued, cared for, and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.”
Dumfries and Galloway Council is leading SCAMP alongside the project’s impressive roster of local partners, which includes Dumfries and Galloway Woodlands, Crichton Carbon Centre, Galloway Fisheries Trust, Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere, The Solway Firth Partnership, The Southern Uplands Partnership and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scotland.
Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council Councillor Gail MacGregor said: “Our beautiful Solway Coast has been so important to Scotland’s coastal and natural heritage though time. We are incredibly excited to have The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s support for SCAMP Landscape Connections confirmed as we plan for the best possible future for this cherished natural resource.
“The initial development funding provides the essential financial support that will allow us to develop plans for long-term programmes along with the community.
“With a potential total investment of almost £8 million from the Heritage Fund this commitment demonstrates the huge potential of our Solway Coast to become a leading light in coastal and marine nature restoration, playing its part in helping with the nature and climate crisis. By allowing our coastal and marine environment to thrive we will be bringing opportunities for learning, green jobs, wellbeing and nature related economic development to our communities.
“Dumfries and Galloway Council is incredibly proud to be leading the SCAMP partnership, which is made up of 7 nature-based organisations who are committed to improving the wellbeing of our marine and coastal nature, leaving it in a healthier state for future generations to benefit from and enjoy. Being the first area in the UK funded through the Heritage Fund’s Landscape Connections initiative is a great testament to the hard work and commitment of the partnership team.”
Delivered over 10 years (including a two-year development phase), SCAMP Landscape Connections aims to adopt a whole seascape approach to understand, conserve, restore and develop the potential of the natural, cultural and built heritage of the Solway Firth coast. Working with the local community, an extensive programme of habitat restoration will be delivered across a total of 35 planned initiatives.
With Dumfries and Galloway having 25% of Scotland’s Saltmarsh and the last Wild Native Oyster Fishery in Scotland it is a seascape with great potential for restoration and helping nature to thrive. Five key habitats will be prioritised including seagrass meadows, native oyster reef, saltmarsh, coastal woodland and sand dunes. Learning for communities and young people and training will be embedded within SCAMP Landscape Connection’s innovative nature restoration work including a focus on green job opportunities.
SCAMP will also build on work developing financial models to support emerging blue carbon, marine and coastal biodiversity financial markets.
120 miles of new coastal trail will be created to enhance, extend and better link the existing coastal path network along with focused investment in accessible paths and all ability trails. 10 coastal gateway sites will also be enhanced, providing high quality experience, facilities. Interpretation along the coast and trails will also enhance this experience and enable people to learn about the Solway Firth and its environs.
