The Southern Uplands Partnership has announced the appointment of Katrina Dick as the new South West Scotland Coastal Way Project Officer.
Katrina comes from a varied background including conservation work, community development and project management, both in Dumfries & Galloway and locations across Scotland. This has involved everything from visitor management engagement and invasive species control to developing community planning tools. When not working Katrina can be found climbing hills or hiking in the woods, with her Labrador Splash.
Working in partnership with the People’s Project and Dumfries & Galloway Council the Southern Uplands Partnership has made great strides in moving forward the idea of a continuous coastal way between Gretna and Rhins of Galloway, linking the King Charles III England Coastal Path and the Ayrshire Coastal Path.
Recent developments have seen funding received from Paths for All, Dumfries & Galloway Council. Robin Rigg Communities Fund, Dumfriesshire East Community Benefit Group and FCC Communities Fund for core path improvements and upgrades.
The removal of gorse bushes on the Sandyhills – Rockcliffe section has already started with great help from the Criminal Justice Scheme, whilst further sections will be undertaken in November.
The Southern Uplands Partnership is a rural development charity, started by local people keen to keep the communities and countryside of the south of Scotland alive and healthy. The Partnership represents all sorts of people, as well as government bodies, agencies and Councils. Since 1999, the Partnership has initiated over 60 significant socially and environmentally sustainable projects and secured and invested well-over £4m of project funding, including the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, UNESCO Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere, South West Scotland Environmental Information Centre (SWSEIC) and Ride Scottish Borders.
Katrina said, “I am looking forward to continuing on the great work already started on the development of a coastal way between Gretna and The Rhins of Galloway and excited to be able to use my skills in the further development of the project but also to discover those hidden gems along the Solway Firth. Being able to work with great organisations such as the People’s Project and Dumfries & Galloway Council as well as local communities and landowners makes the job even more worthwhile and I cannot wait to get started.
