Scotland’s Solway Firth is our first Landscape Connections project
The seascape of the Solway Firth stretches for more than 200 miles. It’s the UK’s third largest estuary and a Special Area of Conservation, but its habitats are threatened by pollution and climate change.
We’ve awarded the Solway Coast and Marine Landscape Connections Project (SCAMP Landscape Connections) £1.4million in development funding ahead of a potential delivery grant of up to £6.4m. It will use the grant to plan a ‘whole seascape approach’ to protecting and developing the coast’s natural and cultural heritage.
This is the perfect project to kick-start our UK-wide £150m Landscape Connections initiative, demonstrating the scope of our ambitions to support nature recovery on a vast scale.
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Rich natural heritage
The Solway Firth coast extends from the land border between Scotland and England, around the Mull of Galloway – Scotland's most southerly point – to the shores of Loch Ryan. It has shaped the history, biodiversity and culture of Scotland as a gateway to the world.
Dumfries and Galloway has over 25% of Scotland’s saltmarsh and is home to the last Wild Native Oyster Fishery in Scotland. This project will focus on prioritising five key habitats including seagrass meadows, native oyster reef, saltmarsh, coastal woodland and sand dunes.
A connected approach
SCAMP Landscape Connections will be delivered over 10 years, starting with a two-year development phase. The council will work with seven local partners including RSPB Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway Woodlands and The Southern Uplands Partnership.
Alongside protecting and developing the seascape, the project will engage young people and communities with the coast, providing green job opportunities and training for nature and habitat restoration. More people will be able to access and understand the landscape through 120 miles of new coastal trail.
The partners will also develop financial models to support emerging blue carbon, marine and coastal biodiversity financial markets.
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “This is the perfect project to kick-start our UK-wide £150m 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 is reflected in the landscape and history of the people, places and communities. 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.”
Gail MacGregor, Councillor and Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council, said: “Dumfries and Galloway Council is incredibly proud to be leading the SCAMP Landscape Connections partnership, which is made up of seven 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.”
Making landscapes better for nature and people
Through Landscape Connections, we want to drive systemic and lasting change across the UK’s protected landscapes.
We’re investing £150m in around 20 long-term landscape-scale projects over the next 10 years. Find out more about applying for a Landscape Connections grant.
