OVER 400 people contributed to Solway Coast and Marine Project’s (SCAMP) Wild Winter programme.
The series of 32 events, which ran from February to early April, was designed to spark enthusiasm and interest among people of all ages, with many events selling out completely.
It was such a success that additional school holiday sessions were added due to strong interest from young people.
The programme was an important early phase in SCAMP’s ambitious ten-year coastal and marine nature restoration project, which covers the entire 210 kilometres of the Dumfries and Galloway coastline from Gretna to the Rhins of Galloway
One strength of the Wild Winter programme was its emphasis on active participation rather than passive learning. Workshops on saltmarsh ecology, water testing, and invertebrate identification turned curious minds into budding citizen scientists, and the Wild Winter schools programme was received enthusiastically by the young people who took part. Reflecting on the experience, Alan Thomson from Annan Harbour Action Group said: “Communities like Annan exist because of their proximity to the coast. Understanding our historical relationship with the sea helps us appreciate how fundamentally it has shaped our communities.”
Community involvement is expected to play an important role in SCAMP’s long term goals of increasing biodiversity, supporting coastal and marine habitats, and strengthening coastal communities through continued learning and practical conservation work. Councillor Ian Blake, chair of the council’s economy and infrastructure committee, added: “The success of the Wild Winter programme shows that we have tapped into the genuine desire of our communities to reconnect with their coastal heritage. What’s most exciting isn’t just the impressive turnout, but the enthusiasm we’ve seen from participants to continue their involvement. This programme has laid a solid foundation for the next phase of SCAMP’s work.”
