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Solway coastline secures major restoration boost

Getty Images A view across the Solway coastline in the south of Scotland with a fence keeping people away from a steep drop and a few houses huddled around a bay in the distance at the end of a gorse-lined trail.Getty Images
A total of almost £8m will be spent on conserving, developing and restoring the coastline

The Solway coastline in south west Scotland has secured a major funding boost to help with its conservation, restoration and development.

It is the first project to secure support through the National Lottery Heritage Fund's (NLHF) £150m Landscape Connections initiative.

The Solway Coast and Marine Landscape Connections Project - Scamp for short - will receive £1.4m to shape plans which will help unlock a further £6.4m.

It will work with the local community to deliver an extensive programme of habitat restoration right along the Dumfries and Galloway coast.

Getty Images A bench looking out to sea across the Solway Firth with rocks jutting out into the water and green hills on the horizonGetty Images
The area is the first to benefit from the new funding

The project is the first of about 20 across the UK which will benefit from the funding aimed at boosting nature recovery, helping rural economies and attracting more visitors.

NLHF chief executive Eilish McGuinness said it was the "perfect project" to get things started.

"The Solway Firth's rich natural heritage has supported communities along its length since the earliest settlement," she said.

"The heritage of millennia of human habitation are 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."

Getty Images An old white lighthouse stands on a rocky shoreline with water in the distance under a cloud-flecked blue skyGetty Images
The project will be delivered over 10 years

Dumfries and Galloway Council is leading the Scamp initiative alongside a long list of local partners.

Leader Gail MacGregor said: "With a potential total investment of almost £8m 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."

Karen Morley, Scamp programme manager, said it welcomed the funding.

"It is rare for a nature restoration project to attract this level of investment over a prolonged period of time," she said.

"But it is also essential for this ambitious innovative programme of work to be delivered by ourselves and our partners and ensure we can make a real restorative impact on our Solway land and seascape."

Getty Images Mudflats on the Solway coast in southern Scotland with water to the left and hills and grass to the rightGetty Images
The area hopes to become a "leading light" in coastal restoration

The Scamp scheme will be delivered over 10 years including a two-year development phase.

Five key habitats will be prioritised - seagrass meadows, native oyster reefs, saltmarsh, coastal woodland and sand dunes.

It will also see 120 miles (195km) of new coastal trail created with 10 coastal "gateway" sites enhanced.

Panels along the coast and trails will allow people to learn more about the Solway Firth and the surrounding area.