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 has been such a success that additional school holiday sessions were added due to strong interest from young people.
The Wild Winter programme is an important early phase in SCAMP's ambitious 10-year coastal and marine nature restoration project, which covers the entire 210km of the Dumfries and Galloway coastline from Gretna to the Rhins of Galloway.
By actively engaging communities through educational events, citizen science opportunities, and hands-on conservation activities, SCAMP is building the foundation for environmental guardianship. The aim is that local residents become invested in the long-term health of the Solway's marine habitats and become ‘Coastodians’ of their local marine environment.
The Solway Firth is one of the largest and least industrialised estuaries in Europe, with a diverse marine ecosystem. Following a community engagement programme in early 2024, the Wild Winter events were designed to deepen interest and provide opportunities for direct connection.
Local 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.
A Coast Rich with Life and History
The Wild Winter programme wove together the natural and human histories of the Solway coast, helping participants understand how deeply intertwined their communities are with the marine environment. From biofluorescence walks at Kirkconnell Flow to saltmarsh exploration in Annan, each event revealed different aspects of the region's coast to participants.
"Communities like Annan exist because of their proximity to the coast,"
explained Alan Thomson from Annan Harbour Action Group during the 'Shipping and Shoreline' event in March.
"Understanding our historical relationship with the sea helps us appreciate how fundamentally it has shaped our communities."
Marine ecology expert Nic Coombey of Solway Firth Partnership, reminded participants:
"The seashore is probably the wildest habitat that can be found in Scotland. Over thousands of years people have modified the countryside, but the ancient world survives on our windswept coasts."
Citizen Scientists in the Making
A 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.
"I enjoyed being a scientist for the day while water testing!"
said one Elmvale Primary pupil, while other comments from young people included:
"It was adventurous and great fun out on the Merse. I loved the walk because it was great seeing all the features of the landscape."
"I never knew that creatures could live in mud!"
"I liked the water testing to see the colours change depending on the chemicals in it."
"I was shocked to learn that the water in the River Annan is actually quite clean!"
The Future of Coastal Conservation
By fostering connection between people and place, SCAMP aims to build a sustainable model of ecosystem restoration that will benefit both wildlife and coastal communities for generations to come.
Councillor Ian Blake, chair of the council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee, commented:
"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."
Councillor Jackie McCamon, vice chair of the committee added:
“By connecting people directly with their coastal natural heritage, SCAMP has begun building a community of informed, engaged citizens. This is exactly the kind of sustainable, community-led conservation that SCAMP was designed to foster, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the project will build on this momentum to deepen our region's commitment to being active ‘Coastodians’ of our Solway coast."