The Southern Uplands Partnership

21/10/2026

Coastal access - we want to hear from you!

Solway Coast and Marine Project – Landscape Connections is an ambitious, ten-year project, led by Dumfries & Galloway Council, aiming to restore the coastal and shallow sea habitats of the 210-mile long north Solway Firth.

One of the aims of SCAMP is to improve access to and along the coast. Much of the coast has designated core paths, however there are gaps within the coastal core path network and still much work to complete on improving the standard of access infrastructure and signage to improve accessibility. This month SCAMP will be undertaking public consultations at:

Auchencairn Murray Hall - 22 October
The Merse in Wigtown - 27 October
Borgue Public Hall - 28 October
Kingholm Quay Community Centre - 29 October.

Please complete our questionnaire by following the Google Forms link:

https://tinyurl.com/SCAMP-access-survey

More about SCAMP:

SCAMP is working for nature, local people, and climate. Through the restoration of the 5 key Solway habitats (native oyster reefs, seagrass beds, saltmarsh, sand dunes and native coastal woodlands), we will create a richer natural environment which empowers a sense of pride, improves understanding, access, research and learning, sustains the local economy, and delivers health and wellbeing benefits for people.

SCAMP plans to explore community-driven initiatives to enhance and restore biodiversity and enable communities to adapt to the effects of climate change.

Coast and Marine Project
National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland
and Galloway Council
Inclusive Growth Deal
Firth Partnership
& Galloway Woodlands
Carbon Centre
and South Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere
Southern Uplands Partnership
West Scotland Environmental Information Centre
Rivers Trust
Dumfries and Galloway

19/10/2026

Representatives from Southern Uplands Partnership, including our projects SBCAN and South West Scotland Environmental Information Centre, attended the SRUC Future Landscapes Conference last Friday in Dumfries.

We had some great discussions with visitors to our trade stalls and we also enjoyed hearing presentations on a diverse range of topics and taking part in workshops. These topics included a presentation about of how land management decisions in Scotland are reached, whilst later in the day a discussion about perspectives on the value assigned to the historic environment in future land use projects were especially interesting.

Reflecting upon these discussions, the dynamics of contested landscapes and how people and nature can make use of these places were common themes throughout the day. These themes are of direct import to our own work at SUP, leaving us all with much food for thought.

18/10/2026

Enjoy a coastal walk along the Solway Coast this October, share stories about history, nature and landscape, let us know about how and why you access the coast, and any barriers you face.

SCAMP: Landscape Connections' October Walk and Talk sessions are free for all to attend. You can book your spot via Eventbrite, don't delay as spaces are limited! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2001881712090

We are gathering tales of the Solway Coast, and would love to hear yours! If you have a story to tell or would simply like to find out more about the project we would love you to come to one of our drop in sessions. These will take place following each walk; enjoy tea, coffee, biscuits, maps, and more information about SCAMP - in return for your insights and views!

-Let us know what makes this fantastic environment important to you by decorating a postcard or recording a voice note.

-Help us to understand how coastal access can be improved and where there are issues with the Core Path network.

-Learn more about volunteering with SCAMP as a Coastodian.

SCAMP – Landscape Connections is one of the most ambitious coastal conservation projects in Scotland. With lead funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, it seeks to restore the coastal and shallow sea habitats of the North Solway, covering the entire Dumfries and Galloway coastline from Gretna around to the Rhins of Galloway, working with nature, local people, sustaining the economy and delivering health and wellbeing benefits. Coastal access is key to delivering the project, and a series of coastal walks and drop-in sessions are being arranged to better understand from communities how coastal access works for them.

The Southern Uplands Partnership is a SCAMP partner, working with Dumfries and Galloway Council on the coastal access strand of the project.

Coast and Marine Project
National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland
and Galloway Council
Firth Partnership
& Galloway Woodlands
Carbon Centre
and South Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere
Southern Uplands Partnership
West Scotland Environmental Information Centre
Rivers Trust
Dumfries and Galloway

15/10/2026

Connecting Threads: Tweed River Culture are gearing up for the second edition of its Tweed River Festival, which takes place from 30-31 October 2026. This year the festival has moved downriver to Melrose, in the Middle Tweed.

This year’s festival includes a host of river-focused creative activities: from collective net-making to riverside listening; costume-making to screen-printing; circus performances to photography workshops; films, food, wild swimming, a parade, and more!

Pictured are participants taking part in last year's SPRINGBOARD local climate assembly which was part of the Tweed River Festival in Peebles. This year, Connecting Threads are again collaborating with Culture for Climate Scotland (CCS) for day one of the Tweed River Festival 2026 to bring the fourth SPRINGBOARD local assembly to the Borders. The assembly nurtures collaboration between the climate, environmental, and cultural sectors. Another one of our projects, SBCAN, has also been long term collaborators on bringing these SPRINGBOARD events to the Borders and Southern Uplands Partnership are proud to continue our support in bringing this initiative to the Borders.

Head to Connecting Threads’ website to see the full programme: https://www.tweedriverculture.org/journal/trf-2026-full-programme-live

14/10/2026

Auchencairn Coastal Walk and Talk: 1.30-4pm, 22nd October 2026

Join us to explore and celebrate the Solway Coast and local coastal access, share stories about history, nature and landscape, let us know about how and why you access the coast, and any barriers you face.

About the walk

SCAMP’s Coastal Infrastructure Coordinator, Antoine Lemaire, will lead this walk, including the new boardwalk path towards Torr wood. Learn more about the village, about Heston Island's history as a haven for smugglers - and about the wildlife that now inhabits the island!

Afterwards - please join us at the Murray Hall (4-7 pm) for our drop-in session, where we can offer tea, coffee, biscuits, maps, and more information about SCAMP - in return for your insights and views!

Please note: numbers for the walk are limited. Final details on the meeting point and exact timings will be shared with attendees in the week before the event.

Free event, but booking essential for the walk - the drop-in is open to all and no booking is required.

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/scamp-auchencairn-walk-talk-with-antoine-lemaire-tickets-2001880664958

SCAMP – Landscape Connections is one of the most ambitious coastal conservation projects in Scotland. With lead funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, it seeks to restore the coastal and shallow sea habitats of the North Solway. Coastal access is key to delivering the project, and a series of coastal walks and drop-in sessions are being arranged to better understand from communities how coastal access works for them.

The Southern Uplands Partnership is a SCAMP partner, working with Dumfries and Galloway Council on the coastal access strand of the project.

Photo c. Becca Nelson.

13/10/2026

Look out for our October newsletter which should have just arrived in your inbox.

Not a subscriber? You can read about all the latest news from Southern Uplands Partnership and our projects here: https://us16.campaign-archive.com/?u=f7ec7d245e64620530c68637a&id=01a0909316

12/10/2026

Southern Uplands Partnership had a great session with Dumfries and Galloway Council councillors last Tuesday in Dumfries, working on the final drafts of the revised Local Biodiversity Action Plan.

Southern Uplands Partnership has been the local consultant on the revised plan which reflects a 10-year vision for enhancing biodiversity within the region. Following a 3-month long public consultation, which has now concluded, councillors were being updated on the development of the report and consultation process. The plan includes proposals for greater attention to be paid to the protection of habitats from cumulative development and the adverse impacts of intensive farming and forestry, alongside clearer communication of the implementation of the plan to local communities and their involvement in efforts to improve biodiversity across Dumfries and Galloway.

The final version of the plan will be submitted to committee for approval in December. Southern Uplands Partnership would like to extend thanks to all those who took the time to respond to the consultation.

Image copyright Mark Pollitt

08/10/2026

Look out for four-autumn coast path walks and talks taking place this month.

Coastal access is a key element of the ambitious SCAMP landscape conservation project, these sessions have the goal of learning more about how coastal access works for the communities on the Solway Coast, so please join us for the walks or share your views at the accompanying drop in sessions.

Auchencairn Walk & Talk:
22 Oct, 1.30 - 4 pm

Wigtown Walk & Talk:
27 Oct, 1.30 - 4 pm.

Borgue Walk & Talk:
28 Oct, 1.30 - 3.30 pm.

Kingholm Quay Walk & Talk:
29 Oct, 1.30 - 4.00 pm.

Book your spot: https://tinyurl.com/SUP-eventbrite

If you cannot make one of the walks but would like to respond to the survey you can do so here: https://tinyurl.com/SUP-access-survey

07/10/2026

South West Scotland Environmental Information Centre (SWSEIC) is part of Southern Uplands Partnership. Their highly successful Nature Connections project in East Dumfriesshire has come to a close this autumn. Working alongside Southern Uplands Partnership staff and several external partners, SWSEIC delivered 21 activities this year in the Boreland, Eskdalemuir, Langholm, Brydekirk, and Eaglesfield areas.

221 people took part in a range of events including community moth trapping, bat talks and walks, wildlife recording workshops, local wildlife talks, nature walks, camera trapping and a range of artistic activities and artistic sessions.

SWSEIC have produced two fantastic compilation videos of the trail camera findings for Boreland and Eskdalemuir (including a sighting of a Goshawk and Otter among other species) which you can view on the SWSEIC YouTube channel via the following links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSh2R-ijeqc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGITG-hWmRs

A big thanks to all the partners and volunteers involved in the events, and to the project funders at The National Lottery Awards for All.

Trail cameras were loaned to volunteers who placed them at various ...

05/10/2026

One of the projects that we facilitate is the Scottish Borders Climate Action Network (SBCAN); this is the Climate Action Hub for the Borders, part of a national network of Hubs funded by the Scottish Government.

SBCAN has just announced a call out for applications to their latest round of seed funding. Their Act for Change fund provides grants of between £500 and £1500 for constituted groups in the Scottish Borders to undertake projects linked to climate change and the environment. Applications are open until 11.59 pm on 8 November.

Visit SBCAN's website to find out more: https://www.sbcan.co.uk/funding