SCAMP: Innovation in Restoration

SCAMP: Innovation in Restoration is focused on developing and testing innovative approaches to marine and coastal habitat restoration along the Dumfries and Galloway coast. The project has a particular focus on three priority habitats: seagrass, native oysters and saltmarsh, which are vital for biodiversity, climate resilience and coastal communities, yet have experienced significant historical decline.

The project forms part of the wider SCAMP programme led by Dumfries and Galloway Council, with the Solway Firth Partnership acting as a key delivery partner, helping to shape and deliver restoration activity, community engagement and knowledge-sharing across the region.

The SCAMP Innovation in Restoration team is based in Stranraer, and project activities span the Dumfries and Galloway coastline, from the Solway Firth, around the Rhins of Galloway and into Loch Ryan.

A strong emphasis is placed on innovation and collaboration, bringing together research, practical restoration trials and local knowledge to explore what works, where and why. Community involvement sits at the heart of the project, supporting skills development, volunteering and long-term stewardship, and helping to ensure restoration efforts deliver meaningful benefits for both nature and the people who live and work along the coast.