The Summit to Sea project is developing well, with strong local interest from residents and landowners across East Lammermuir. Our recent advisory group meeting brought together a broad cross-section of the community, including several farmers, residents, educators and local project partners, for an open and constructive conversation about the future of our burns, farmland and wildlife.
One of the clearest messages from the evening was the value of simply talking. Farmers and landowners spoke candidly about the pressures they face—particularly lack of time, uncertainty around future funding and schemes, and the confusion created by so many different organisations and projects approaching them. Several people emphasised that ongoing, trusted conversations are essential if we are to build confidence and find practical ways forward. As one participant put it, unless people speak, they do not know how others are thinking; these conversations can be the “stone in the pool” that creates wider ripples.
There was real interest in working at a catchment scale, while recognising that every farm and stretch of burn is different. Landowners shared their own experiences of change over the years, including rotational grazing, reduced fertiliser use, changes in vegetation and wildlife, and the growing challenge of managing both too much water in sudden downpours and too little water in dry periods. Several people highlighted the importance of slowing and protecting water across the catchment, improving soil health, shading burns to keep water cooler, and finding the right intervention in the right place—whether that is riparian tree regeneration, fencing livestock away from watercourses, buffer strips, hedgerows or carefully sited wetlands.
There was strong support for involving more people, particularly young people, in the project. Ideas included more walks and workshops, visits for residents, learning opportunities for schools, and practical activities such as building leaky dams. Several attendees also spoke about the value of connecting town and country, and of helping people understand that nature is present everywhere—even in urban settings—and that everyone can play a part in caring for it.
Looking ahead, we hope to build on this momentum by offering more opportunities to learn, share ideas and see catchment-scale restoration in practice. We are exploring a visit to the Eddleston Water Project in the New Year, which would give interested landowners the chance to see examples of natural flood management, river and habitat restoration, and long-term partnership working.
Jenny is also available to visit residents in the Dry and Spott burn catchments as part of the NRF Development project, to discuss Summit to Sea, answer questions and explore ways to get involved. Please contact jenny@sustainingdunbar.orgif you would like to arrange a visit.
Behind the scenes, Jenny has been connecting with landowners on issues including slowing water through the catchment, restoring riparian habitats through tree planting and buffer zones, and developing a more collaborative approach to water management. Discussions are also under way with NFUS around ineligible areas and how these might be better recognised within Single Farm Payments. Summit to Sea believes these often-overlooked areas can be important biodiversity havens, and that clearer incentives could encourage farmers to protect and enhance them.
Draft designs have now been prepared for around 11 of the 22 landholdings in the Dry and Spott burn catchments. Discussions are continuing on landowner agreements and maintenance responsibilities for restoration work in the next phase.
The Development project is funded until the end of March 2027. With further funding, we hope to build on this encouraging start, keep listening and learning together, and explore practical opportunities for restoration across the catchment in the years ahead.