We are delighted to announce that SCAMP Landscape Connections have appointed designer and water-access specialist Chris Romer-Lee to lead the Port William Tidal Pool Study to explore the feasibility of creating a Tidal Pool at Port William. The project was initiated by local sea swimming group the Machars Mermaids and the community of Port William with support from SCAMPs small grants scheme in 2024.
One of the aims of SCAMP Landscape Connections, our 210 mile seascape project is to help people reconnect with the Solway’s amazing coastal and marine environment. The Solway Coast has many places which have long since been used for health and wellbeing and it is very exciting to revisit this aspiration in today’s context and develop a pool for safe swimming and fostering biodiversity.
The study will begin with research into the former tidal pool, the Fleuk Hole, which was lost during harbour improvement works. Working closely with the Machars Mermaids and SCAMP, Romer-Lee will assess potential new sites and develop a concept design for a facility that allows safe sea access at all states of the tide.
The proposed pool will integrate ecologically enhancing structures to boost coastal biodiversity, ensuring Port William’s marine environment becomes both better understood and actively restored through community participation. Jacqueline Crowther from the Machars Mermaids said:
“We are very excited to be working with Chris Romer-Lee on this project. Chris brings with him lots of experience and expertise in working on similar “watery projects”, particularly up here in Scotland.
The Machars Mermaids sea swim regularly all year round but swims are tide dependent. Having a tidal pool and being able to sea swim and reap the benefits anytime, is the dream.”
Chris Romer-Lee has long championed safe and equitable access to water, first through his award-winning practice Studio Octopi and more recently with Future Lidos and Swimmable Cities. His acclaimed 2023 book Sea Pools helped spark renewed interest in tidal bathing spaces worldwide. Building on this work, Romer-Lee’s projects explore how surface treatments and design innovation can deliver biodiversity net gain while strengthening community wellbeing, cohesion and the local economy. Chris said;
“I’m delighted to be able to bring my knowledge of tidal pools to Port William. I’ve long championed safe and equitable access to water, first through the architecture practice I co-founded Studio Octopi, and now independently with co-founded alliances, Future Lidos (UK & Ireland) and Swimmable Cities (global). In Port William, I’m looking forward to working with a passionate community to explore how the pool’s surface treatment and design innovation can deliver biodiversity net gain, whilst also strengthening wellbeing, cohesion and the local economy. My award-winning bestseller Sea Pools (Batsford, 2023) helped spark renewed interest in tidal pools worldwide and I’m thrilled to see Scotland lead on exploring the opportunities for new community led tidal pools.”
This project evolved out of conversations between SCAMP and the local community during the Port William Place Plan and through research undertaken by local wild swimmer, Jacqueline Crowther for the Port William Community Council. Chris Romer-Lee is a designer, researcher and advocate for swim sites across the world.