to stop the live testing. In 2013, following European Union legislation to protect the marine environment campaigners urged the cessation of use of live shells into the sea, however notes from a Ministry of Defence meeting reveal that the legislation would not impact on the site as the shells were 'placed' not 'dumped' into the sea - a response campaigners concluded was a loophole. Later in 2013 the local MP Russell Brown said that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had assured him that there were no plans to resume testing of such weapons on the site. In 2019 renewed testing at the site resulted in the closure of access, installation of fencing and removal of tenant farmers and their livestock. This caused opposition amongst local residents who claimed there had been no consultation, with the MoD saying the site could be closed for up to five years. Current use The site is used today as a field of fire and as a training site for infantry both with live and blank ammunition. The site is not open to public access during testing, except tenant farmers, as there is a danger of unexploded ordnance on the site. Given the lack of public access the Ministry of Defence report a number of rare plants in the botany of the range including glaucium flavum, yellow vetch and anacamptis pyramidalis. Limited public access is maintained on a number on specific paths and roads through the site when live testing is not being undertaken. In March 2018, the Ministry of Defence indicated that it was at the very early stages of plans to develop and enhance the training facilities at Dundrennan. References External links Dundrennan Range from www.secretscotland.org.uk Buildings and structures in Dumfries and Galloway Military of Scotland Weapons test sites Solway Firth