Today the Scottish Government announced that Galloway is the proposed location for Scotland’s next National Park. This follows an eight-year local campaign and a decades long national campaign by APRS and SCNP for a new National Park.
We at APRS have been campaigning on the benefits and importance of National Parks for decades alongside the Scottish Campaign on National Parks (SCNP). We are absolutely delighted that the Scottish Government has announced that Galloway is the proposed location to be Scotland’s next National Park.
Dr Kat Jones, Director of Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS) said:
“Congratulations to the dynamic and determined local campaign that has been putting the case for a National Park in Galloway for eight years, and building consensus across the region. National Park status is well-deserved in Galloway, and will bring resources, jobs and attention to a less-well known corner of Scotland which has some of our most spectacular landscapes.
“A lot of work has gone into preparing nominations from the four other areas, each of which would also make a fantastic National Park. We hope that this is just the start of designating a suite of National Parks across the range of world-class natural and cultural landscapes we have in Scotland.”
John Mayhew, Chair of Scottish Campaign for National Parks (SCNP) said:
“SCNP warmly welcomes the Scottish Government’s decision to take forward the NP proposal for a third national park in Galloway. We look forward to seeing wide public engagement and consultation during the next step in the process. This will involve a much more in-depth look at the benefits of designation, the boundaries of the National Park, and the specifically tailored arrangements for the new Park’s governance and management.
“Today’s announcement comes after decades of campaigning at a national level. We are delighted that the unflagging effort put into making the case has got to this point, and that National Park status will be able to benefit the area’s residents and visitors, as well as putting nature and climate resilience at the heart of decision making.”
NOTES
APRS is Scotland’s Countryside Charity. We campaign to protect, enhance and promote Scotland’s countryside and rural landscapes for everyone’s benefit, and we support others to do the same. We have been campaigning on National parks since we helped establish SCNP eighty years ago. www.aprs.scot
The Scottish Campaign for National Parks (SCNP) is dedicated to the cause of existing and future national parks and other protected landscapes in Scotland. Their primary aim is to promote the protection, enhancement and enjoyment of nationally outstanding areas https://www.scnp.org.uk/APRS and SCNP launched their latest campaign for National parks in Scotland with the publication of ‘Unfinished Business’ in 2013 which we updated in 2015.
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Publications
A Galloway National Park?
This report, commissioned by Dumfries and Galloway Council, is a feasibility study into the potential for a National park in Galloway.
The Potential Socio-economic Impacts of a New National Park for Galloway
This report, published in 2019 gives the socio-economic case for a new National Park in Galloway. A new National Park could provide a significant stimulus to the local economy, attracting at least an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 new visits per year with £30 – £60 million of additional spending and supporting 700 to 1400 jobs. It would attract small businesses and create a more desirable place for people to live.