New national park proposed in Galloway

Mairi Gougeon

The joint proposal from the Galloway National Park Association and the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO biosphere highlights Galloway’s diverse landscapes and stunning coastline, its outstanding biodiversity and rich cultural heritage.

Local residents, communities, businesses and interested parties will be invited to get involved and share their views on whether Galloway should become a new national park and where the boundary for the new park should be drawn.

NatureScot will conduct the public consultation and investigation into whether Galloway should join Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and Cairngorms before submitting its findings to ministers in April next year.

Following the investigation by NatureScot, the government will take a final decision on National Park status and draw up a designation order for further consultation, before approval by the Scottish Parliament.

During a visit to Shambellie House within the proposed new park, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “After carefully considering all of the nominations we received, I am very pleased that we are proposing to create a new National Park for Scotland in Galloway. The proposal is community led, has the backing of many local businesses and makes a strong case on the benefits that national park status will bring for people who live in the area, for the local economy and for the environment.

“At this stage it is still a proposal. NatureScot will now lead a consultation with local people, communities and businesses to gauge support and to look at specifics like the proposed boundary, and how it should take account of local circumstances and help to meet the needs of communities.

“We received nominations for new National Parks from some really special places – Lochaber, Loch Awe, Scottish Borders and Tay Forest. I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard on these proposals and all other communities who came together to explore the idea of a new National Park. The competition was extremely tough and the bids have clearly shown the outstanding natural and cultural heritage we have in Scotland, as well as people’s ambitions for the rural communities they live in.”