WHY GALLOWAY SHOULD BE A
NATIONAL PARK
Photo © John Shields
WHY
GALLOWAY?
GAME-CHANGER FOR
GALLOWAY
Visitors fall in love with Galloway. Its beauty and distinctive character have inspired authors, poets and artists for centuries.
But despite having so much to offer it is relatively unknown, with a rapidly ageing population and in urgent need of regeneration. Galloway deserves a better future. A National Park could:
National Parks drive positive, integrated change that protect and enhance our natural assets. They are also great at attracting investment and bringing in skilled people who want to live and work in areas that offer a better lifestyle and will have a key role to play in Scotland’s response to climate change and nature recovery.
A Galloway National Park would benefit all Scotland. Our rolling hills, moorlands, green pastures and long coastlines offer a very different experience to the two existing National Parks. As the first National Park in southern Scotland it would provide outdoor leisure activities and promote health and wellbeing for neighbouring communities which face social and economic challenges and deprivation.
What’s more, there is plenty of additional capacity for day visitors and tourists. Galloway is ideally placed to create a National Park that balances people and nature. We have all the right ingredients, the support and enthusiasm – we just need to make it happen.
- Bring world-wide recognition that it’s a wonderful place to visit
- Give local people the powers to set policies to suit the region.
National Parks drive positive, integrated change that protect and enhance our natural assets. They are also great at attracting investment and bringing in skilled people who want to live and work in areas that offer a better lifestyle and will have a key role to play in Scotland’s response to climate change and nature recovery.
A Galloway National Park would benefit all Scotland. Our rolling hills, moorlands, green pastures and long coastlines offer a very different experience to the two existing National Parks. As the first National Park in southern Scotland it would provide outdoor leisure activities and promote health and wellbeing for neighbouring communities which face social and economic challenges and deprivation.
What’s more, there is plenty of additional capacity for day visitors and tourists. Galloway is ideally placed to create a National Park that balances people and nature. We have all the right ingredients, the support and enthusiasm – we just need to make it happen.
OUR VIEWS ON…
WHAT ARE
THE BENEFITS?
Galloway has many attractions for locals and visitors alike, but these are not widely known. We’re often described as Scotland’s “best kept secret”, and we rarely receive much publicity or acclaim.
Galloway has an ageing population - many of our young people leave the area every year and we have some of the lowest wages in Scotland. Our land-based industries – especially farming – face a very uncertain future. Local communities and economies badly need a boost.
A National Park would put Galloway on the map. As the internationally recognised stamp of outstanding natural and cultural interest, a National Park would draw more people to the area, not only to visit but also to live and work. The National Park brand could help local businesses to add value to their produce, and it would also build confidence in our future.
A National Park would not only look after our natural and cultural assets; it would also work with individuals and organisations to map out a future for the area, ensuring that we realise our full potential. There are plenty of examples to show how the energy and creativity of National Park staff can deliver benefits far exceeding the modest cost to Government.
Let us know why you think Galloway is special.
Galloway has an ageing population - many of our young people leave the area every year and we have some of the lowest wages in Scotland. Our land-based industries – especially farming – face a very uncertain future. Local communities and economies badly need a boost.
A National Park would put Galloway on the map. As the internationally recognised stamp of outstanding natural and cultural interest, a National Park would draw more people to the area, not only to visit but also to live and work. The National Park brand could help local businesses to add value to their produce, and it would also build confidence in our future.
A National Park would not only look after our natural and cultural assets; it would also work with individuals and organisations to map out a future for the area, ensuring that we realise our full potential. There are plenty of examples to show how the energy and creativity of National Park staff can deliver benefits far exceeding the modest cost to Government.
Let us know why you think Galloway is special.
FAQs
How will a National Park help Galloway’s environment?
Conservation is one of the four purposes of Scottish National Parks. Galloway has great landscapes and is home to iconic species. National Parks can support landowners and communities to develop long-term and wide-scale conservation enhancement. There are great examples from Scotland’s existing National Parks.
How will a National Park help Galloway tackle climate change?
We need more woodlands of greater diversity with more native trees and increased resilience in the face of more extreme weather. Galloway has large areas of degraded peatland which, if restored, can store far more carbon than woodland and lock it away for centuries. These are landscape scale changes which area real strength of National Parks and which sit well with the Park’s legal obligations for the sustainable use of natural resources.
How will a National Park help the Galloway economy?
National Parks have a proven track record for attracting extra funding – typically £10-£17 for each pound invested by the government. Indeed, one of the legal purposes is the socio-economic development of local communities. National Parks generate tourist spending and support local businesses. They also attract people to live, work and establish businesses.
How will a National Park help people to enjoy Galloway responsibly?
National Parks have a statutory purpose to encourage understanding and enjoyment of the area and its special qualities. Visitor education, a ranger service, clear messaging and signposting can make a huge difference - and UK National Parks have decades of experience.
How will a National Park help address Galloway’s population issues?
National Parks encourage young people to stay in the area, or return, by giving them increased employment and career opportunities. This is an urgent need for Galloway. A National Park would attract families to live and work in the area, attracted by the good quality of live. It will also attract the key workers Galloway struggles to recruit and who are needed to support our rapidly ageing population.
How will a National Park in Galloway ensure it doesn’t become like the Lake District?
The Lake District has been attracting large numbers of tourists for over a century and some other parts of Scotland the would be eligible for a National Park can also feel very crowded in the holiday season. But Galloway has fewer visitors a year than Edinburgh Castle. We are well positioned to learn what works in existing parks, including managing Airbnbs, holiday cottages and campervans. Success for Galloway will look more like Northumberland or Exmoor National Parks.
How will a National Park in Galloway affect traditional land uses such as farming and forestry?
Farming and forestry are key industries for Galloway. They have helped to shape the landscape we value and make Galloway one of Scotland’s most important centres for dairy, livestock and timber. National Parks work mainly through planning or through incentivising desirable development. Much agriculture and forestry is outside the scope of planning so incentives are the key. Many forest estates in National Parks make more money from tourists than trees and many farms have diversified into agritourism..
Why will a national park make such a difference to Galloway?
National Parks have an international brand which puts them firmly on the map. No UK Park has been de-designated or reduced in size since the first were created over 70 years ago and this gives great future certainty for communities and businesses. Galloway desperately needs this long term boost, having fallen behind the rest of Scotland despite the efforts of landowners, businesses and communities.
How will a National Park help prevent Galloway becoming unaffordable for local people?
House prices rises affect city and country. National Parks need unique rural solutions as local people face challenges over location and cost. Cairngorms National Park has been proactive in putting forward plans for short-term let control zones, new affordable housing including shared equity, self-build, community owned housing and long term rental provision.
What about the areas of Galloway with windfarms?
New windfarms are not currently allowed in National Parks. It is currently unclear how existing windfarms will be treated in areas being considered for new National Parks. Fortunately for Galloway a new National Park could readily be created that did not have existing or planned windfarms within its boundaries.
How will a National Park help improving the health and well-being of Galloway
There is lots of evidence that getting outdoors is a huge boost for mental health and that physical activity outdoors can play a great part in improving health. National Parks provide inspiring places for people to get outdoors and a range of levels of activity from low level walks to high adrenaline sports such as mountain bike racing. Galloway would offer a greater range of activity entry levels than many National Parks, especially for beginners, families and the less agile and is also accessible to those without the means to easily travel far.
How will a National Park reflect the views of local people?
National Parks have a Board made up of local people, representatives from the Councils and national appointments. The creation of the National Park Plan involves an extensive consultation period and periodic review. This process is helped by having an area facing similar opportunities and challenges and by focussing only on those areas relevant to National Park legislation. The provision of Education, Social Care and many day to day services remain with the local councils.