Galloway
Galloway would be the obvious choice to establish our next National Park. It is very accessible, has a lot of variety in terms of natural habitat and beautiful landscapes. It is also one of the few dark sky designated parts of the country.
Why the contribution is important
Each National park should be able to offer their own unique experience to visitors. We live in a beautiful country where the landscape changes quite dramatically in all four corners. So it's with this in mind that I believe Galloway would be a wonderful National park. Different and unique from the already established Loch Lomond and the Cairngorms national parks.
by maplewood81 on May 23, 2022 at 03:50PM
Posted by gordonhodge May 23, 2022 at 21:38
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Posted by Tordy May 24, 2022 at 08:24
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Posted by marzak May 24, 2022 at 13:03
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Posted by McNay May 24, 2022 at 13:43
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Posted by Glenmoy May 24, 2022 at 18:35
I can appreciate some other people's concerns, such as "it's empty now so leave it alone", but that's hardly doing the north highlands any favours.
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Posted by Prentice May 25, 2022 at 11:57
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Posted by gordonhodge May 25, 2022 at 21:47
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Posted by WoodlandCroftsPartnership May 27, 2022 at 18:30
Accordingly, we propose that *should* Galloway be chosen for a National Park, crofting should be introduced within the Park's boundaries. This would help address many of the pressures alluded to above and in particular would allow the creation of woodland crofts. These would be a way to integrate woodland expansion and management with retaining population on the land.
See also our comment posted on the main page - 'Introduction of crofting to any new National Park'.
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Posted by malcolmrdickson May 28, 2022 at 13:18
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Posted by GallowayHoopoe May 31, 2022 at 08:48
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Posted by camusfearna May 31, 2022 at 11:01
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Posted by puppet June 03, 2022 at 09:23
Most of the proposed area is not wilderness but home and work to thousands of people who need to be respected
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Posted by ihl June 03, 2022 at 22:50
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Posted by ihl June 03, 2022 at 22:52
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Posted by stubizz June 05, 2022 at 11:05
My own observation after living 12 years on Dartmoor is that the towns surrounding the National Park prosper. In Galloway it would mean that Dumfries, Thornhill, Newton Stewart, Stranraer, Girvan, Maybole, Dalmellington and Sanquhar would all benefit. Whether Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie and Kirkcudbright should be constrained within the NP boundary or outside it and free to expand and develop in the normal way is a matter for careful discussion.
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Posted by AndrewPym June 05, 2022 at 21:31
The case for designating Galloway is to put it on the map with a national and international designation which highlights it as a place with many special qualities – both natural and cultural. The most important issue locally is to address the social and economic needs of everyone in the area. It is a very low wage economy, with limited opportunities for employment. The majority of young people leave the area for work. The average age of the declining population is going inexorably up. The area needs a dynamic economy to meet the needs of existing people and to attract new people to live and work.
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Posted by camusfearna June 06, 2022 at 00:22
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Posted by PaulTarling June 06, 2022 at 10:44
A national park with potential for monies to create new infrastructure and maintenance through a provisioned ranger service would both increase tourist expectation and local livelihoods. When you consider available potential work in the area, Forestry employment has reduced and is highly mobile within the south of Scotland, Farming is more and more mechanised and although recent events have shown that the country will need to be more and more self sustaining. Which leaves tourism, The increases in energy prices not only affects those of us living and working in this wonderful part of the country it affects the local tourist industry. I at one time frequented local Cafés but since the new year It has become increasingly more costly and I have had to limit my expenditure. I do not blame the owners as they have to pay there employees as well as the increase in provisions and energy and make a living. One could argue that once the issues in Ukraine are resolved things will return to normal but I am afraid the new normal could well be more austere.
So I personally feel that a Galloway National Park is the best option for tourism and the local services.
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Posted by DameKelly June 06, 2022 at 11:31
We have gathered significant local support as we considered the issues in great detail , holding a over 100 public meetings from Dalbeattie to Dalry, Dromore to Dalmellington, many with Community Councils. We carried out a survey and over 80% of the respondents were in favour of a Galloway National Park.
Our campaign has been much helped through the conversations we have had with the UNESCO Biosphere from the start. There can be no doubt that having that designation demonstrates the high quality of the environment but we must recognise that National Park status addresses the social and economic needs of local people, and local businesses. The designation is well understood as an area of the highest quality and allows people to know that there is much to see and enjoy in an open rural environment.
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Posted by Barrview June 06, 2022 at 12:22
The Act requires Scottish National Parks in addition to caring for the environment and access to the countryside to
"(d)to promote sustainable economic and social development of the area’s communities"
This clause is not in the English legislation and reflects the wish to see NP act as ways of ensuring that rural development is encouraged but in a way that respects the environment. What that does is places communities at the heart of the Parks mission.
I note also the silly idea that if you have an Enterprise Agency then you do not need a national park - well that is an argument for no national parks in Scotland. Just because at long last a new agency has been set up to replace SE in the South and with a focus on rural areas that is no reason to argue that you cannot also have a NP.
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