A formal 12-week public consultation into the proposed Galloway National Park is due to begin this week.
NatureScot, the body responsible for Scotland's natural heritage, has been commissioned by the Scottish Government to investigate its proposal for the national park, and been appointed its statutory Reporter.
NatureScot previously undertook the Reporter role for the country’s first two national parks, in Loch Lomond & the Trossachs and the Cairngorms.
The consultation will look at the detailed arrangements for a national park, including its area, powers and governance.
During the public consultation, NatureScot will host platforms for digital engagement as well as meetings and drop-in sessions at community hubs across Dumfries & Galloway, East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire.
The consultation will result in advice and analysis submitted to government ministers at the end of April 2025. All the views expressed during the consultation will be reported to the Scottish Government as part of this advice.
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Information blitz for Galloway over national park plan
Who is in favour of Galloway National Park? Speak up...
Last year, Scottish Government sought bids for new National Parks from across Scotland. Five areas were nominated by local groups, including a joint bid from the Galloway National Park Association and Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Reserve supported by Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire Councils. Appraisal of these nominations by the Scottish Government led to the selection of the Galloway area for further consideration.
However, plans to make Galloway Scotland's latest National Park have been met with opposition, notably from the National Farmers Union (NFU), a powerful voice in the predominantly rural area.
In July, the NFU raised fears over the impact of agriculture, saying that “existing parks” have failed to make a positive contribution to farming and crofting’.
Vice President Alasdair Macnab said: “NFU Scotland views the creation of a new national park in Scotland as unacceptable, a view supported by 93 per cent of our members, and I can reassure our farmers in the Galloway area that we will continue to support your opposition every step of the way.
“Based on the experience of many farmers and crofters currently living and working in either the Cairngorms National Park or the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, it is clear that existing parks have failed to make a positive contribution to farming and crofting. The consultation process now starting must be transparent, credible and inclusive – which it has not been in Galloway to date.”
Sandra McDowall, Vice Chair of the Galloway National Park Association (GNPA), said: “This is a chance for all of us to build a brighter future - to achieve something amazing for our region.
“A Galloway National Park would attract large amounts of direct funding and inward investment for our environment, our economy and – of huge importance – would help us create a better future for our children.
“We want to see as many people as possible getting involved with the public consultation as this is their chance not just to win National Park status, but to shape the park and how it is run to suit the needs of the region.
“With so much doom and gloom in the world at the moment it’s brilliant to have something so positive available to us – especially as it means more of the money paid by local taxpayers is invested back in our area.”
The idea for a Galloway National Park dates back to a Dumfries and Galloway Council report in 2016, after which local people came together to form the GNPA, which has been campaigning ever since.
Sandra said: “It’s an idea born and bred in Galloway, by Galloway residents. And now we want to see a Park developed that is shaped by the people and the needs of our region.”
As part of the consultation process 16 meetings have already been announced in towns and villages across the region that will allow people to take part.
The Scottish Government also announced a two-week extension to the consultation period, which will now run for 14 weeks.
The findings of the public consultation will then be submitted to Ministers in April 2025, before Scottish Parliament vote to approve the status.
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