Q7: Is there evidence of local community engagement and participation in developing this proposal? Is there evidence of local support for the proposal? Does the nomination include any concerns or opposition? 2,000 words allowed.
Since 2017, GNPA has shared the case for a National Park in Galloway through conversations with thousands of individuals, organisations and partners, with more than 130 meetings. This has generated significant support across the area.
GNPA identified the largest area which met the criteria in the 2000 Act. Supported by a discussion paper to explain our initial thinking, this outlined:
an understanding of the National Park concept
the process of creating a Park
the nature of a National Park Authority, powers and responsibilities
the area which could qualify
the potential impact of Park status.
GNPA went out across the whole area to explain the concepts and hear people’s views. 101 meetings were held with 20 Community Councils, 12 public meetings, 11 public events, 10 school visits, 16 meetings with land-based organisations, 13 meetings with Councillors, and staff in the three Councils, and nineteen with other organisations, culminating with a conference attended by almost 300 in November 2018. In 2018, Dumfries & Galloway, East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire Councils all resolved to support the campaign.
Since Covid we have had over 30 meetings, with Councils, Community Councils, land managers and agencies including SoSE and SSDA; we have engaged with secondary pupils in five schools who have been overwhelmingly positive about the opportunities a Park would create for their future.
We recently held four public engagement sessions to explain this bid and the proposed boundary. Over 200 attended and we received 195 feedback forms, with 75% supporting a Park and 15% opposed. GNPA trustees engaged with everyone attending. Farmers were critical, expressing their fears about greater bureaucracy and more controls; many having large dairy units on the better farmland, but not all of them were against a Park.
In all GNPA has spoken to in excess of 2,500 people and organisational representatives at more than 130 meetings.
Key elements of the feedback in 2017 - 2020:
84% in favour of promoting a Galloway NP, 68% saying strongly so
76% of people across the whole area wanting to be within the boundary
a positive response from young people, following an engagement with three secondary schools, with young people speaking passionately about their vision for Galloway
completion of over 430 feedback forms
Feedback from community consultation includes:
a National Park would help to retain young people or attract them back “if there were more jobs, more to do and the area was busier”.
Hopes are “to put Galloway on the map, bring in tourists and create jobs” from GNPA event for Scotland’s Year of Young People in 2018
Galloway is often a forgotten area; a NP would not only acknowledge its undoubted unique beauty but enhance its economy and society” on a form at a public meeting.
Common concerns were raised at many events:
impact on availability and affordability of houses for local people: low cost housing is an issue across most of Scotland. Measures have been introduced to allow short term lets to be controlled and to discourage second homes; national rules will apply in the Park. Dumfries & Galloway Council plans to build 6,500 houses for locals in the next five years;
possible restrictions on land use and planning: there are no special provisions within National Parks and the same rules for planning (with minor limitations) and environment apply as elsewhere – but this answer has failed to convince farmers who fear that more people will tell them what they cannot do;
the introduction of a new layer of bureaucracy: again, this is not the case as the Park will take over, and not duplicate, responsibilities which currently lie with the three Councils;
a wish not to be overrun by visitors like the Lake District: the Lake District has 16.4 million visitors – 6900/km2. With a 50% increase to 1.325 million visitors to Galloway, the density will only be 450/km2; with low occupancy of all accommodation now and an extended visitor season, there is ample capacity;
local accountability of the NPA Board.
In May 2019, the case for a Galloway National Park was stated in It’s Our Time. GNPA has continued to engage with the community: GNPA promoted membership for a one-off fee, and later introduced Business Champions and Young Supporters. 1,150 have signed up to support the campaign with membership increasing significantly in the last year.
Our many and varied conversations have resulted in a considerable majority supporting a Park – 84% in 2018 and 75% in our four events in 2024. Comments include:
“I'm more than 100% in support of this campaign. It all stacks up: economically, socially and environmentally. Go, go Galloway”
Councils
All three Councils are consistent in their support for the creation of Galloway National Park and have passed resolutions in 2024 to support this bid. They see the social and economic benefits of more visitors and a greater recognition of Galloway as a great place to visit and live, as well as the huge benefits of joint working towards net-zero and reversing biodiversity loss.
South of Scotland Enterprise
SOSE has supported the development of this submission. Its Chair, Russel Griggs says
“This joint bid from the Galloway National Park Association and the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere offers a unique opportunity to deliver the new style of National Park in Scotland. It is built on many years of successful business and community engagement, leadership in delivering nature based solutions for biodiversity and climate change impacts and the passion and commitment that comes from being based in the Natural Capital Innovation Zone for Scotland. The bid aligns with the aspirations of the South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership and SOSE and is fully supported.”
South of Scotland Destination Alliance
In a letter of support, SSDA says
“There is compelling evidence that National Parks can help develop the visitor economy and the visitor experience. They can support and safeguard natural landscapes, biodiversity, and cultural and historical heritage, they can support outdoor recreational opportunities, and they can build the destination profile. We recognise that the Galloway National Park Association has developed and maintained significant popular and political support, which is key to the success of such an enterprise. And, for this reason, we are happy to add our support to the forthcoming bid to create a Galloway National Park.”
Land Managers
GNPA has met landowners and farmers, including SLE and NFUS.
The South-West Scotland Regenerative Farming Network supports the nomination:
“As a network of forward-thinking farmers, focused on nature friendly and agroecological approaches, we can see how a National Park would benefit biodiversity and future farming systems. We welcome the principles of nature conservation and recognise how this can benefit our farmed landscapes.”
A recent conference run in partnership between the UNESCO Biosphere, Regenerative Farming Network and NFUS attracted over 50 local farmers exchanging knowledge and ideas for how we support a move for profitable Nature Friendly farming in the region.
The local NFUS has set out its position:
“NFUS in Galloway does not support a National Park. Our members have significant concerns that the resulting bureaucracy will impact on the management of our businesses which are focussed on the production of food by economically successful businesses.
The prospect of National Park status brings an uncertainty and this will impact on current and future business decisions. These concerns include but not exclusively around changes to planning policy which potentially could restrict growth and adaptation of the agricultural sector to meet food supply and the route to Net Zero. There are many challenges ahead to address the loss of biodiversity and the climate crisis, to comply with the requirements of conditionality in farm support payments, and to meet an increasingly challenging regulatory regime. Additional burdens will be imposed if the area is a National Park, and these will damage our ability to produce food.
NFUS recognises the arguments for a National Park based on the wider economy and to highlight the attractions of the area, but we cannot support any bid in Galloway.”
The Milk Suppliers Association has sent comments on behalf of 110 dairy farmers in and around Galloway. It opposes a National Park believing it will impact on cattle grazing, access to water resources and freedom to manage their land. It says their members have always been strong advocates for environmental stewardship and they invite discussions on another way to preserve the region’s natural beauty and biodiversity.
We have met with forestry interests. The main operator is FLS, a Government Agency, and its current plans include strategies to address the historic problems of planting almost universal Sitka spruce across the forest park.
Other businesses
The support of business across the area is demonstrated by our 146 Business Champions, one saying
“with National Park status we can become a go to place rather than a go through place”.
Senior schools
GNPA has met two generations of pupils in 2018 and 2023. Both groups gave overwhelming support for a Park to provide opportunities for them to live and work in the area. Without it, most see that they will have to move away:
'”It would give Galloway a purpose”
“I think if Galloway was a National Park it would attract more people to come to Galloway and potentially live here. If we had signs on the motorway saying Galloway is a National Park it would attract people.”
“Galloway is a beautiful place that deserves to have a national park to attract tourists to the amazing cultural landscape. The natural beauty really attracts the eye for the stunning views and vibrant colours to go along with the iconic scenery and nature.”
Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere
The UNESCO Biosphere, enlarged after its 10th anniversary review to include more land and some sea, has been recognised both nationally and internationally as one of the leaders in the Man and Biosphere movement with existing and aspirational Biospheres regularly seeking to learn from its experiences. Joint discussions have led to proposals which identify the synergies and potential roles that overlapping NPA and Biosphere designations could have in a Galloway National Park and this joint bid and so this submission is from both bodies. The development and delivery of an integrated approach that embraces the two designations would help focus the international spotlight on SW Scotland as an exemplar region for people and nature. The combined approach would bring the security of central funding with the agility of a charitable body to seek alternative additional funding streams. A shared governance model would offer both the regulatory remit of a national park aligned to national priorities, with the participatory expertise of a UNESCO Biosphere that will be essential in ensuring delivery of a just transition to the communities of SW Scotland. Co-operative working will lead to significant benefits for nature and for socio-economic development across our area. These will be worth exploring if a Reporter is appointed to take this nomination forward.
The Biosphere Partnership Board stated that if such a progressive approach were taken they believe;
" … that national park status would significantly raise awareness in the general public on the attractions of south-west Scotland as a place to visit and live, would bring security of funding to deliver a shared vision of supporting the local economy whilst enhancing the natural and cultural heritage of the region, and provide this corner of Scotland with a stronger voice in strategic decision-making.”
And in its conclusion:
“It is the strong view of the Biosphere trustees that if part of Galloway is granted National Park status, the region’s interests would be best served by a close integration of the two bodies.”
This bid is not dependent on an integrated approach but GNPA and GSAB have joined to submit this nomination because of their shared vision that a Galloway National Park working alongside the UNESCO Biosphere will help to deliver the Wellbeing Economy for its communities and provide leadership in addressing the climate and biodiversity challenges through inclusion and innovation.
Two powerful designations together can deliver more than the sum of their parts.