Nomination for a New National Park in Scotland – Galloway

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Welcome to Scotland’s southern secret. With its gloriously diverse and varied landscapes, mild climate and wide array of habitats, Galloway National Park is of outstanding international importance for both its natural capital assets and cultural heritage. From beaches, bogs and dunes to farmland, forests and fens, its ecology is remarkably diverse and special and among the most varied in Scotland. Just as unique is its cultural heritage, shaped largely as the result of our area’s geographical isolation from the rest of Scotland. For millennia, only a few arduous routes crossed the rugged hills and moors; this same landscape now offers the largest remaining wilderness south of the Highlands.

Natural Heritage

The Biodiversity Report describes 13 habitats, identifying their extent, the key species and the most important sites. Many habitats can be found close together. In a single 20 mile walk from Ravenshall Point to Cairnsmore of Fleet it is possible to pass through them all:

• Beaches and dunes
• Saltmarshes
• Coastal cliffs
• Rivers
• Lochs and ponds
• Reedbeds, marshes and swamps
• Bogs and fens
• Semi-natural grassland
• Mountain and moorland
• Native woodland
• Plantations and forests
• Farmland
• Built habitats

The impact of land use change, both climate and human induced, means these habitats are under pressure like never before. If we don't collectively protect and enhance them now, they will be lost forever.

In addition to the UNESCO Biosphere, Galloway National Park is home to 98 important conservation designations which together have an area of over 400km² after discounting overlaps:

• 8 Ramsar sites
• 4 Special Protection Areas
• 13 Special Areas of Conservation
• 72 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
• Cairnsmore of Fleet National Nature Reserve (NNR)
• The largest Local Nature Reserve (LNR) in the UK at Wigtown Bay
• 74 Local Wildlife Sites
• 25% of Scotland’s saltmarsh habitat
• 200km of coastal cliff and slope
• The largest sand dune system in southern Scotland
• A minimum of 8,090 species recorded

• All species of Scotland’s bats, native reptiles, and amphibians
• Excellent bird diversity, including overwintering waders and wildfowl, Svalbard’s Barnacle Geese (of international importance) and nationally important numbers of Dunlin and Redshank
• The greatest diversity of butterfly and moth species in Scotland
• A mix of northern/highland and southern/lowland species, many at the edges of their ranges
• The Galloway International Dark Sky Park, awarded a Gold Tier Park status for its breath- taking and rare stargazing conditions with over 7000 stars and planets visible with the naked eye.

There are six main rivers in or on the boundary of the Galloway National Park area. All are important for Atlantic Salmon, and the Cree hosts one of only three breeding populations of Sparling. Bladnoch is one of relatively few European protected sites for Atlantic Salmon in Scotland.

Natural Heritage: Landscape

The Merrick (843m), one of only two “wild land” areas in Southern Scotland, dominates a wide and open landscape within the Merrick Kells SAC/SSSI. There are extensive panoramas to Ireland, the Isle of Man and England from the hills and moors, with our glens, lower land and ancient woods having more intimate views. The full extent of the South of Scotland can be seen from the Rhinns of Kells. The Fleet Valley, East Stewartry Coast and Nith Estuary are National Scenic Areas and almost half the area has Regional Scenic Area status including parts of the Rhins, Machars, Mochrum Lochs, Galloway Hills and The Solway Coast.

There are numerous walks and Core Paths throughout, including many in the Forest Park and along the coast. Galloway National Park is also home to three of Scotland’s Great Trails (SGTs):

• the Mull of Galloway Trail, now part of the Rhins of Galloway Coast Path
• the southern part of the Ayrshire Coastal Path
• the Southern Upland Way, which runs from Portpatrick to Eyemouth.

This is paralleled by the Kirkpatrick C2C cycling route, and NC7 and NC73 cycle routes cross the area. A Pilgrimage Route links Glasgow to Whithorn.

Natural Heritage: Geology and soils

Galloway’s current landforms owe much to dramatic violent collisions, volcanic events and erosion by ice and meltwater. The geology is mostly Ordovician and Silurian greywackes (known as whinstone). Our landscape is characterised by large granite intrusions, exposed notably at Merrick, Cairnsmore of Fleet and Criffel. Glacial action has resulted in stony, loamy drift over the hills, clay tills in the valleys (often associated with drumlin fields) and thin more locally developed endemic soils on the peninsulas, some with rocky knowes. There are 23 GeologicalConservation Review Sites, with an area of 11,800 hectares. Most overlap SSSIs, and 1,738 ha are protected for their geology alone.

High rainfall and impeded drainage have encouraged the formation of peat, to be found as blanket bog, heather moor, marsh, raised bogs, and peat rich soil across about a third of the nominated area. The WISE Peatland Choices, published by the James Hutton Institute, shows that Galloway has the largest area of deep peats in southern Scotland with a high probability that it can be restored and conserved. This potentially has an important role to play in carbon sequestration if better managed but currently less than 10% of this peat is now associated with its typical habitat, and much of it is forested. Saltmarsh is comparable with peat in storing carbon, and we have 25% of Scotland’s remaining area, with plans to extend it.

Natural Heritage: The Coast and Sea

This bid does not extend beyond the tideline, but the Galloway coast is exceptional for its landscape and biodiversity. The Solway Firth is the least intensively developed major estuary in Scotland (indeed, in the UK) with an exceptionally high tidal range. Its importance for delivering against climate change targets and biodiversity goals is highlighted by the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal Natural Capital Programme, which is working on opportunities to enhance native oysters, saltmarsh and seagrass, led by the Solway Firth Partnership. Luce Bay SAC is designated for its marine assemblages and further offshore the Clyde Sill MPA extends NE from the North Rhins. Whilst the current proposal for the Galloway National Park does not include the marine environment, the UNESCO Biosphere’s recent expansion into inshore waters provides an opportunity to take this forward.

Cultural Heritage

Our region’s historic role as a cultural crossroads was shaped by sea-borne connections around the Irish Sea and beyond and the development of a unique linguistic diversity reflecting varying political and economic alignments over millennia. Galloway is home to thousands of designated sites including:

• 1,506 Listed Buildings, of which 78 are Category A
• 614 Scheduled Ancient Monuments
• Approximately as many again identified in a Supplementary Planning Guidance document (2017) which includes a map of Nationally Important Archaeological Sites as yet unscheduled.
• 13 Designed Landscapes on the Historic Environment Scotland (HES) register, with many further renowned gardens open to the public
• 21 Conservation Areas
• The site at which Robert the Bruce defeated the English in battle at Glen Trool in 1307.

Our report on Cultural Heritage explains the development of Galloway since the Neolithic period. Evidence of our ancient ancestors includes chambered tombs, stone circles and standing stones, as well as many cup and ring marked rocks which date from the Bronze Age. Western Galloway and Southern Ayrshire have 12 Bargrennan type cairns, a unique class of prehistoric chambered cairns not found anywhere else. Cairn Holy is an example of the Clyde type chambered cairn. The coast has the largest concentration of Iron Age forts in the country, as well as less common constructions such as brochs and duns. The Romans built four camps during their short occupation. In the early medieval period, the Kingdom of Rheged spanned northern Britain including Galloway. Later, it became part of Northumbria emphasising its links along the Solway. A recent find from the Viking Age is the astounding Galloway Hoard.

The need for security was a significant factor for our ancestors. Galloway has the highest concentration of surviving C12th timber castle mounds and mottes in Scotland. Many Tower Houses were built for security on account of local feuds, mainly in the C15th. More recent legacies are the Cable House for the first Scotland/Ireland telegraph connection of 1853, and, from WWII, the development work on the D-Day Mulberry Harbours.

Religion was another major influence. Legend has it that St Martin came to Whithorn in 397CE and, soon after, St. Ninian built the priory, establishing Whithorn as a very important religious centre. It is now a major pilgrimage site, with a museum exhibiting notable stone crosses.

Abbeys and monasteries were built at Dundrennan (where Mary Queen of Scots spent her last night in Scotland), New Abbey and Glenluce. Covenanters were strong in Galloway. Martyrs’ Memorials are found across the area, including two at Wigtown that mark the death by drowning of Margaret McClaughlin and Margaret Wilson and the deaths of three others in 1685.

Agriculture remains a significant feature in the landscape. From the earliest times of human settlement, the greatest concentration is north of Glenapp where field systems, farmsteads, hut circles and other remains are found. More recent changes to the land arose from the Clearances, which were significant in Galloway and strongly resisted. Levellers were active across Galloway, eventually suppressed only with military assistance. The resulting characteristic dykes are now a prominent part of the Galloway landscape.

Increasing knowledge and scientific advances allowed other industries to develop in Galloway. Mills were built on many rivers, with Royal Burghs established and acting as centres of trade to promote manufacturing. The many harbours - six of which are still operating - provided a way for Galloway to export its products and import essentials such as coal and lime. Planned settlements, such as Gatehouse of Fleet, were built in the C18th. Strong and attractive vernacular rural architecture survives in some of Scotland’s most attractive villages.

Our designed landscapes and gardens are spectacular, exemplified by Logan Botanic Garden, unrivalled as the country’s most exotic garden. The presence of the Gulf Stream is a major factor in our area having 12 Designed Landscapes and Gardens, amongst them Craigengillan, Galloway House, and Castle Kennedy.

Cultural Heritage: Literature and Art

Whilst Robert Burns is mainly associated with Ayrshire and Dumfries, he visited and knew the area well, as one of a wealth of creative people inspired by Galloway. The area features in many classic novels and modern fiction, with strong associations with Gavin Maxwell (born at Elrig), S.R.Crockett, John Buchan, Dorothy Sayers, and John McNellie. Our literary connections are celebrated at the Wigtown Book Festival (established 1998); growing significantly in prestige to become one of the UK’s best-loved events due to the drive and tenacity of its communities, leading to recognition as Scotland’s National Book Town.

Our region has also long exerted a magnetic pull over visual artists due to the quality of the light and the landscape, creating a unique cultural identity for the region. From the late 19th century onwards, Kirkcudbright is the longest surviving artists’ colony, with the Glasgow Boys and the Scottish Colourists movements. Its wildlife and landscape continue to provide inspiration to an exciting and vibrant creative community. The superb Kirkcudbright Galleries is a showcase of Scottish art, both with the permanent display of local artists and its visiting exhibitions. The nationally recognised Spring Fling event showcases this talent across the region and attracts repeat visitors from across the UK and beyond. Galloway is also an increasingly important film location, such as for the cult 1973 film The Wicker Man.

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Through driving innovation and partnership a new style Galloway National Park will address our area’s competing demands for conservation, communities and commerce with creativity, cohesion and respect. Its location in the national Natural Capital Innovation Zone places the Park in a leadership position to address biodiversity loss and climate change at a scale that will attract responsible private investment. It will:

Deliver landscape scale change in response to biodiversity goals and climate change targets: Galloway has small-scale land ownership with few large estates. Producing change at scale requires the Park to bring individual landowners and managers together to enhance and expand existing nature networks. The Park will provide an opportunity for strategic spatial planning across 3 local authority areas that is essential if we are to address the rapid rate of land use change.

Provide a testbed for innovative nature-based solutions: The Park contains landscape types and land uses which differ from existing NPs in terms of scale and diversity. This mosaic creates unique opportunities for solutions to be trialled and for knowledge transfer to other rural communities as exemplars of good practice. Building on the experience of the UNESCO Biosphere, and relationships with secondary and tertiary educational facilities across Scotland, robust partnerships are already in place. This Park would hit the ground running.

Deliver the Wellbeing Economy: Despite decades of economic investment in agriculture, forestry and renewable energy Dumfries and Galloway has stubbornly languished at the bottom of the income league for Scotland, unlike other rural areas (as defined in IFS Report). Our innovative Park will focus on the regeneration of communities, economy and the environment, building on existing initiatives developed by the Biosphere and others. This includes programmes which acknowledge the distinctness of our rural businesses and communities:

• Biosphere Certification Mark which recognises exemplars in local sustainable enterprise
• Biosphere Communities programme – work with local people to identify what is special about where they live, supporting residents to make their everyday lives more sustainable.
• Biosphere Guides training – building employment capacity of local residents

Potential for Nature Recovery

Galloway’s major land uses, agriculture and forestry, have impacted on biodiversity loss, and contributed to and been affected by climate change. Our fragmented land ownership calls for the convening power of the Park, with its continuity and ability to create innovative funding models to address these concerns. A Park will build on and co-ordinate the many existing smaller players looking to further biodiversity gains and ensure that lessons are shared, and progress maintained. The pilot Regional Land Use Framework provides a clear starting point.

Examples of the potential for recovery and work already underway:

• Salmon and trout rivers are under pressure from acidification, warming water, changes in substrate and shifting weather patterns. Galloway’s Fisheries Trust has worked hard to improve matters but much remains to be done; the recent RLUF report highlights poor river quality.
• Rising sea levels and shore erosion threaten key habitats such as dunes and saltmarsh. The potential for the re-establishment and creation of new salt marsh is set out in a recent Solway Firth Partnership report. The Park will work with Borderlands Sustainable Solway to take these ambitions forward.
• Peat soils are present in as much as a third of the Park area but only 10% is still associated with peatland vegetation due to afforestation, drainage, and over-grazing. Much of this peat is emitting carbon but we have the potential to restore its functionality.
• Farmed landscapes, predominantly livestock based, are an important part of our cultural heritage but carry the burden of negative climate, soil and water quality and biodiversity impacts. The Park will work with national and regional route maps to address these issues.

Potential for Cultural protection and enhancement

With 614 Scheduled Ancient Monuments and many more unclassified sites, there is huge potential to interpret our past, inspire visitors and develop educational opportunities. Many sites have stood for hundreds or thousands of years, but are today under significant pressure from coastal erosion, vegetation growth or damage from land use change. The Park would raise awareness of and engagement with our incredible cultural heritage and improve understanding of how the past continues to shape the present:

The rich assembly of ancient archaeological sites above the east shore of Loch Ryan was once a thriving community and is now the most deprived rural area. Interpreting the story of past changes can support communities to adapt and mitigate against changing climate.

Adapting designed landscapes: Threave wetland is an innovative nature restoration in an historic environment. Craigengillan is a great example of holistic estate management with nature and the local community at its core. The prevalence of small estates in Galloway and much of non-highland Scotland provides potential for transferable experiences.

Living culture: The creative sector is closely linked to our natural capital for inspiration and resources. To survive and prosper, this sector needs a supportive market and its skills applied to the transformation required to deliver the Wellbeing Economy. This requires long term certainty for the future and branding which the Park carries.

Our natural capital is our USP. All would benefit from a landscape-scale Park approach to transform to sustainable practices.

River quality: Reducing agricultural run-off and climate impacts will improve water quality for biodiversity. Scotland is host to almost half the world’s freshwater pearl mussels, a threatened species which needs pristine, low-nutrient flowing water to survive. Salmon and Sparling are present but threatened. There is an opportunity to build on the work of Galloway Fisheries Trust by raising awareness of run-off, drainage and extraction issues with land managers.

Agriculture: There is an urgent need to address challenges of CO2 and methane emissions along with loss of biodiversity, reduction in soil health and carbon emission from degraded peatlands. There is a need for coordinated partnership working with the agricultural industry to support adaption measures taking account of changing weather patterns predicted in the RLUF report. The SRUC Dairy Research and Innovation Centre on the Park’s boundary gives potential for showcasing how sustainable dairying can happen effectively in a nature positive landscape. The innovative Natural Capital Farm audits led by the UNESCO Biosphere and the SCAMP project focussing on blue/green carbon and salt marsh restoration led by Solway Firth Partnership are excellent starting points for constructive discussions about change and innovation; many farms such as Cream o’ Galloway show that regenerative and more sustainable models are viable.

Galloway cattle and traditional grazing: Used in many countries for conservation, the reintroduction of these hardy beef cattle - as modelled by the James Hutton Institute - offers big conservation gains where sheep are replaced. They can also reduce the risk of wildfires, encourage the maintenance of dykes, and feed a receptive market for premium, locally sourced beef.

Forestry: Galloway needs ‘the right tree in the right place”. There is a commitment by FLS to multi-purpose forestry, woodland restructuring, removal of trees from sensitive sites, change of species and necessary responses to future risks of extreme weather and pest/disease.

Large areas of state-owned and managed forest offer a golden opportunity to experiment with differing silvicultural practices and demonstrate what environmentally sensitive, multi-benefit forestry should look like. This is the time for a co-ordinated approach to undo the mistakes of the past and build a better wooded future.

Peat restoration: The area has significant peatlands, which provide extensive ecosystems, carbon storage and an important archive for understanding climate change. Silver Flowe is one of Europe’s finest patterned mires, renowned for its quaking bog and eerie black pools, whilst Blood Moss is one of Britain’s finest examples of blanket bog. The raised mires of the Solway Mosses are of European importance and further west many other raised mires are associated with kettle holes left by the retreating ice. Forest and Land Scotland and Crichton CarbonCentre are leading on this work but this is a 30-to-100-year project which needs the continuity a National Park can help deliver.

Challenges and opportunities for the sustainable economic & social development and well- being of our communities

Galloway has deep seated challenges which a succession of short-term initiatives have failed to address. The 2022 census shows our area’s net population decline is the 3rd worst in Scotland, our population the 2nd oldest, and working age population the lowest. Rural depopulation is a longstanding issue and threatens the viability of many of our rural schools.

Commissioned analysis of the 2011 census data shows that the population of the Park area is older than D&G as whole with fewer young people or people of working age. There is a higher percentage of people working in elementary occupations than the Scottish average, and more are self-employed, more work part-time and fewer are employed in the public sector. The Job Access score is less than a twentieth of the national average. This analysis shows the economy has a high dependency on primary industries and leisure and tourism (much related to the natural environment and outdoor activities). Reductions in serviced accommodation have been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Self-catering accommodation is currently under-used at 45% in August and 12-35% at other times. This shows both the potential and capacity for increased visitor numbers.

Galloway National Park provides the ideal solution due to its scale and permanence. It will focus on dispersed, sustainable, rural job creation over a long period through increased tourism, inward migration, skills development and investment. The ability of National Parks to attract new families, skilled workers and professionals to the area is a huge bonus.

House prices: These remain amongst the most affordable in Scotland despite low wages, but availability and location are issues given the extremely rural nature of the area. There is sufficient local concern about the impact a National Park might have on house prices for a new Park to consider schemes to support affordable local housing if necessary. We need more young and skilled people.

Increased green and low impact tourism: Visitors already come to Galloway for its magnificent coastal and estuarine bird-watching opportunities and its raptors. We have successful Golden Eagle and Red Kite reintroduction projects, as well as charismatic species such as red squirrels, otters and the Scottish Haven of the recently launched Pine Martens on the Move project. Wildlife tourism is having a growing economic impact and provides a year-round offer due to the sheer variety of habitats and species within the Park.

Well-being: There is an urgent need to reconnect people, and particularly local children with the environment, especially since Covid. The Park has huge potential for improving local health and well-being through prescribed activities like walking, canoeing and ghyll-scrambling, and expanding existing services such as Forest Schools and Branching Out. Many National Parks host initiatives which are specifically designed to reach non-traditional NP visitors such as those who are disadvantaged, disabled, excluded, isolated or bereaved.

Broadband: the roll-out of Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband means better connectivity and new home-working options which allow people to combine a quality of life associated with living in a National Park with well-paid jobs. This would bring money, capital, and skills into the area, as well as reducing the average age and increasing the number of young families. The National Park brand is vital here, not only as mark of quality but also as the driver for those important parts of the economy for existing and potential residents (accessible countryside, leisure facilities, dining out, etc), which then become available to everyone.

Community initiatives: Galloway has a strong sense of community evidenced by a range of place based initiatives developed over the years, including:

• Walking Festival, Newton Stewart (2003)
• Wigtown, Scotland’s National Book Town and annual Festival (1998)
• Whithorn Priory/ Whithorn Trust (1986)
• Kirkcudbright Galleries (2018)
• CatStrand Community and Arts Trust, New Galloway (2007)

Galloway is already working hard and creatively to boost the economy and attract more people to enable these initiatives to become increasingly self-funding. Yet the number of visitors and the amount they spend has not increased for the past 10 years – a Galloway National Park will fundamentally change that!

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National Nature Recovery: National Parks promote and protect nature by working with others and piloting innovations that are replicable elsewhere. With its wide variety of habitats and land uses, Galloway is ideally placed. Strong effective partnership working will allow Galloway to become a flagship for the new model of National Parks piloting innovative approaches.

National Parks and Biospheres both have access to international networks. Sharing knowledge and experience at this level and providing authoritative leadership on some of the challenging issues we face is hugely powerful.

Development of innovative techniques to reverse biodiversity loss and address climate change is now vital. There is a strong academic research base to draw on with universities at the Crichton Campus, alongside two local SRUC sites and partnership working with University of Edinburgh, Centre for Sustainable Forests and Landscapes, and James Hutton Institute. The South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership has identified skills as one of its priorities (alongside housing and transport) that the Park will draw on. This work supports the SFC’s Pathfinder project for learning and innovation in the land-based sector, delivering training and apprenticeships and activity on rural skills for conservation (e.g. East Ayrshire CCLP, Building Futures Galloway at Whithorn). Transitioning to meet the demands of a carbon negative future, we need to build our indigenous skills base to deliver future nature-based solutions and encourage people to move into the area, excited by the employment opportunities. The Park can harness those opportunities, through collaboration and inclusion as it develops and supports the Wellbeing Economy. This will be key to achieving the level of long-term committed management required by OECMs to contribute to the 30x30 target and nature networks.

Traditional, extensive and intensive farms provide an ideal resource to explore Scottish Government’s ambitions for Just Transition in Land Use and Agriculture. We are already actively engaged in this work as the UNESCO Biosphere is the delivery partner for the agricultural transition project of the Borderlands Natural Capital Programme. Large scale farming enterprises, particularly dairy, need alternative models which enable them to continue to offer food security within a stable and improving environment. The Dairy Research and Innovation Centre is developing models and will be a key partner in the Park’s development.

As a strong group, emerging from COP26, the South-West Scotland Regenerative Farming Network has 182 members committed to nature-friendly farming, community participation and providing advice to farmers on making greener farming pay. The group recently won the Food and Farming Award at the Nature of Scotland Awards.

The Park will build on previous and emerging landscape-scale schemes led by the UNESCO Biosphere, within the Park boundary, drawing on experience from SoSE. The 5 year GallowayGlens Landscape Partnership initiated a wealth of community generated projects with excellent engagement, and stakeholders ready to commit given the more permanent opportunities of a Park. The Borderlands Natural Capital Programme is delivering Sustainable Solway and restoration schemes including wetlands at Threave Estate.

Galloway Forest Park, occupying about 20% of the Park area, must continue to produce timber through sustainable forest management. Planting mixed species, more broadleaves, conversion to continuous cover and natural regeneration all provide opportunities to deliver nature recovery, ensure resilience, mitigate climate change, improve the landscape and promote health and well-being. The Park working alongside FLS, SF and private woodland owners, would deliver significant environmental gains, innovation, skills, and expertise in this area, supporting the South of Scotland approach to woodland creation agreed at the CoSS in February 2024.

Adapting and Mitigating Climate Change: Land use practises need to change and adapt for us to survive. The Park is a critical bellwether, with many species at the northern or southern edges of their range. We must have a functioning and connected landscape to allow wildlife to move and thrive. As a national RLUP pilot, the South of Scotland has produced a RLUF to identify and evidence the changes in land management that is required. With the Borderlands Natural Capital Data and Investment pilots and NatureScot Assessment tool, the Park will make these decisions in an open and transparent manner, in collaboration with communities, statutory and third sectors, and delivered through innovative blended and private finance models. This will be the largest landscape scale application of its kind and the jewel in the crown of the national Natural Capital Innovation Zone.

Galloway has 25% of Scotland’s saltmarshes and extensive dune systems and the Solway is internationally important for wildfowl. We must adapt to the effects of rising sea levels on our extensive estuarine habitats and one response is the Solway Firth Partnership’s proposal to expand saltmarsh and achieve OECM status, supported by the Biosphere’s discussions with Scottish Government about OECMs and nature networks. The Park with its huge and vulnerable coastline is ideally placed to work with partners to ameliorate such threats and deliver carbon sequestration.

Alongside benefits for nature, restoration of deep peat soils in Galloway will make a huge contribution to climate change targets by reviving its natural sequestering capacity. The Crichton Carbon Centre is playing a leading role, with NatureScot, in its Peatland ACTION plan. The Park provides a readily accessible testbed for initiatives to address restoration with the University of Glasgow School of Social and Environmental Sustainability.

Delivering the Wellbeing Economy: Galloway is well-placed to become a significant net contributor to the Scottish economy through tourism and highlighting the benefits of living and working here. It is able to absorb many more visitors without detriment to either their experience or the environment. The Biosphere is already recognised as one of only 4 UK sites to have made it to the National Geographic s Cool List 2024 and the Rough Guide s Best Travel

Destinations 2024 as part of Scotland s UNESCO Trail. National Park branding would add to this.

Looking at the area covered by the Park, we have used STEAM data to estimate our visitors, their spending and the jobs they generate. We compared these figures with those for Exmoor and Northumberland NPs (similar in character and having the lowest visitor numbers among existing UK Parks) and Pembrokeshire NP (because of its coastline). Based on these figures we are confident that designation will deliver significant benefits in visitor numbers, income and jobs:

• Conservatively, visitors will increase by almost half a million from 883,000 to1,325,000 pa;
• Spending will increase by £92.4m pa;
• FTE jobs will increase by 1,523.

The Park should not be considered in isolation; the wider area, including the whole of the Biosphere, will gain additional visitors. “Gateway” settlements will benefit from extra overnight visitors and shoppers along with the development of new tourism initiatives, led both by communities and entrepreneurs. These gateways include Dumfries, Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie, Dalmellington, and Girvan, along with smaller communities.

Existing attractions will see increased visitor numbers including:

• Caerlaverock NNR and other bird reserves
• Dumfries House, Drumlanrig Castle,Culzean Castle and other heritage buildings and designed landscapes
• 7stanes cycling site at Ae

The STEAM figures for Exmoor assess both the NP itself and its area of influence, allowing an assessment of the wider economic benefits of a Galloway National Park. We believe that through economic, environmental and social leverage the wider area would benefit to the tune of an additional £86m of visitor spend and almost 500 extra jobs.

The Park could, through leverage, pull in an additional £80m - £100m in support of projects for communities, climate change and nature recovery.

In total, a Galloway National Park could generate:

• at least £258m pa
• 2,000 new FTE jobs.

These figures would be absolutely transformative for this region and could help to provide the energy and confidence it needs to navigate these challenging times.

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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;