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Galloway proposed location for Scotland’s third national park, Mairi Gougeon announces

Galloway proposed location for Scotland’s third national park, Mairi Gougeon announces

Scotland’s third national park is to be located in Galloway, Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon has announced.

It was one of several areas that bid to become a new national park, with ministers now confirming that Galloway is the proposed choice.

The competition for the site of the new park was “extremely tough”, said Gougeon, who added that the bids had demonstrated Scotland’s “exceptional natural and cultural heritage”.

A consultation – led by NatureScot – will now take place to further consider whether Galloway should join the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs in being given national park status.

The findings of the exercise, which will also look at where the boundaries for the new national park could be drawn, are expected to be presented to ministers in April 2025.

Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon said the competition to become Scotland's third national park was PA media

Speaking during a visit to Shambellie House in Dumfries – which could be included in the new national park area – Gougeon said that after “carefully considering” all the nominations, ministers “propose to create a new national park for Scotland in Galloway”.

Rob Lucas, Chairman of the Galloway National Park Association, said: “This is fantastic news that the case for Galloway to be Scotland’s third national park has been recognised.

“It would deliver transformative economic and environmental benefits to the area and strengthen our local communities.”

Gougeon said the call for Galloway to be designated a national park was “community-led, had the support of many local businesses and made a strong argument for the benefits that national park status will bring to the people living in the area, to the local economy and to the environment”.

She added: “At this stage it is still a proposal. NatureScot will now lead a consultation with local people, communities and businesses to gauge support and to look at specific issues such as the proposed boundary and how it should take into account local circumstances and help meet the needs of communities.

“We have received nominations for new national parks from some very special places: Lochaber, Loch Awe, Scottish Borders and Tay Forest.

“I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard on these proposals and all the other communities who came together to explore the idea of ​​a new national park.

“The competition was extremely tough and the bids clearly demonstrated the exceptional natural and cultural heritage we have in Scotland, and the aspirations people have for the rural communities in which they live.”

A consultation will be held on whether to grant Galloway national park status and whether this would include locations such as Garlieston Beach (Lucinda Cameron/PA) PA media

NatureScot Chairman Professor Colin Galbraith said the organisation “looks forward to the extended opportunity for consultation” as the next part of the process.

He said: “In preparing our advice we will consult extensively with everyone who has an interest in this special place.

“We will make a special effort to meet and listen to people who live and work in the area, as it is these voices that will be crucial if Scotland is to establish its third national park that can deliver a successful partnership between people and nature.”

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