Galloway has been selected by the Scottish government as the preferred site for Scotland’s third national park.
The region, which came out top from a shortlist of five, will now be the subject of a consultation and an investigation into its suitability before potentially being made official by 2026. The unsuccessful candidate areas were Lochaber, Loch Awe, Scottish Borders and Tay Forest.
If approved, Galloway will be the first national park to be established since the South Downs on the south-east coast of England in 2010.
There are 15 national parks across the UK, two of which are in Scotland – Loch Lomond & the Trossachs and the Cairngorms.
Bestowing national park status on Galloway would ensure protection and preservation of the area’s natural landscape and wildlife habitats.
The bid is a result of a key commitment outlined in the 2021 Bute House agreement, which led to the Scottish Greens entering government for the first time. The group promised to create at least one new national park in Scotland by 2026.
Lorna Slater, the co-leader of the Scottish Greens and a leader on the project, said: “I am delighted that the Scottish government has followed through on this commitment and that it is Galloway that has been chosen. Our national parks are really special places that are celebrated around the world, which is why the Scottish Greens pushed so hard for this new one to be created.
“This will have a transformative impact for local nature and communities, and will bring in a lot of vital investment, protections and opportunities. It will give local people, farmers and businesses the chance to build the park in their vision and serve as a beacon for a greener Scotland.”
Rob Lucas, chair of the Galloway National Park Association, said: “This is superb news for Galloway, its people, its environment and its economy … Galloway has fantastic hills, mountains, moors and coastlines. What we don’t have is the means to make the most of these fabulous assets and to reverse our economic decline by building a sustainable future which generates jobs, tourism and business opportunities.
“A national park would bring major investment and boost Galloway’s international profile as a wonderful place to live, work and visit.”
