Photo © Paul Tarling
WHAT IS A
NATIONAL PARK?
ABOUT US
Galloway National Park Association was set up by a group of local people who believe a National Park could deliver economic and social benefits for our communities. Our Trustees and members include farmers, landowners, artists, tourism operators and conservationists, and the list is steadily expanding.
The Association was founded in November 2016 and received Scottish charitable status in May 2017.
The Association was founded in November 2016 and received Scottish charitable status in May 2017.
The GNPA Vision Statement
A National Park made in Galloway for Galloway will:
Work with our COMMUNITIES to:
Give them a strong voice in their future through the National Park Board and Partnership Plan
Improve the availability of affordable housing and digital connectivity
Support key local services and community initiatives
Improve access to the outdoors for all with associated health and well-being benefits.
Work for NATURE and CLIMATE CHANGE to:
Ensure that Galloway’s special landscapes and wildlife are safeguarded.
Enhance the biodiversity and resilience of our forests, peatlands and saltmarshes.
Create space for species to move as the climate changes.
Work in partnership to contribute to Net Zero.
Work to improve the ECONOMY to:
Make Galloway a better place in which to live, work and attract people from outside the area.
Increase prosperity across a range of sectors and bring new permanent jobs and investment to the area.
Broaden Galloway’s economic base, building on our environment and primary industries.
Offer our youngsters more chance of building their lives where they grew up.
Use the buttons below to read about our views on the influence of a National Park on different sectors.
BACKGROUND
We came together to increase public awareness of National Parks and to explore how local communities might benefit if Galloway is designated as one.
The Association aims to place a National Park at the heart of a sustainable future for Galloway, combining our area’s rich natural, cultural and historic assets with a clear vision for growth and development.
The GNPA’s founding document sets out our purposes as:
The Association aims to place a National Park at the heart of a sustainable future for Galloway, combining our area’s rich natural, cultural and historic assets with a clear vision for growth and development.
The GNPA’s founding document sets out our purposes as:
- promoting the protection, conservation and enhancement of the natural and cultural assets of the area for public benefit.
- promoting, undertaking and publishing research into issues affecting conservation and enjoyment of the natural and cultural heritage of the area and to identify how this may be furthered through the designation of a National Park.
- advancing public education and understanding of how a National Park could contribute to improving health and wellbeing through the enjoyment, understanding or enhancement of the area’s natural and cultural assets.
“It is essential that our people and communities feel pride and ownership of this initiative. Spreading this message would develop momentum to spark real, meaningful change”
Dame Barbara Kelly
President
President
WHO WE ARE
Rob Lucas
Chair
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Rob has spent almost all his career in environmental understanding, including running a national charity which operated in nine of the UK‘s national parks, so gaining experience of the many benefits a Galloway National Park could bring. He chaired the Forest Education Network for 9 years and is Vice-President for Expeditions and Fieldwork at the Royal Geographical Society. Having first visited Galloway on holiday over 50 years ago, Rob now lives near Borgue. Over the last 5 years he has been working with the inspiring young people of Galloway who have shown how important a National Park is for their futures.
Sandra McDowall
Vice-Chair & Secretary
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Born in Galloway, Sandra has lived and been active in the community in Wigtown for over 50 years as a Community Councillor and an elected member of Dumfries and Galloway Council. She believes that communities have the right to make the decisions that most affect their lives and has been involved in regenerating the rural economy and the development of the Book Town project since its inception. “This is a beautiful part of Scotland, with friendly communities always ready to welcome everyone and everything the future holds and many are aware of the opportunities that being designated a National Park will bring.”
Andrew Pym
Treasurer
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Andrew has 45 years of experience in professional rural practice and management of farms and rural estates. Over 10% of his own small farm is managed solely for environmental benefit including two large areas of scrub woodland for birds, invertebrates and moths which are monitored by local conservation groups and hundreds of trees planted and hedgerows extended to benefit biodiversity and the landscape. With a home in Wigtownshire for 30 years Andrew is totally committed to the area and believes that National Park designation would bring widespread recognition and do much to improve the opportunities for local enterprise and jobs.
Mark Gibson
Trustee
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Mark is a Chartered Surveyor and owner of the 3,000 acre Craigengillan Estate in Ayrshire, where activities include an organic farming enterprise, newly created native woodlands registered under the Woodland Carbon Code, a peatland restoration project, a well-regarded livery yard, holiday cottages and glamping. Mark has spent most of his life involved with the countryside and nature with conservation is a high management priority at Craigengillan where he works closely with the local primary and secondary schools. Mark is also a Trustee of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere and was a founder Trustee of the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory.
Lesley Grindley
Trustee
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After studying Natural Sciences, Lesley pursued a career in industry holding senior Sales, Marketing and General Management roles in a major Multinational Company. She had a passion for nature and the outdoors from an early age, spending most of her holidays, both as a child and an adult, in Scotland In 2008, she moved to a beautiful corner of Galloway, close to Cairnsmore of Fleet, where she and her husband run a holiday cottage and manage their land for the benefit of wildlife. Lesley believes a National Park in Galloway will help preserve and enhance biodiversity in the area and significantly contribute to a brighter economic future for our region.
Dr. Lisa Hooper
Trustee
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Lisa is a lifelong field naturalist and professional wildlife artist living on the Machars. Initially a career conservationist, she worked for the Countryside Agency (formerly the Countryside Commission), for 15 years in a variety of roles, including policy development and communications, in rural Wales and the West Midlands. During that time she saw the designation and expansion of National Parks in England at first hand. This experience helped to consolidate her views about the significance of landscape conservation and the value of countryside recreation and access. In 2006 Lisa moved to Port William to pursue a full time career in wildlife art. Attracted to west Galloway by its rich habitats and beautiful coastal scenery Lisa believes that only National Park status will preserve the natural capital with which this undervalued and under-recognised area is so richly endowed.
Gordon Mann
Trustee
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Gordon served as Director of Planning with Banff and Buchan, Shetland, and Dumfries & Galloway Councils and in 1996 led the team that bought the Crichton from the NHS and set up a charitable company. He led the award-winning redevelopment of this former hospital into a University Campus, Business Park and Conference Centre. Over the years he has served on a number of Boards including the Forestry Commission, SNH and Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce. Gordon chairs the Shambellie House Trust working to create a new centre for short courses based on the environment, history, and culture of the region.
Neil Picken
Trustee
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Neil is born and bred in Galloway and owns a farm in Borgue with his wife Patricia and two children. They diversified by adding tourism to the farm in 2007 starting Solway View Campsite and have two holiday houses, one in Kirkcudbright and one in Portpatrick. Neil is a Trustee in the Kirkcudbright Development Trust, Treasurer of Gatehouse Bridge Club, a committee member of Kirkcudbright Burns Club, and a member of Kirkcudbright Rotary Club. He enjoys cycling, hill walking and the great outdoors, especially here in Galloway and believes passionately that Galloway should be Scotland’s third National Park.
Jamie Ribbens
Trustee
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Jamie grew up in Galloway, near Kirkcowan. A keen interest in angling and natural history as he grew up pushed him into a career working in wild fisheries. After studying at Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities he returned to work at Galloway Fisheries Trust, where he is the Senior Fisheries Biologist working across the river catchments of Dumfries and Galloway. Jamie and his wife live near Kirkcowan close to the River Bladnoch. Jamie loves walking and cycling in the local countryside. He believes that National Park status would play an important role in protecting and enhancing the rich diversity of wildlife and habitats that we have, particularly from the threat of climate change impacts.
Paul Tarling
Trustee
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Paul graduated in environmental conservation and countryside management and specialises in ornithology for interest. Wigtownshire has been his holiday destination for 20 years and he recently retired as RSPB warden for Crook of Baldoon Nature Reserve. He is a trustee to the Whithorn Trust and Community Councillor. Paul has a great love of the countryside and nature conservation and how it is used and cannot get enough of the wonderful countryside and seascapes of Wigtownshire. A Galloway National Park would be a great way to share them with others.
GALLERY
Clatteringshaws Reservoir ©Phil McMenemy
Screel Hill in Autumn
Borgue Landscape ©John Shields
Paddling up the Black Water of Dee ©John Shields
Bluebells in Wood of Cree ©Paul Tarling
Kirroughtree Bike Trail ©Colin Tennant
Stone Wall with Wigtown in the distance ©Paul Tarling
Merrick from Loch Enoch ©John Shields
Winter Sky and Trees ©Paul Tarling
Torrs Point ©Phil McMenemy
Frozen Saltmarsh ©Paul Tarling
Otter Pool ©Colin Tennant
Loch Ken ©Phil McMenemy
Cree Valley ©David Spruce
Cree Valley ©David Spruce
Cree Valley ©David Spruce
Cree Valley ©David Spruce
©Mandi Emslie
©Rinus & Anke van der Plas
©Rinus & Anke van der Plas
©Rinus & Anke van der Plas
©Rinus & Anke van der Plas
©Rinus & Anke van der Plas
©Rinus & Anke van der Plas
Sparling Bridge, Newton Stewart ©David Inglis
SHARE YOUR PHOTOS OF GALLOWAY
If you have some photographs of Galloway that you would like to share, please email them, along with your name, email address and a description of each photograph to: gallowaynationalpark@gmail.com.