Farmers are told a Galloway National Park could benefit them
Additional financial support would be available to farms inside the national park.
A report by an environmental charity has found a national park in Galloway could benefit farmers in the area.
This comes from a report conducted by Scottish Environment Link (SEL) who say the agricultural industry can receive additional funding that will go towards helping protect and enhance landscapes which will ultimately contribute towards achieving the aims of a national park.
However, the study claims only businesses inside the national park would be able to access "advice, support and funding".
SEL Director Dr Deborah Long says farming is vital to the success of the protected areas.
“The whole point of a national park is to protect and restore and enable that landscape to be passed onto future generations so they can enjoy it the way we enjoy it now.
“They can do more work for pollinators; they can put more diverse habitats so that gives them resilience to the habitats and crops they have on their lands. It means they can do more than if they were just outside of a national park and only have access to agri-environment schemes as they run at the moment.”
Despite that, NFU's Regional Chair Stewart Whylie has concerns and worries this could be full of empty promises.
“What benefits will there be for the land managers that are already providing work, employment, and taxes in the area as it stands?
“With what we have seen with budgets already cut to breaking point, not only to existing national parks but right across the Scottish Government, we can all agree – doesn’t matter if you’re for or against – that an underfunded park would be a disaster and that’s what we’re staring down the barrel of.”
Many people have taken to social media or raised at public meetings that they are worried about an overflow of visitors but Dr Long is confident that won’t happen because there are “schemes in place to maintain paths and bike routes” that will direct explorers away from sensitive areas.
Whylie fears they are not looking at the bigger picture: “Do we have the infrastructure? What about all about the service sectors in terms of doctors, healthcare, dentists, and education? We’ve got all these things that are under huge pressure. What will happen if we add to that when we’ve got all these people coming to live long term and short term?”
Another way farmers can benefit is through an increase in produce worth, says Dr Long.
She says it has worked in the Cairngorms, so she has no reason to doubt that Galloway won’t have the same results.
“There is additional value to their products because it’s really clear that that product has been produced in a national park in an area of outstanding landscape, so it adds value to products.”
Regional Chair Whylie is worried this could backfire: “Dumfries and Galloway is a powerhouse of food production and if anything limits food production, who does it affect most in life? It affects the poor because it pushes prices up, so I think the risks are huge.”
Neil Picken is a Galloway National Park Trustee, and also has a 330-acre farm along the Solway Coast.
His land currently falls under the proposed area for the national park.
He says farmers should get on board with the proposal and help get the region back on track.
“As soon as I heard about the idea of Galloway becoming a National Park, I became a Trustee. This area has been underfunded for far too long and this is our big chance to change things.
“Farming is facing many challenges, and it would be better to get involved and not just say no.
“National Parks are a worldwide brand, and it will bring in much-needed income and provide well-paid jobs all year round to stop our young people from leaving the area.
“We run an award-winning campsite on our farm and are running farm tours to show the public what we are doing and why. We need all year-round income to extend the season and make our region better.
“It is better to get involved and help shape our future.”
A consultation on whether a national park should be created in Galloway goes live next month.