FARMERS in the Galloway area have “nothing to fear” from the creation locally of a National Park.
That’s the message this week from farmer Neil Picken, who is also a trustee of the Galloway National Park Association (GNPA).
He was speaking out in connection with the publication of a report by The Scottish Environment LINK network, titled Farming Benefits of National Parks.
It shows how National Parks in Scotland and beyond provide practical help and solutions with grants, advice, partnership schemes and marketing opportunities.
The GNPA believes this could be a huge benefit in Galloway where a dozen dairy farmers have just lost their milk contracts.
Mr Picken, who has a 330-acre farm on the Solway coast, within the area currently under consideration for the proposed Galloway National Park, said: “A National Park will bring investment to the area, and we need to bring in well-paid jobs to stop our young people leaving.
“Schools are shutting for lack of pupils. We can sit back and do nothing, but this is our golden chance to do something different.
“National Parks are successful worldwide, we need to grasp this opportunity. We need to get people back on the land and in the villages.
“Now there are opportunities to discuss the future with NatureScot, and we need to take these – it’s far better to engage than to oppose as there are so many possibilities for win-wins.
“We need people on the ground getting involved with making the policies and getting proactive to make a success of this opportunity.”
