Scotland: National Rural Network
Connecting Rural Scotland - Promoting Rural Growth

A new project to promote a strategy for developing a comprehensive network of National Parks across Scotland has been launched.

The three year project is a partnership between the Scottish Campaign for National Parks (SCNP) and the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS). The aspiration is that the National Parks Strategy for Scotland project could result in at least three new Parks being designated by 2015, including the Scotland's first marine and coastal National Park.

SCNP Vice-President Robert Maund said, "Scotland's landscapes rank amongst the best in the world, yet we have been slow thus far to celebrate this by designating National Parks. The first two Parks have made good progress, but now is the time to think about expanding the family. We feel there is probably a case for at least three more, including our first coastal and marine National Park."

APRS Convenor Charles Strang said, "APRS promotes the care of all of Scotland's rural landscapes, but some of them are particularly special. That is why we intend to draw up a strategy for future National Parks, to fill the vacuum which exists in national policy."

There are currently two National Parks in Scotland: Cairngorms National Park and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

The joint project consists of the following elements:

• Research the benefits brought by the two existing National Parks, including to landscape conservation, business development and local community aspiration
• Raise public awareness of these benefits and of the other issues concerned
• Engage with local communities in potential National Park areas and national communities of interest
• Consult relevant people in the Scottish Government, SNH and other agencies, non-governmental
  organisations and local Councils
• Establish criteria for selecting the most appropriate areas for designation
• Prepare a draft strategy including proposing priority areas for designation and promote it to all concerned

Project Manager John Mayhew said, "Scotland wouldn't have any National Parks at all if it wasn't for the voluntary environmental movement, and we won't have additional ones if we don't start planning for them now. We know public finances are tight, but if we start work now we'll be ready for the day when money is more available. I'd be delighted to speak to anyone interested in this project."

You can contact Mr Mayhew at sncp-aprs@btconnect.com or call 0131 225 7012. You can find out more about the project in A National Parks Strategy for Scotland summary document.

What do you think?

Do you think there should be more National Parks in Scotland? If so, where would you like to see them? If you live and work in one of the existing National Parks what benefits do you think National Park status brings to your community? You can share your views and experience by adding a comment to this article.