Our Beliefs

When the Scottish Government set out to create a third National Park, they made clear it needed community support. We agree entirely. 

The bid to make Galloway a National Park was supported by only 150 individuals, with no proper consultation. Since it was chosen, it has become an emotive and divisive issue. 

Most Dumfries & Galloway and Ayrshire residents only found out about the plan after Galloway was selected.

We all agree Galloway needs much better infrastructure, but park supporters seem to think a National Park will bring improvements. Experience in the existing two Scottish parks shows the opposite is the case.

NGNP - hillside Trool

We believe better roads, schools, health facilities, affordable housing and tourism promotion can and should all happen without a wasteful, bureaucratic National Park which will only add more needless red tape. 

The Scottish Parliament has only just passed the Agriculture and Rural Communities Act 2024 which replicates most aims of a National Park. With the primary objectives of promoting sustainable farming, enhancing food security and supporting biodiversity, rural communities are already adapting to new practices.

NGNP - Meeting wallets mart

A National Park should have the support of all the community, but Galloway has become deeply polarised, and the National Farmers Union Scotland even says some members have been in tears at the prospect. On this point alone, the plan should be abandoned before any more time and money is wasted.

Uncertainty about how a National Park would be run has only deepened the divide. The process is fundamentally flawed because it is being both promoted and determined by NatureScot, the Scottish Government’s agency, which is operating on the presumption that the Park will go ahead.  

But we say Yes to Galloway, No to a National Park!

Who We Are

As passionate locals who care about Galloway and understand our community’s needs, we do not believe a National Park is the way to support sustainable development. We are from different backgrounds, but we are not political activists and have never campaigned on an issue like this before.

Denise

Originally from Paisley, No to Galloway National Park co-founder Denise Brownlee, 64, worked for the Ministry of Defence for 25 years, but also worked part-time as a ranger in the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park.

A regular visitor to Gatehouse of Fleet for 60 years, she moved to the town from Loch Lomond in 2005, and runs a community garden and art group. She sings and tries to hit a golf ball on occasion, and as a very proud Nana, recently taught her 12-years-old grandson fire poi which he loves.

Liz

Co-founder Liz Hitschmann, 73, was born in Cambridgeshire and has been both an accountant and an artist. She met her Scottish partner in 1992 and, after living in England, sold up to live in a boat travelling from place to place across Europe for several years. Her life afloat came to an end when she developed multiple sclerosis and they moved to Gatehouse of Fleet in 2006.

She too is a proud grandmother, bringing up her two grandchildren after the tragic death of her daughter in 2010.

Denise and Liz only knew each other to say hello in passing, but that changed in July this year when Denise approached Liz for help with a Facebook page she had set up about the National Park was being inundated. A beautiful friendship was born.