Stewartry school pupils are supporting the bid for a Galloway National Park.
They have been drafted in to help drive the Galloway National Park Association’s Count Me In! campaign which aims to allow young people and businesses to show their support for the idea.
The organisation believes that creating Scotland’s third national park would bring a range of benefits to the region, including sustainable tourism, community development, providing employment and protecting the landscape.
Teenagers Mackinley Brown, Loulou Henderson, Kate Mariacci, Anna Miller, Logan Thorburn and Ruby Walsh-Kirk are among the pupils who are helping out by using their social media skills to spread the word about the campaign.
Mackinley said: “Having a national park here is the right thing to do.
“This is a great area to show off because it’s so diverse.
“There’s so much wildlife here that’s not getting protected and it deserves it as much as any place in the country. It’s a shame that Scotland’s got as few national parks as it has.”
Anna added: “It would mean more chances for people to see what a beautiful area this is and would create more job opportunities that would encourage young people to stay rather than moving away.”
There is cross party support for a Galloway National Park, with the idea attracting backing from MSPs including Tory Finlay Carson, the SNP’s Emma Harper and Labour’s Colin Smyth.
During the Holyrood election campaign, the Tories, Greens and Lib Dems have all declared their support for more national parks, with the Tories specifically mentioning Galloway.
However, last year SNP Natural Environment Minister Ben MacPherson ruled out progressing the bid at present.
GNPA chairman Rob Lucas said: “It’s clear that there is tremendous public and political support for a new national park in Galloway - and we believe this will continue to build through Count Me In!
“Young people are the future of our country and we should be ensuring that areas like Galloway are protected and enhanced to give them a sustainable and fulfilling future in this wonderful part of the world.
“We very much hope that the next Scottish government will take heed and set up a full public consultation process rather than setting their faces against a proposal that would bring so many benefits to the region and the nation.”
