Your chance to have a say on Glen Affric and Loch Ness national park bid
A series of public events starting this week will outline the case for a new national park stretching through Glen Affric to Loch Ness.
A bid to nominate Glen Affric and Loch Ness as Scotland’s third national park was launched earlier this month.
The partnership behind the proposal believe it would empower local communities, and open up economic opportunities including nature-based jobs, allowing people of all ages to keep living and working in the area.
Strathglass Community Council, which is leading a consortium behind the bid, is now asking people to share their thoughts about the potential of a new national park for the area before it can submit a full nomination.
Related news:
- Bid for Affric and Loch Ness National Park launched
- New national park in Highlands needs a 'huge community effort'
- Dundreggan named among Top 10 'most beautiful' rewilding projects in the UK
The Scottish Government has promised to create at least one new national park by 2026, and the current nomination process closes on February 29.
The consultation events are taking place at:
- Glenurquhart Hall, Drumnadrochit, Wednesday, January 24 from 6.30pm
- Kilmorack Hall, near Beauly, Friday, January 26 from 8pm
- Cannich Village Hall, Saturday, January 27 from 12.30pm
- Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, Glenmoriston, Sunday, January 28 at 10am until Monday, January 29 at 2pm
- Phipps Hall, Beauly, Thursday, February 1 from 6.30pm
The proposed boundary of the national park would include part of Loch Ness and Trees for Life’s Dundreggan Rewilding Centre in Glenmoriston to the south, Kintail to the west and Beauly to the east.
The nomination has already attracted support from partners and stakeholders including Trees for Life, UHI Inverness, the Institute for Biodiversity & Freshwater Conservation, Highland councillors, local community councils and community companies, and local business owners.
More details about the plans can be found at www.newnationalpark.org, along with further details of the consultation events.
