Galloway Glens Landscape Conservation Action Plan First published on 11/08/2017 All text and images © Galloway Glens (Dumfries & Galloway Council), unless otherwise stated. Graphic Design by Martha Schofield Design Document ownership: Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme C/O Countryside Services Dumfries & Galloway Council Militia House English Street Dumfries DG1 2HR www.gallowayglens.org Contents 1 Introduction 2.7.1 Aims ................................................................. 15 2.7.2 Use of the LCAP ............................................ 15 2.7.3 Acknowledgements .................................... 15 1.1 Setting the Scene ........................................ 1 2.7.4 Bibliography ................................................... 15 1.2 The Galloway Glens Scheme ................... 1 1.3 This Document ............................................ 1 3 The Landscape of the Galloway Glens 2 Developing the Scheme 3.1 What is ‘Landscape’ ................................... 16 3.1.1 Not just the visual ........................................ 16 3.1.2 Definition ........................................................ 16 2.1 How did the Scheme come about? ......... 3 2.1.1 First Steps ......................................................... 3 3.2 A Birds Eye View .......................................... 16 2.1.2 Initial Approach to HLF ................................ 3 2.1.3 Stage One Submission ................................. 4 3.3 Underlying it All .......................................... 17 3.3.1 Formation ....................................................... 17 2.2 The Scheme Area – On a Map ................. 5 3.3.2 After the Ice ................................................... 18 2.3 Who is the Galloway Glens 3.4 Climate ............................................................ 18 ‘Landscape Partnership’? .......................... 5 2.3.1 Background ...................................................... 5 3.5 People ............................................................. 19 2.3.2 The Partnership Board ................................. 6 3.5.1 People start to make their mark ............. 19 2.3.3 Partnership Agreement ............................... 6 3.5.2 Influencing the landscape over time ..... 20 2.3.4 Scheme Governance .................................... 7 3.5.3 Power and Resistance ................................ 21 2.3.5 Scheme Staff .................................................... 8 3.5.4 Covenanting .................................................. 21 2.3.6 Professional Fees ........................................... 8 3.5.5 Revolution – Agricultural and Industrial ....................................................... 22 2.4 Community Consultation ........................ 8 3.5.6 Visitors ............................................................. 24 2.4.1 The need for Effective Consultation ........ 8 3.5.7 Conflict ............................................................ 24 2.4.2 Consultation Content ................................ 10 3.5.8 Resources ....................................................... 25 3.5.9 Who lives here now .................................... 25 2.5 Project Development ................................. 11 3.5.10 Population trends ........................................ 26 2.5.1 Commissioned Studies ............................... 12 3.5.11 Employment & Education Today ........... 26 2.5.2 Public Call for projects ............................... 13 3.5.12 Deprivation .................................................... 27 2.5.3 Criteria Applied ........................................... 14 3.5.13 Land Ownership ........................................... 27 2.5.4 GG Intervention in Projects ...................... 14 3.5.14 Considering our Audience ........................ 27 3.5.15 The appetite of Visitors ............................. 28 2.6 Building relationships ................................ 14 3.5.16 The appetite of Residents ......................... 28 2.6.1 A way of working ......................................... 14 2.6.2 Keeping momentum ................................... 14 3.6 A Natural, and not-so-natural, history ............................................................. 28 2.7 This Landscape Conservation Action 3.6.1 Habitats ........................................................... 28 plan (LCAP) .................................................... 15 3.6.1.1Moorland .......................................... 28 3.6.1.2 Bogs .................................................. 29 3.9.1 Background .................................................... 45 3.6.1.3 Marshes & Reed Beds ................. 29 3.9.2 Why here? ...................................................... 45 3.6.1.4 Native Woodland ......................... 29 3.9.3 Construction .................................................. 46 3.6.1.5 Coniferous Woodland ................. 30 3.9.4 The Hydro Scheme today .......................... 47 3.6.1.6 Estuary & Mudflats ...................... 30 3.6.1.7 Rivers and Lochs ........................... 31 3.10 Access in and around the Area .............. 48 3.10.1 Roads ............................................................... 48 3.6.2 Species ............................................................. 31 3.10.2 Trails ................................................................. 48 3.6.2.1 Greenland White-Fronted Geese ................................................ 31 3.11 How it looks today ...................................... 49 3.6.2.2 Red Squirrels ................................... 31 3.11.1 On the Surface ............................................. 49 3.6.2.3 Fish ..................................................... 31 3.11.2 Agriculture ..................................................... 49 3.6.2.4 Red Kites ........................................... 32 3.11.3 Settlements ................................................... 50 3.6.2.5 Golden Eagle ................................... 32 3.11.4 Significance of the local landscape ........ 50 3.6.2.6 Osprey ............................................... 32 3.6.3 Traditional Livestock ................................... 32 4 The Scheme Boundary 3.6.3.1 Galloway Cattle .............................. 32 3.6.3.2 Galloway Blackface sheep, 4.1 Background ................................................... 51 goats and deer .............................................. 33 4.1.1 Initial proposal .............................................. 51 3.6.3.3 Galloway Pony ................................ 33 4.1.2 Amends made ............................................... 51 3.7 Designations ................................................. 33 4.2 The Development Phase .......................... 51 3.7.1 The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire 4.2.1 Kirkcudbright Bay ........................................ 52 UNESCO Biosphere ...................................... 33 4.2.2 The Western Boundary .............................. 52 3.7.2 Natural Heritage Designations ................ 34 4.2.3 The North Eastern Boundary / 3.7.2.1 Solway Coast Regional Scenic Cairnsmore of Carsphairn ......................... 53 Area .................................................. 34 4.2.4 Outcome of review ..................................... 53 3.7.2.2 The Galloway Hills Regional Scenic Area ..................................... 34 4.3 Overview ........................................................ 54 3.7.2.3 Additional Natural Heritage Designations .................................. 34 3.7.3 Landscape Character .................................. 35 5 Statement of Significance 3.7.4 Dark Sky Park ................................................. 37 3.7.5 Wild Land ........................................................ 37 5.1 Background ................................................... 55 3.7.6 Historic & Cultural Heritage ..................... 38 3.7.7 Existing Management regime .................. 38 5.2 Formal Designations of Significance .... 55 5.2.1 Landscape ...................................................... 55 3.8 The River ....................................................... 40 5.2.2 Natural Heritage .......................................... 56 3.8.1 Physical Significance of the River ........... 40 5.2.2.1 Species .............................................. 56 3.8.1.1 Shaping the valley ......................... 40 5.2.2.2 Habitats ............................................ 56 3.8.1.2 A place to call home ..................... 41 5.2.2.3 Ecosystem ........................................ 56 3.8.2 Cultural Significance of the River ........... 42 5.2.3 Cultural Heritage .......................................... 57 3.8.2.1 Early Humans .................................. 42 5.2.4 Summary of Designations ......................... 58 3.8.2.2 Settlement ....................................... 42 3.8.2.3 Defence ............................................. 42 5.3 Informal Interpretations of 3.8.2.4 Crossing the river ........................... 43 Significance ................................................... 59 3.8.2.5 Fishing ............................................... 44 5.3.1 ‘A Landscape of Energy’ ............................ 59 3.8.2.6 Religion, Mythology & Folklore 45 5.3.2 ‘Not as Natural’ as it seems ...................... 59 5.3.3 All roads lead through Galloway ............ 59 3.9 The Galloway Hydro Scheme .................. 45 5.3.4 Arrivals & Departure ................................... 60 5.3.5