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3.1 Whatis‘Landscape’?3.1.1 NotjustthevisualTheGallowayGlensLandscapePartnershipScheme(‘theScheme’)hastakentheopportunitytolookat‘landscape’initsbroadestpossiblesense.Howdoyoudefinealandscape?Itincludesimmediatelyobvious features suchas thephysical contoursof the land, landuseand settlementpatterns,butalso themore intangible elementsof an area: anunderstandingof how itmakespeople feel, theinfluenceofhistoricalevents,folkstoriesandmythologyandanacknowledgmentofthechallengesandconflicts thatmightberunning justbeneaththesurface–whether theybebetweenhumans,nature or any combination of these. This approach allows us to present not just a contemporarypicture,butlooksbacktothepastandintothefuture.3.1.2 DefinitionThe Scheme’s approach to landscape is consistent with the definition adopted by the EuropeanLandscapeConvention(ELC):

“Anarea,asperceivedbypeople,whosecharacteristheresultoftheactionandinteractionofnaturaland/orhumanfactors.”

3.2 ABird’sEyeView

LyinginSouthWestScotland,theKen-Deecatchmentisover1050km2.ItisborderedtotheeastbytheRiverUrrandtothewestbytheRiverFleet.FromthesummitofCairnsmoreofCarsphairninthe

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north,theviewstretchesallthewaydownthevalleytowardsKirkcudbrightandtheSolwayFirth.OnacleardaytheCumbrianhillsandtheIsleofManarevisibleinthedistance.

Near the village of Parton, theWater ofKenandtheBlackWaterofDeecombine,taking the ‘RiverDee’ name and flowingdownbyCastleDouglasand thenout tosea at Kirkcudbright. Ten miles to theeast is Dumfries, the largest town inDumfries & Galloway, which dominatesservices and facilities in the region. Tothe West is Galloway Forest Park andWigtownshire, the most south-westerlypart of Scotland, with Northern Irelandlyingashortjourneyacrossthesea.

3.3 Underlyingitall3.3.1 FormationThetopographyoftheGallowayGlenshasbeenformedbyacombinationofunderlyinggeologyanderosionbyglaciersandmorerecentlybyrivers.Theareaisunderlainbysedimentaryrocksincludingsandstonesandmudstones, laiddownintheoceanthatexistedduringtheOrdovicianandSilurianages(c.485-420millionyearsago),andthroughwhichigneousgraniteslaterintruded.Thiscreatedareas of hard rock (granites) within the field of more easily eroded rocks (sandstones andmudstones).During the Pleistocene period, glaciers covered this part of Scotland, with an ice cap over theMerrickareathathadhigherelevationduetointrusiveigneousrocksknownasgranitewhichformsharderrocks.Whentheglaciersemergedfromthe icecaps,theyscouredtheirwaydownthroughthesofter rocks towards thesea.Thiscanbeseentoday in thecorriescutoutof theMerrickandCorserinesummits,andtheUshapedvalleysthatrunouttothecoast.

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As they went, the glaciers ground down the rocks they passed over, and deposited the erodedmaterial in ripples underneath them. These ripples of deposited materials form the distinctive‘drumlin’landscapeofregular,smoothovalhillsallorientatedinthedirectionofflowoftheglacier.Differenttypesanddepthsofdepositslaterinfluencedthesoilsthatformedovertheland.Variations in the formation, chemical composition and therefore hardness of the rocks, lead todifferencesintheirresistancetoglacialerosion,withthehardergranitesbeingleftashighground,wherethesoftermudstonesandsandstonesweregrounddowntoformvalleys.3.3.2 AftertheIceMuchoftheGallowayGlensarea iscoveredbysuperficialdeposits,thematerialbetweenbedrockandsoil-includingdeeppeatsonhighgroundanduplandvalleyssuchastheSilverFlowe-andmixedglacialdeposits.Fluvialdepositsare foundalongtherivervalley floors.After the iceage,between10,000and6,000years ago, thewarmer climatemeant that the sea levelwashigher than today,suchthatthesearanintothebasinthatnowformstheKirkcudbrightarea,leavingmarinedepositsaroundKirkcudbrightandTongland.The retreatof the last ice sheetover south-west Scotland triggereda seriesof changes along thecoast.Thelandinitiallyreboundedwiththereleaseofpressure,butthensealevelsroseinthemainpost-glacialtransgressionofthe7thand6thmillenniaBC.Thesubsequentretreatoftheseacreatedraisedbeachesandrelictclifflinesalongthecoast.

3.4 Climate

Galloway benefits froma relatively temperateandmoderated climate,withsofterwinters thanmuch of Scotland.Rainfall isrelativelyhighcompared to the restofthe UK. Despite sharingsimilar lines of latitudewith Labrador inCanada, the areabenefits from theprevailing SouthWesterly Winds andNorth Atlantic drift togive a productiveenvironment for

livestockand,inthelowerareas,intensiveareasofagriculture.WintersaremilderandconsiderablywetterthantheUKaverage.Thefigure(courtesyofmetoffice.gov.uk)givesanoverviewofaveragelocalrainfall(Dundrennanmeteorologicalstation,nearKirkcudbright),comparedtoEdinburgh.

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3.5 People3.5.1 Peoplestarttomaketheirmark

Earlyprehistoricpeoplemovedthroughthepost-glacialwoodedlandscapealongnaturalcorridorsinsearch of resources. Later, Neolithic communities cleared woodland using polished stone axesimportedfromCumbriaandestablishedcloserlinkstocertainareasofland.Theymarkedsignificantplaces through the constructionofmassivemonuments,many situatedalong theearly routewaysthroughtheuplandsandintheuppervalley.ThecoastalfringearoundtheDeeestuarywasthefocusofprehistoricopen-airrockart,itsprecisedateofcreationandpurposestillamystery.In the Bronze and Iron Ages, horizons expandedconsiderably as people travelled over longdistances and conveyed not only new knowledgebut also rawmaterials, artefacts, ideas and beliefs.Natural features like hilltops, lochs and riversbecamethefocusofdeliberate,votivedepositionofvaluedobjects.Bythe late2ndmillenniumBC,settlementandagriculturehadspreadontotheuplandfringesandwoodlandclearancecontinued,assistedbyphasesofclimaticdeterioration;soilsdegradedandpeatbegan to accumulate rapidly. In themid-1st millennium BC, communities livingmainly along theeastern side of the Dee began building enclosed settlements on high ground. This period ofconstructionofdefensivestructuresmayrelatetoanincreasingcalluponnaturalresources,eitherduetoincreasingpopulationsorclimaticchange,requiringproductiveareasorstoresoffoodtobedefended.Differentcultural,politicalorlinguisticidentitiesprevailedatdifferentpoints.British,Anglian,Norseand Gaelic place names and material culture are the relics of successive waves of identity and

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control during the second half of the 1stmillennium AD. In themedieval period, the lordship ofGallowayemergedasastrongexpressionofGalwegian identity inthefaceofastrongcentralisingpower.3.5.2 Influencingthelandscapeovertime

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3.5.3 PowerandResistanceA number of sites in the Galloway Glens hadconsiderable significance as landscapes ofpower and resistance. The valley aroundCarsphairn was significant to early prehistoriccommunitiesoverthecourseofperhaps2,000years, and ismarked bymonuments includingtheCairnAvelburialcairnnearCarsphairn.Thestretch of broad, fertile valley betweenGlenlocharandCastleDouglasbecameacentreof political and religious power from the mid1stmillenniumBC,asevidentinthesettlementpattern, the abundance and quality of

metalworkdepositedasvotiveofferings,and thepositioningof theRomanmilitarycomplexcloseby.ThesurrenderofThreaveCastletoKingJamesIIin1455broughtthemedievalLordshipofGallowaytoanend,asignificantmomentwhenchartingtherelativeindependenceofGallowayandensuingeffortstobringtheareaintolinewithnationalkingdomsasweknowthemtoday.

3.5.4 Covenanting

The Galloway Glens hosted a number of keyeventsfromtheCovenantingperiodandwerehotbeds of Covenanter dissent and conflict.Covenanters were Scottish Presbyterians,named for their signature to the 1638‘NationalCovenant’.Strictadherencetochurchattendanceandthestern morality of Calvinist Presbyterianismbound the scattered communities of theGalloway Glens together and to their parishministers.A fundamentalpartof thisdoctrinewas that the head of the churchwas not theKing,butJesusChrist.Asaresult,whenCharlesI tried to bring Scottish church practice intolinewithEnglishchurchpracticein1637,therewaswidespreadopposition,symbolisedbytheNational Covenant of 1638. The Covenantersresisted the efforts to reassert the King’scontrol of the church and ultimately werepersecutedforpursuingtheirfaith.

Support for the National Covenant was very strong in Galloway. During the struggle betweenCovenant and Crown which followed, forces loyal to Charles I held Threave Castle which was

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besiegedbytheArmyoftheCovenantin1640.AftertheCastlesurrendered,itsroofwasremovedand Robert McLellan, elder, of Barscobe took stonework from the castle for his tower house inBalmaclellan.CharlesIwasunabletoimposehisreligiousreformsontheareabutaftertherestorationofCharlesII,asecondattemptwasmade.ParishministersintheGallowayGlensrefusedtoacceptthechangesand were all replaced by newministers. Many of their parishioners remained loyal, gathering inconventicles to hear their original ministers preach. The conventicles were declared illegal andtroops were drafted in to break them up. Tensions rose until on 15 November 1666, an armeduprising against the troopsbrokeout inDalry, nationally knownas ‘ThePentlandRising’. This ledultimately to the Battle of Ruillon Green in the Pentland Hills when 900 Covenanter rebels weredefeated by amuch larger force of The Scottish Royal Army. The covenanter rebels were led byRobertMcLellan,younger,ofBarscobe.Thisdefeat,combinedwiththecrueltreatmentofcovenanterprisonersafterthebattle,pushedthecovenantersunderground,andtheyweresubjecttopersecutionandthreatthroughwhatisknownas ‘TheKilling Times’. This only receded in 1688with theGloriousRevolution and the returnof aprotestantking,WilliamIII, tothethrone.Altogether,93suspectedCovenanterswereexecuted inScotland.Therewere30executionsinKirkcudbrightshireincludinganestimated13intheGallowayGlensarea.Thevictims’gravescanbefoundinchurchyardsandthereisarecentmonumenttotheCovenantersinDalrywhileoldermonumentsdotthehills,contributingtothereligiouslandscapeofthearea.3.5.5 Revolution–AgriculturalandIndustrial

With the 18th century camedevelopments in agriculture,technology and sea transportwhichbroughtgreatereconomic,politicalandsocialstabilitytothearea. By the second half of thecentury an atmosphere ofoptimism and prosperityprevailed, populations in thetowns were increasing, andKirkcudbright saw a resurgencein commerce and trade.GallowayledthewayinScotlandwithmodernagriculturalchanges

which imposedadifferent structureon the rural landscape replacing theoldpatternofdispersedfermtouns with enclosed fields. This was not without controversy and again, resistance - theLevellersRisingof1724-5eruptedinprotest.TheLevellerswereagroupwhoselivelihoodswereatriskfromtheenclosureoflandandthemovetowards themuch less labour intensive practice of sheep farming. TheGalloway Levellers activitypeaked in the 1720s and formed part of the broader ‘lowland clearances’ period, overlooked in

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comparison to the highland clearances but of equal local significance. This resulted in the drasticchanges in population in the area and a number of local landscape features relate to this time,includingtheKeltonDykewhichwassavedfromdemolitionbytheactionofthelocalministerwhowasabletonegotiatewiththelevellers.Beginning near Kirkcudbright in March 1724, the Galloway Levellers took action against theenclosures,withanumberofeithersymbolicorsignificantincidentsofdykelevellingrecorded.Withcrowds of over 1000 involved, many armed with muskets, a regiment of dragoons was sent toKirkcudbright in June 1724. In printed broadsheets, the Levellers proclaimed their loyalty to KingGeorge I andblamed the evictionson Jacobite landownerswhowere also illegally importing Irishcattle.ThisledKingGeorgetoexpresssympathyfortheirplight.The last stand of the Levellers took place in Balmaghie when the soldiers were ordered to useminimalforce.200LevellerswerecapturedbutmostwereallowedtoescapeonthemarchbacktoKirkcudbright,leavingonlyafewringleaderstobesuedfordamagesbythelandowners.TheactionsoftheLevellersdidnotpreventthechangetomorecentralised,large-scalefarmingoverthenext150years,aperiodnowknownastheAgrarianRevolution.Atthesametime,landownersconstructedplannedvillages,roadsandcanals,establishedmillsandmines,anddesignedparklandlandscapesaroundnewcountryhouses.NewtownslikeCastleDouglas(foundedin1791)werelaidout on a grid pattern which was also applied to the part of Kirkcudbright. Carsphairn, Dalry andBridgeofDeewereimprovedandrebuiltwhileothersettlements,likePolmaddywereabandoned.Thereisnolimestoneinthearea,buteffortstoneutralisetheslightlyacidicsoilsinordertoincreaseagriculturalproduction led to thediscovery in1730ofmarl in some lochsof thearea,particularlyCarlingwark.Themarlhadbuiltupovercenturiesfromtheshellsoffreshwatersnails,andcouldbeusedasasubstituteforlime.Withoutpavedroadsthemarlcouldinitiallyonlybeusedclosetoitssources.In1765,AlexanderGordonofGreenlawdugashortlengthofcanalfromCarlingwarkLochtotheDeeaboveThreaveCastle.BargeloadsofmarlcouldthenbetransportedasfarupstreamastheBoatpoolofDalry15milesaway.Woodland clearance had largely been completed by the Roman period, but further clearance foragriculture tookplace through themedieval andpost-medieval periods.Deforestationwas largelycompletebythemid-18thcentury.Newplantingwasthenundertakenforlandscapepurposesandtoprovidematerialsandfuelforincreasingindustrialisation.Thesameindustrialisation,thankstoacidrainandpeatlanddrainage,resultedinlocalisednegativeimpactsonwaterquality

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Another landscape influence was the railwaywhichcrossedtheareafromCastleDouglasuptoPartonandwestoverLochKen,throughMossdaleandintothehills.Thearrivalofthisrailwaylineinthe early 1860s supported local industriesincluding agriculture, allowing the focus tomovefromcheesemakingtomilkproduction,withfreshmilk from the Galloway Glens now able to bequickly transported to central Scotland. The linksof tracks,bridges,viaductsandstationshavehadadramaticeffect in thepast,and thedismantledlineisstillvisibleinplaces.

Sheep farmingdeclinedand contracted, later tobe replacedwith largeplantationsof commercialforestry in an effort to replenish timber supplies depletedby twoworldwars. Thiswas a timeofgreat innovation and advance, both in technology and also in society. This societal advance isillustratedbyDorotheePullinger’smanagementofTonglandCarFactory in the1920s.The factorymanufacturedthe‘Galloway’motorcar,describedbyLightCarandCycleMagazinein1921as‘builtby ladies, for those of their own sex’. Over 4,000 Galloways were built, initially at the TonglandfactoryandthenmovingtoDumfries.Pullinger,stilltheonlywomanintheScottishEngineeringHallofFame,diedin1986.3.5.6 VisitorsInitially, tourismwasdominatedby themoreaffluent insociety.Artistswereattractedbysceneryand the local light, and sportsmen attracted by the opportunities for shooting and fishing. In themid-19thcentury,theGlasgowandSouthWesternRailwaybuiltalinefromDumfriestoPortpatrick,bringing not only a significant linear landscape feature to the Galloway Glens area, with tracks,bridges, cuttingsandembankments,butalsohada significant impacton social andeconomic life,including farming. For example, the newhamlet ofMossdale grewaroundNewGalloway station,whichwasactually3milesfromNewGallowayitself.Kirkcudbright has strong connections with the Glasgow Art movement, hosting the KirkcudbrightArtists’ Colony at the beginning of the 20th Century. Artists such as Edward Hornel and CharlesOppenheimerbasedthemselves in thearea,citing thequalityof the local lightasan influence forsomeoftheirmostlovedworks.The area has hosted a number of film locations over the years, including the dubious honour ofbeing the location for the 1973 film ‘The Wicker Man’. A number of scenes were filmed inKirkcudbright’s historic andmore cramped streets, contributing to the feeling of a very tight-knitcommunity.3.5.7 ConflictThe population of theGallowayGlens has been affected by globalwar in the same tragicway asmanyruralareasacrossBritain,withalossofworkforceforthedurationofthewarandasignificantlossoflocallife.Warmemorialsarefoundacrosstheareadetailingthenamesoftheliveslostduring

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WorldWarIandWorldWarII.BalmaclellanchurchyardcontainswhatmaybethefirstwarmemorialfundedthroughcivicdonationsinmemoryoffivemenwhodiedintheCrimeanWar.

TheUK’smilitaryforcesstillimpactthelocallandscapetoday,particularlythroughtheuseoftheareaforlowflyingbytheRoyalAirForce.Herculestransportaircraftcan be so low that they seem to be camouflagedagainstthegreenbackgroundofsurroundinghills.3.5.8 ResourcesHumans have exploited the natural resources andpower of the elements in the Galloway Glens areathroughouttime:mininglead,quarryingslate,workingiron,harnessingwatertopowercornmills,textilemillsandhydroelectricschemesandmostrecentlycapturingwind to create electricity. In the 1930s, theconstruction of the hydroelectric scheme to harnesswater power reshaped local topography andhydrology,aswellasadding industrialarchitectureonanimpressivescale,muchofitinaModerniststyle.

3.5.9 Wholivesherenow

Reviewingthe2011,census,itisestimatedthattheGallowayGlensSchemeareahasapopulationofapproximately 15,000 people. Most demographic statistics are not available at the scale of theLandscapePartnershiparea,butcensusstatistics for thewiderStewartryDistrictareavailableandcanbecomparedwiththoseforDumfriesandGallowayasawhole,andwithScotland.ThetotalpopulationofStewartryDistrictin2011was24,022,outofatotalDumfriesandGallowaypopulation of 151,324 (Census data). The biggest settlements within the Landscape Partnershiparea,bypopulation, areCastleDouglas (4,070 in2012)andKirkcudbright (3,390 in2012).At0.14personsperhectarein2011,theStewartryhasaverylowpopulationdensity(Scottishaverage0.68).(Censusdata).TheStewartryhasaverylowmixofethnicdiversity.Only0.74%ofthepopulationisofethnicorigin,withAsianorigin(0.3%)constitutingthelargestsingleethicgroup.(Censusdata)

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3.5.10 PopulationtrendsDumfriesandGalloway’spopulationreachedapeakof158,890in1851.Thiswas5.5%ofthetotalScottishpopulationof2,888,742.ThemostrecentfiguresforDumfriesandGallowaygivetheregionapopulationof148060,whichis2.8%ofthetotalScottishpopulationof5,295,000.ItisinterestingtonotethatifDumfriesandGallowaystillhad5.5%ofthetotalScottishpopulationtherewouldbe291,000peoplelivinginDumfriesandGallowaytoday-twiceasmanypeopleastheregionactuallyhas.TheStewartryofKirkcudbright’spopulationwouldincrease,extrapolatedbythesamemargin,by55,000.Thishighlightsthatthepopulationchange(orlackofchange)countersthenationaltrend.Theslightdeclineinoverallpopulationoverthelast150yearsmasksmuchbiggerchangewithintheparishesthatmakesuptheGallowayGlensarea,withthenorthernreacheslosingthevastmajorityoftheirpopulationduetoanumberoffactorsincludingchangestonationalpolicyanddevelopingagriculturalpractices.AccordingtoStatisticalAccountsofScotland,parishesintheGlenkens,intheNorthoftheGallowayGlensArea,lostatleast30%oftheirpopulationbetween1850and1950–indeedcertainareaslostmore.Balmaclellannumbered1,145personsin1851andwasdownto550in1951,adropofover50%.TheshiftofpopulationtovillagesandtownshasbeenevidencedbytheincreasingpopulationsofCastleDouglasandKirkcudbrightduringthisperiod.The Third Statistical Account of Scotland, from 1950, highlighted that locally “there is an unduepreponderance of elderly people owing to themigration of the younger people” – a position thatcontinuestoday,withalocaldemographicthatcontinuestoage.ThepopulationofDumfriesandGallowaydecreasedby1%from2009to2015,whilst theScottishpopulation increased by 2.7% in the same period. (National Records of Scotland). By 2029, thepopulationofDumfriesandGalloway isprojectedtoremainaroundthesameordecreaseslightly,whereas the Scottish population is projected to increase by 7.5%.However, older age groups areprojectedtoincreaseintheregion,mostnotablythe75+agegroup.Thepopulationaged16-29inDumfriesandGallowayisprojectedtodeclineby16.3%overthesameperiod.(NRS)3.5.11 Employment&EducationtodayThe sector employing the greatest proportion (14.8%)of thepopulation in the Stewartrywas thewholesaleand retail trade, including repairofmotorvehicles. Thenexthighest (14.3%) ishumanhealth and social work activities. A higher proportion (12.3%) of the Stewartry population isemployedintheagriculture,forestryandfishingsectorin2011thaninDumfriesandGallowayasawhole (8.7%)or Scotland.Accommodation& food service activities, education andmanufacturingwerethenextbiggestemploymentsectors.(AlldataNRS2011)In 2011, 10.4% of the population of the Stewartry is identified as a carer (defined as a personproviding unpaid help or support to familymembers, friends or neighbours because of long-termphysicalormentalillhealthordisabilityorproblemsrelatedtooldage-notincludinganyactivities

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aspartofpaidemployment). The figure forD&G is9.9%,and9.4% for Scotlandasawhole. (NRS2011)3.5.12 DeprivationThe Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) is based on statistics relating to income,employment,health,education,access,crimeandhousingandisprovidedbydatazonesinquintileswith themost deprivedbeing inQuintile 1 and the least deprivedbeingQuintile 5.Dumfries andGallowaycontainssomeofthemostdeprivedandleastdeprivedareasinScotland.Thedatazonesinthe GallowayGlens area in 2016 areamostly fell intoQuintile 3,with the Castle Douglas area inQuintile 2. The biggest single issue inmany deprived datazones is access to facilities, taking intoaccounttraveltimeandpublictransportinsucharuralarea.Thishasbeenexacerbatedbythelossofsomeruralservicessuchasshops,postofficesandpublichouses.3.5.13 LandOwnershipLandownership in thearea is very fragmented,varying from large landholdings to small, complexmosaics. The area has always had a relatively high number of ‘estates’, often includingmanagedgardenlandscapes.Someoftheselargeestatesremainintact,whileothershavebeenbrokenupandnow have a number of owners. This is illustrated by Little Ross Island in Kirkcudbright Bay beinglistedas for saleat the timeofdrafting thisdocument. Interesthadbeen received frompotentialpurchasersfromaroundtheworld,inpartduetotheappealofowninganislandbutalsoitssettingatthemouthoftheriver.Additional layersofcomplexityresult fromtheuseoftheriver fortheHydroScheme.Theoriginalbuildersoftheschemenegotiatedseparatelywitheach landownerandthishasresulted inaverycomplexownershipmaparoundthemodifiedriverchannel,withsomelandownershavingdifferentriparianrightsorownershipboundaries.This legacy needs to be acknowledged in all projects undertaken through the Scheme andcontributestowardstheuniquelandscapeexperiencedtoday.3.5.14 ConsideringourAudienceAcknowledging theabovepoints, it is clear that there isa rangeofaudiencesandpartnerswhoselivesareinterwovenintotheGallowayGlensSchemearea.Theseinclude:

• Residents• Visitorsforleisureorwork• Landowners• UtilityCompanies–i.e.ScottishPower• Accesstakers• Olderpeople• Groupswithlongtermdisabilitiesorcaringresponsibilities• Youngpeople

The Scheme will endeavour to work with a whole range of partners through the Delivery stage,includingthosethatmightbeharder-to-reach.

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3.5.15 TheAppetiteofVisitorsVisitors to the area, whether for leisure or for work, are a significant influence on the locallandscape,supporting the tourism industryandtherefore thebroaderGallowayGlenscommunity.TheDumfries&GallowayRegionalTourismStrategystatesthattourismsupports7,000jobsacrossDumfries and Galloway, bringing over £300 million to the economy each year. The Strategyhighlightstheregion’s‘heritageandculture’asoneofthefivemaindriversofgrowthinthissector.Developing the ‘heritage offering’, alongside other identified opportunities such as ‘nature andactivitieswill encouragemorevisitorsand leave theheritageof theareamorewidelyunderstoodand appreciated. The Tourism Strategy anticipates that heritage tourismwill become increasinglyimportantwithtime.3.5.16 TheAppetiteofResidentsIt is clear from the success of current informal heritage activities in theGallowayGlens area thatthereisanappetitelocallytolearnmoreabouttheheritage.Thisisfurthersupportedthroughtheconsultation activities in the Development phase, part of which included historic map evenings,archaeologicaltalksandpeatbogmeasurementdays,andallofwhichwerewellattended.Of particular note is the recent campaign to retain the Galloway Hoard in the region. Whileultimately unsuccessful, this campaign caught the public consciousness and highlighted the localinterestandpride intheheritageofthearea.ThepetitiontoretaintheHoardwassignedbyover5,200peopleinonlyafewweeks.

3.6 ANatural,andnot-so-natural,HistoryWildlife habitats and species influence the landscape of theGallowayGlens, not only visually butthrough the ecosystem services they support, such as nutrient cycling and crop pollination; theresources they provide, such as clean water and timber; their regulating effects, such as on theclimateandflooding;andtheirculturalbenefits,suchastheirspiritualandrecreationalvalue.Manyhabitatsandspeciesgenerateanelementoflocalpride,particularlythesignature,‘flagship’species.Aswellasinfluencingthelandscape,wildlifehaslongbeeninfluencedbythepeoplewhoinhabitthelandscape,sometimestotheextentthatthedistinctionbetweenthenaturalandtheman-madeisblurred.3.6.1 HabitatsThe landscape of the Galloway Glens consists of a mosaic of habitats, natural in origin, but allmodifiedtoagreaterorlesserextentbyhumanactivities.Itisoftentheproximityofthesehabitatstoeachotherandhowtheyworktogetherthatgivestheareaitsuniquefeel.Thefollowinghabitatsare locally significant, eitherbecause they are rare and support scarce species, or simplybecausethey are locally extensive in the area. They are also largely highlighted as of significance in theBiosphereNaturalHeritageManagementPlan.Thisisnotanexhaustivelistoflocalhabitats,onlyademonstrativeselectionofthemosaic,contributingtowardstheuniquelandscape.3.6.1.1 MoorlandMoorland is a broad term for a range of habitats, now largely confined to the uplands, thoughoriginallywouldalsohaveoccurredat lowaltitude. Ithasa longculturalhistory,whetherusedfor

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farming,medievalhunting,grouseshootingor recreation.Heatherdominatedmoorland,ahabitatvirtually confined to Britain and Ireland, is of high biodiversity value and is traditionallymanagedthrough rotational burning, but it is rare in the Galloway Glens area where moorland typicallyconsistsof roughgrasslands.Onthehighesthills,montaneheath ischaracterisedbysparse,stonyvegetation, typicallymosses.Many bird and animal species are dependent on extensive areas ofmoorland.

3.6.1.2 BogsBogs,orflowsastheyaresometimeslocallyknown,are wetlands composed of deep peat. They haveformedasaresultofthepartialdecayofvegetation,particularly Sphagnum mosses, over thousands ofyears.Dependingontheprocessesinvolvedintheirformation, they take the form of raised bogs invalleysandlowlanddepressions,orblanketbogson

theupperslopesofhills.Asaresult,theysupportspecialisedplantandanimalspeciesrarelyfoundinotherhabitats.Despitethefactthatalmostallbogshavebeenexploitedforfuelandotherusesover hundreds of years, they constitute an enormous carbon sink and often preserve a valuablearchaeologicalrecord.ThelargestandbestknownsiteisSilverFlowe,buttherearealsoanumberofsmallerbogsinthearea.3.6.1.3 Marshes&ReedBedsMarshes arewetlandswhere thewater table is close to the surface formuch of the year.Unlikebogs,theyarenotcomposedofpeat,butcanalsosupportaspecialisedbiodiversity.Manymarsheshavebeentraditionallygrazedandsomecut forhay, thoughthis isnowararepractice. Incertaincircumstances,thevegetationcanbealmosttotallydominatedbyasinglespecies,CommonReed.Such reedbedsoftenhaveadifferent fauna toothermarshes, including severalmothsandotherinsects that are entirely dependent on reed. The fringes of Loch Ken support extensive areas ofmarshandreedbed,withtheThreavewetlandsalsoactingasasignificantlocalexample.3.6.1.4 NativeWoodlandNative woods are composed of tree species which naturally colonised Britain after the Ice Age,though theactual trees in thesewoodsmaybeofplantedorigin.Nativewoods therefore tend tohavethegreatestvarietyofassociatedwildlife,andancientwoodlandsites(definedinScotlandasareas continuallywooded since 1750) tend to be themost valuable of all especially, for rare butlesserknown,speciesoflichensandinvertebrates.Duetoalonghistoryofclearance,therearefewlargenativewoods,butgoodexamplescanbefoundatHannastonWoodatGlenleeandHighWoodnearNewGalloway.Designationoflandas‘forest’datesbacktomedievaltimes,butatthattimeitwasusedtoprotectgameandtheowner’shuntingrights,ratherthananythingtodowithtrees.AsignificantpartoftheGallowayGlensareaformedpartoftheForestofBuchan,an immenseroyalhuntingforest. Intheyear1500 itoccupied largetractsof land in theparishesofKells,Carsphairn,andMinnigaff in thewest.

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3.6.1.5 ConiferousWoodlandPlantations of conifers are a relativelyrecent,post-SecondWorldWaradditiontothe landscape,butarenowextensivein theGallowayGlensarea.Mostof thespecies they support are common inotherhabitats,butanumberofspecies,suchasCrossbills,areconifer specialistsand others, such as Nightjars and BlackGrouse, have adapted to appropriatelymanagedconiferforests.

Part of the Galloway Forest Park (GFP) lies within the Galloway Glens area. Forest Parks areextensiveareasofhighscenicvaluelandmanagedbytheForestryEnterpriseScotlandonbehalfofthepeopleofScotland.Theyaremanagedashighqualitymulti-purposeforestrywherepublicaccessisencouraged.TheoldestForestParkinScotland,Argyll,wasdesignatedin1935,andtheGFP(thelargestForestParkintheUK)wasdesignatedin1947.TheGFPisasignificantpartoftheNationalForestEstateatover97,000hectaresinsizeandispartofthewiderforestareamanagedbyForestEnterpriseScotlandat116,000hectaresinGallowayand640,000across Scotland.GFP sustainably supports the fellingof around600,000 tonnesof timberannually,enoughtofill24,000lorries.ItcanbesaidthatthereisapartofGallowayinalmosteveryhomeintheUK.The trees in the GFP are primarily Spruces, with amixture of Scott’s Pine, Douglas fir and otherconiferspeciesalongwithahugerangeofbroadleavedspecies.TheForestParkisalsoabufferzonefortheGallowayandSouthernAyrshireBiosphereandincludesanumberofarchaeologicalsitesofsignificance and also popular leisure facilities such as Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre and the‘Raider’sRoad’drivingroute,namedafterlocalauthorS.R.Crockett’snovelofthesamename.

3.6.1.6 Estuary&MudflatsTheRiverDeeenterstheSolwayviatheestuary of Kirkcudbright Bay. Thoughmore enclosed than the Solway itself,the estuary is characterised by wideopen spaces that changewith the tidefrom open water to mudflats withmeandering channels. Steep coastalslopes with seabirds dominate themouth of the estuary, but giveway to

rolling wooded hills leading down to fringing saltmarsh and the shallow inlets of Ross Bay andManxman’s Lake. The sights and soundsofwinteringwildfowl andwadingbirds are an importantelementofthishabitat.

OTTER’SPOOL|GallowayForestPark

KIRKCUDBRIGHTMUDFLATS

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3.6.1.7RiversandLochsTheuplandsoftheGallowayGlensareinfamousfortheacidificationofriversandlochs,whichhasresulted in the localised lossofsomeaquaticspecies.Someof theearliestexperiments to tryandrectify thesituationtookplace inLochDee.Fordecades, thesoilandwateracidity in theuplandswasthoughttobeduetoacidrain(fromheavymetalsandsootparticlesfromindustrialemissionselsewhere).However,inthelasttenyearstheacidrainhasdecreasedyetriveracidityremainshigh,and many soil scientists began to link the ploughing and draining of peatland to the source ofacidification.Peatlandrestorationispossible,andcouldeventuallyresultinimprovementstowaterquality.3.6.2 SpeciesThe juxtapositionofdifferent landscapecharacter typesandhabitats results inawidediversityofspecies, some of which are restricted to a particular habitat, others that require a number ofdifferent habitats in close proximity to each other. The species of the Galloway Glens arerepresentative of those across Scotland and as such fit well with recent initiatives such as VisitScotland’sBig5campaign(RedSquirrel,RedDeer,HarbourSeal,OtterandGoldenEagle).ThoughallfivearefoundintheGallowayGlensarea,themain'flagship'specieswithahighlocalpublicprofileandinfluenceonthelandscapeinclude:3.6.2.1 GreenlandWhite-FrontedGeeseOneofonlysixoverwinteringflocksofGreenlandWhite-frontedGeeseinScotlandistobefoundintheGallowayGlens, near Loch Ken. They arrive in autumn each year and stay until spring beforeheadingnorthtoGreenland.Thismuchthreatenedsub-species,whichhasaglobalpopulationoflessthan 20,000, faces a number of challenges such as climate change and habitat loss. Their smallnumbersleavethemparticularlyvulnerabletochangesinlanduse.3.6.2.2 RedSquirrelsThe varied local habitat of the Galloway Glens retains a strong population of Red Squirrels. Thisspecies, much loved by residents and visitors to the area, is threatened by Grey Squirrels, bothcompeting for food and carrying disease. The Glenkens Red Squirrel Group culled over 450 GreySquirrelsinthenorthoftheGallowayGlensAreain2015inanefforttoreducethepopulationtoasizethatcanbekeptdownbycullingatamoremanageablelevel.Morerecentcullinghasbeenatareducedlevel,dueinparttoalowerpopulationofGreysbutalsolimitedresourcesatpresent.

3.6.2.3FishLochKen is renownedasoneof Scotland'smostprolific Pikeandcoarsefishingwaters.HistoricallythelargestPike,caughtin1798,wassaidtoweighamassive72lb.TherecentarrivalofAmerican Signal Crayfish has led to concerns about the fish

stocksintheLoch,asoutlined further inChapter 7 ‘WhatHaveWeLearned’.

JUVENILETROUT

AMERICANSIGNALCRAYFISH

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ThefirstStatisticalAccount(1791-99)referstoPike"ingreatperfectionandofanuncommonsize"aswellasPerch"takeningreatquantities"andEels"neverinterruptedintheirpossessionofthewaters."3.6.2.4 RedKitesRedKiteswereoncecommonbirdsacrosstheUnitedKingdombutwerereducedalmosttothepointofextinctioninthelate20thcentury.ApopulationwassuccessfullyreturnedtotheGallowayGlensin 2003, and have now established a strong local presence. TheGalloway Kite Trail has proved asuccessfulvisitorattraction,attractingover100,000visitorsandmorethan£8.2millionforthelocaleconomybetween2004and2015.3.6.2.5 GoldenEagleA rich legacy of place-names, particularly in the uplands, confirms that Golden Eagleswere oncewidespreadresidentsofDumfriesandGalloway.Theyarementionedintheliteraturefromthelate17thcentury.Breedingceasedin1876,butregularnestingwasre-establishedin1945withuptofivenestingterritories,oneofwhichencompassespartoftheGallowayGlens.AreintroductionprojectintheSouthofScotlandhas recentlybegun,whichwillbolster localpopulations further.Thoughthebirdsarenotfrequentlyseen,whentheyare itcanprovetobeaonceina lifetimeexperiencefortheluckyobserver.

3.6.2.6 OspreyOspreysare largebirdsofprey,whichspendthewinter inAfrica, returningtonest inBritaineachsummer,wheretheycatchfishbyaspectacularplungeintothewater.Theybecameextinct intheBritishIslesin1916,butrecolonisedin1954andarecontinuingtoexpandtheirnumbersandrange.Theabundanceof lochsand rivers in theGallowayGlensprovidesexcellent feedinghabitatandafewpairshavenowbegunnestinginthearea,withpublicviewingfacilitiesatThreaveEstate.3.6.3 TraditionallivestockThe Galloway Glens Area is,or has been, home to anumber of local nativelivestock breeds, often ofnational or internationalimportance.Theseinclude:3.6.3.1 GallowayCattleThe broader Galloway areahasastronghistoryofcattlebreeding and Gallowaycattle are famously tough,hardybeastsabletotoleratea range of pasture andclimates with minimalmaintenanceandfuss.BeltedGallowaysdevelopedinthe17thCentury,thoughttobefromacross

BELTEDGALLOWAY

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betweenaGallowayandTheDutchBeltedCow.BeltedGallowaysarefamoustheworldoverduetotheirpositivetraitsinheritedfromtheGallowaysandtheirdistinctiveappearance.Inthedaysbeforethe railways,when cattleweredriven fromGalloway toNorfolk Fairs, thedrovers always liked tohavea ‘Beltie’amongst thebunch,sothat in thedarkdaystheycouldpickoutthewaythecattlewereheading(www.beltedgalloways.co.uk).ThebreednowsurviveswithadedicatedpreservationsocietyandisfoundatanumberofplacesintheGallowayGlens.3.6.3.2GallowayBlackfacesheep,goatsanddeerPrior toafforestation, theGallowayUplandsweregrazedby sheep (ScottishBlackface) andgoats,some of which are now feral. Galloway Red Deer are said to be larger than their highlandcounterpartsperhaps thanks to thebetter climateandgrazing; somearenow farmed for venisonandbreedingstock.3.6.3.3 GallowayPonyTheGallowayPonywasasmallbreed,associatedwiththerelativelypoor,unimprovedsoilsofthearea.Itwasdescribedashaving“goodlooks,awide,deepchestandatendencytopaceratherthantrot."Anexampleofatraditionalbreedwithoutthenecessarysupportandpreservationmechanisminplace,theGallowayPonyisnowextinctduetocrossbreeding.

3.7 Designations3.7.1 TheGalloway&SouthernAyrshireUNESCOBiosphereThe Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere (the Biosphere) was designated in 2012.The Biosphere concept is based on understanding and promoting a positive and sustainablerelationshipbetweenmanandtheenvironment.Itachievesthisbyfacilitatingpartnershipsworkingbetween communities and businesses, NGO’s and public agencies, identifying and supporting thedeliveryofcommongoalsandaspirationsthatwillultimatelybenefitallofus.AllbiospheresareoverseenbytheManandtheBiosphere(MAB)programme.Strategicobjectives

for2015-2025aresetoutintheBiosphere’sStrategicPlan2017–2022:

1) Conserving Biodiversity, restore &enhance ecosystem services and foster thesustainableuseofnaturalresources.

2) Contribute to building sustainable,healthy and equitable societies, economiesandthrivingsettlements

3) Facilitate sustainability science andeducationforsustainabledevelopment

4) Support mitigation and adaptationto Climate Change and other aspects ofglobalenvironmentalchange.

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TheworkoftheBiosphereisfocussedonthreemanagementzones,core,bufferandtransition.TheboundaryisbroadlybasedonthesevenrivercatchmentsemanatingfromtheGallowayhills,oneofwhichistheKen-Deewatershed.TheGallowayGlensareaextendsfromthecoreareas(MerrickKellsincludingSilverFlowe),throughthebufferarea(largelybasedonGallowayForestPark),andmostoftheremainderoftheGallowayGlensarealieswithintransitionzoneforthebiosphere,asoutlinedintheabovemap:A key focus for the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere is using the UNESCO Biospheredesignation to support the development and promotion of the region, its communities and itsheritageasa“destination”inanoftenoverlookedcornerofScotland.3.7.2 NaturalHeritageDesignations3.7.2.1 SolwayCoastRegionalScenicAreaTheSolwayCoastRegionalScenicArea(RSA)runsalongthecoastfromtheFleetValleytotheLocharWater east of theNith Estuary, including the coastalmargins aroundKirkcudbright Bay, inland toTongland. It includesestuariesand thecontrasting intervening ruggedshoresandcoastaluplands.Theareahasadiversemixtureofcoastallandscapetypes.InthewestthePeninsulasandPeninsulaswith Gorsey Knolls create rocky coastlines of cliffs, raised beaches and isolated coves, backed bysmooth undulating open landscapes of improved pastures interspersedwith knolly, gorsey areas.ThecoastlineisdissectedbymajorinletssuchasKirkcudbrightBay.3.7.2.2 TheGallowayHillsRegionalScenicAreaThe Galloway Hills RSA centres on the Rugged Granite Uplands and Coastal Granite Uplands ofcentralGalloway,extendingfromtheAyrshireboundarysouthtowherethehillsmeetthesea.Theareaincludestheprincipalfoothills, lowerridgesandsideslopesoftheeasternandwesternflanksoftheGallowayUplands,aswelltheadjacentCairnsmoreofCarsphairnrangeofhills,andincludesthe visual envelopes of the three major valleys which encircle the hills; the Cree, Fleet and theGlenkens.It is the largest RSA inDumfries andGalloway,with a recognition that all parts play a role in thewhole. The overall scale of the designated area results in some parts, particularly those areasincludedbecauseoftheircontributiontothewiderview,beingoflessinternalscenicinterestthanothers. Examples include the forested foothills of theMerrick and the Rhinns of Kells. However,these areas form the setting to the dramatic summits of the Galloway Uplands, and so warrantdesignationas an integral partof the scenically valued landscapeof theGallowayhills, toprotectthemfromunsuitabledevelopment,andencouragesensitivemanagement.3.7.2.3 AdditionalNaturalHeritageDesignationsThere are numerous other natural heritage designations within the Galloway Glens area, whichdemonstratethevalueofthenaturalenvironmentatanationalandinternationallevelandmakeuptheexistinglandscapedesignations.Naturalheritagedesignationsinclude:

• SpecialAreasofConservation(SAC)• SpecialProtectionAreas(SPA)• Ramsarsites

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• SitesofSpecialScientific Interest (SSSI), thatcanbedesignated forgeologicalorbiologicalinterest

• AncientWoodlandsThese are listed in detail in the Landscape Character Assessment & Historic Environment Report,detailedintheappendix,andcombinetocreateauniquecombinationofdesignations.3.7.3 LandscapeCharacterTheLandscapeCharacterAssessmentundertakenthroughtheGallowayGlensSchemebuiltonthe1998Dumfries&GallowayLandscapeAssessmentandoutlined14LocalLandscapeAreasthesearedetailed in the Landscape Character Assessment & Historic Environment Audit report but aresummarisedinthetablebelow:

LocalLandscapeArea KeyCharacteristics

CorserineSummit! High,domedrockyplateauwithsculptedglacialcorries! Forestonhillslopesandencroachingoncorries,limitedotherhuman

influence

SilverFloweUplands

! DeepUshapedvalleysbetweenhighhills! Forestormoorcoveredslopesrockyoutcropsandscreeshigherup! Rarebogandwetlandhabitatsonnarrowvalleyfloor! Somepartsofvalleyfloorareforested,includingaroundLochDee

Clatteringshaws

! Largereservoirencircledbyroundedhillswithforestedslopesandopentops

! Damsandbridgesasengineeringstructures! AccessibleviatheA712,withrecreationalfacilitiesincludingvisitorcentre,

carparkandwalkingtrails

CairnEdwardUplands! Ruggedhillswithextensiveforestplantationscoveringallbutthetopsof

higherhills! RaidersRoadForestdrive

KellsFoothills

! RuggedhillsdescendingfromtheRhinnsofKellsridge! Extensiveforestplantations! Lochansinthecorries! Drystonewallsoflocalstone

LauriestonFoothills

! RuggedhillsextendingsouthfromtheCairnEdwardUplands! Extensiveforestplantations! Lochansbetweenhills! Disusedrailwayandroutesthroughhills

Carsphairnvalleysection

! SweepingUshapedglacialvalley! Moorlandcoveredslopeswithsomeforestareas! Walledenclosuresandsheepstellsorfanks! Wetvalleyfloor! Archaeologicalfeatures

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Dundeughvalleysection

! NarrowvalleypassingDundeughHill! Powerinfrastructureincludingaseriesofreservoirs,dams,weirs,power

linesandpowerstations! Mixedandconiferouswoodlandandscatteredmaturetreesaroundlochs! Drystonewalledenclosuresandsheepstellsorfanks

Kenmurevalleysection

! Broadvalleywithflatfloodplainwithimprovedpastureonthevalleyfloor! Riparianwoodlandalongthemeanderingriver,mixedandconiferous

shelterbeltsonthevalleysides! StJohn’sTownofDalryandNewGallowaysettlementsonvalleysides! Drumlinhillsoneastvalleysides,withpasturesandstonewalls! KenmureCastleandarchaeologicalfeatures! WetlandsonthevalleyflooraroundtheheadofLochKen

UpperLochKenvalleysection

! Floodedtransitionfromforestedhillstodrumlinlowland! DistinctivecharacterchangeacrossLochKen! Undulatingpastureoneasternsidewithmixedwoodlandandconiferous

shelterbeltsandbeechtrees

CastleDouglasDrumlinPastures

! Extensivedrumlinfieldacrosslowlyingland! LochKenasafloodedriverwithinterlockingdrumlinbaysandislands! Wallandhedgeboundedundulatingpasturefields,withwoodlandsand

shelterbeltsanddistinctivetreeclumpsondrumlintops

Tonglandvalleysection

! DrumlinlinedvalleywithdammedrivernorthofTongland! Pasturefieldswithhedgesandwallsandclumpsoftreesasshelterbelts! IndustrialelementsincludingTonglandPowerStationwithassociateddam,

fishladder,andpylonlines,aswellasaformercarfactoryandanactivequarry

KirkcudbrightBay! Shelteredestuarywithmudflatsandrockyshores,andlowundulating

woodedhillhorizonallround! FocalpointsofStMary’sIsleandLittleRossisland

MochrumFellUplandFringe

! HigherelevationdrumlinfieldsattheedgeoftheKenvalley,leadinguptolowmoorlandhillswithforestareasandlochans

! Forestplantationscanbeextensive,andcontrastwithsmallerwoodlandsthatrespondtofieldboundaries

! Wallandhedgeboundedundulatinguplandpasturefields

CairnsmoreUplands

! RollingUplandHillswithhighroundedsummitsandbroadmoorlandridgesoflargescale

! Steepincisedvalleyscontainsmallwatercourses,sometimesenclosedwithplantations

! Extendedareasofconiferousforestsonlowlandslopes;opengrassorheathermooronhighridges

These local landscape areas combine elements of landscape, biodiversity and cultural heritage toformunique‘specialqualities’.Oftentheseareaswillbesubjecttouniquecombinationsofforcesforchangeandopportunities.ThesearedetailedintheattachedLandscapeCharacterAssessmentandsummarisedinChapter6‘ForcesforChange’.

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3.7.4 DarkSkyParkTheDarkSkyParkmakesuparound85,000hectaresoftheGallowayForestParkandencompassesthecoreandbufferareasoftheGallowayandSouthernAyrshireUNESCOBiosphere.TheDarkSkyParkallowsvisitorstoobservethenightsky,acknowledgingthelackoflightpollutionandthequalityofthedarkskiesfoundlocally.In2009theDarkSkydesignationwasawarded(oneofthefirstintheUK) and since then thousandsof peoplehavebeen coming to look at the amazingnight sky. It isbeginning tobecapitalisedonby localbusinessesandhighlightedasanattraction tovisitorswiththe help of a Biosphere Dark Sky Ranger initiative that saw the training of local people to act asfreelancerangers.Toillustratethelackoflightpollution,theDarkSkyParkhasaSkyQualityMeter(SQM)scalereadingof21to23.6.TheSQMscalerunsfrom0to25and,toputitincontext,inthemiddleofamajorcitysuchasGlasgoworEdinburgh,youwouldgetareadingofaround8,whereasareadingof24wouldbemeasuredinaphotographer'sdarkroom.TheDarkSkyParkhasaninterestingheritagecontextwhenoneconsidersthatthelightpeopleseetodayactuallystarteditsjourneyhundredsofyearsago.Forexample,Betelgeuse,theredstarinthetop leftof the constellationofOrion is600 light years fromEarth.Thus light from the star visibletodayemanatedinthe1400s,justafterThreaveCastlewasbuilt.3.7.5 WildLand‘Wild Land’ is an area defined by Scottish Natural Heritage as benefitting from a number ofcharacteristicsthatcombinetocreateafeelingof‘wildness’.Thesewilderlandscapeshaveadistinctandspecialcharacter,whichis“increasinglyraretofindanddistinguishesScotlandfrommuchoftherest of the UK and many parts of Europe. A key component of Scotland's identity, they bringsignificanteconomicbenefits,attractingvisitorsandtourists.Manypeoplederivepsychologicalandspiritualbenefitfromtheirexistence,andtheyprovideincreasinglyimportanthavensforScotland'swildlife”(SNHWebsite).Therearecurrentlyonly42‘wildlandareas’(WLA)acrossScotland,predominatelyintheNorthandWestofthecountry,indeedonlytwoareinSouthernScotlandwhichmakestheMerrickWLAareaverysignificantlocally.TheMerrickWLAliestothewestoftheGallowayGlensarea,andoverlapsovertheCraignawridge.TheWLA ismade up of the highestmountains in the area, composed of openmoor or exposedcraggy peaks. The wild land area does not include forest plantations. The WLA is the largestremaining un-afforested area of upland in Galloway and contains three habitats of Europeaninterest: blanket bog, montane acid grasslands and wet heath. The wild land area descriptionincludestheruggedCraignawridgeandtheSilverFlowe,anextensiveblanketboglyingwithintheGallowayGlensarea,andisoneoftheleastinterruptedundisturbedmiresystemsinEurope.

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3.7.6 Historic&CulturalHeritageTheSchemeareacontainsanumberofhistoricenvironmentsitesandareaswithnationalandlocalauthoritydesignations:

ScheduledMonuments 34

InventoryGardens&DesignedLandscapes 2

PropertiesinCare 2

ListedBuildings(categoryA) 27

ListedBuildings(categoryB) 218

ListedBuildings(categoryC) 190

ConservationAreas 2

non-InventoryGardens&DesignedLandscapes

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ArchaeologicallySensitiveAreas 5

AreasofArchaeologicalInterest 235

The Historic Environment Audit, attached in the appendix, drew together physical evidence forhumanactivity- includingarchaeologicalremains,artefacts,thebuiltenvironmentandbio-culturalheritage - with elements of intangible cultural heritage such as folklore and traditions. It hashighlighted the chronological texture of the area's landscapes at different periods and some keythemeswhichemergefromtheevidence.ThehistoricenvironmentoftheGallowayGlensarea isrichformanyperiods,butespeciallysofortheearlymedievalandmedievalperiods.Itsuniquecharacteristicscreateconsiderablepotentialtoengage local people, attract research and stimulate conservation in order to enhance narrativesaboutthepastandpresentintheGallowayGlens.3.7.7 ExistingManagementregimeThewholeGallowayGlensSchemeareafallswithintheDumfries&GallowayCounciladministrativeboundary.Thissupportsacohesiveandjoinedupapproachtolandscapemanagement.ThereareanumberofgoverningpoliciesandguidancethatcovertheGallowayGlenslandscape,including:

Document Author/Lead Impact

LocalDevelopmentPlan

Dumfries&GallowayCouncil

Adopted2014,guidesfutureuse+developmentoflandintown/villagesandruralareas.SupportedbysupplementaryguidancenotesincludingForestry&WindPowerdevelopments.

CorePathsPlanDumfries&GallowayCouncil

Adopted2013,setsoutthecorepathprovisionintheareaandhandlesaddition/removalfromthisplan.

Ken/DeeCatchmentManagementPlan

SEPAAdopted2004,providesguidanceformanagementoflandinthecatchment

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LocalBiodiversityPlan

Dumfries&GallowayBiodiversityPartnership

Adopted2009,identifiesthepriorityhabitatsandspecies,coordinatingprotectionactivities.

LocalFloodRiskManagementPlan–SolwayLocalPlanDistrict

Dumfries&GallowayCouncil

Adopted2016,identifiesthechallengesandsupportsfloodmanagementefforts

RiverBasinManagementPlanforSolwayTweedRiverBasinDistrict

SEPAAdopted2015,supportstheimplementationofWaterFrameworkDirectiverequirements

ScottishForestryStrategy

ForestryCommissionScotland

Adopted2006,providesanoverviewoftheForestrySector’sstrategy,aimsandoutcomessoughtoverthenext50years.

RegionalEconomicStrategy

Dumfries&GallowayCouncil

Adopted2016,setsoutvisionandaimsfortheeconomyin2020

RegionalTourismStrategy

Dumfries&GallowayCouncil

Adopted2016,setsouttheoverallstrategyforthetourismsectorintheregion.

WildLandStrategyScottishNaturalHeritage

ConsultationcompletedApril2017,guidanceawaited

StateoftheEnvironmentReport

Dumfries&GallowayCouncil

PublishedJanuary2017,considersenvironmentalaspectsofDumfries&Galloway’senvironment

These policies have all been considered and acknowledged in the design of the Galloway GlensScheme to ensure efforts are supported and endorsed by the existing management regimes. Ofparticularpertinence to theGallowayGlens Schemeare theCorePathsPlan, the Local FloodRiskManagementPlanandtheRegionalTourismStrategy.

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3.8 TheRiverTheWaterofKenflowsfromthehillsaboveCarsphairnandjoinstheBlackwaterofDeejustnorthofParton. Downstream from there, it is known as the River Dee and flows southwards past CastleDouglas,throughTonglandandintoKirkcudbrightBay.Theriverismorethan60kmfromsourcetoseaandconsistsofarangeofhabitats,fromslowmovingglidestotumblingrapids,hostingarangeof species. It has played a highly significant role in the physical and cultural development of thevalley.3.8.1 Physicalsignificanceofriver3.8.1.1 Shapingthevalley

The river has eroded andshaped much of thesurrounding valley. Whenthe river was free tomeander, it snakedacrossthe valley, broadening itsbase and regular floodevents carried nutrientrich sediments onto thesurrounding land,supporting theestablishment ofagriculture and todaygiving the productiveareasofthevalley.

Floodingoftheriverisnotarecentphenomenon.‘CrockettandGreyGalloway’byMalcomHarper,(HodderandStoughton,1908)states:“Well,attheLammas[afestivalbetween1Augustand1September]tide,thatistosayjustasourhaywasreadytobestacked,theDeeusedtoover-flow,andtheseLammasfloodsweretheterrorofall theDeeside farmers.And though Iwas only a very little boyat the time, I can remember howoftenIwasstartledfrommybedwithawildcry,inScots,thattheDeewasout,andabout;awildcrytoarmsagainstdisasterandruin.Howwealltumbledfromourbeds,andinthehastiestattirewerushedoutintothenight,underthelightofthestars,orbytheflickeringtorches,theoldmen,thewomen,themales,andevensuchchildrenasIwas,eachtowrestfromthewaterssomeportionofthespoils;forourhaymeanttherentofthefarm,thebreadforthewinter,thedailyloafformanydaystocome."And into the water we went, and snatched all the hay that could be saved, and plunged, andgroaned, and struggled in our fight for our breadagainst the disastrouswaters. I can still seemyuncles,breasthighintheblackflood,holdingarmfulsofrescuedhayabovethewater,whilstmyoldgrandfather, standing in the loaning of the farm-house, pointedwith his stick into the night, and

CLATTERINGSHAWSc.StuartLittlewood

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guardedthebestowalofthesalvageinshrillScots.Andsoweplunged,andstruggled,andsaved,tillafter longhoursofworkwewithdrew,drippingandtriumphant,whilst thedefeatedDeerolledonplacidlyintoGrennoch[nowWoodhallloch],underthepalelightandthestars."ThisdescriptionwillbefamiliartofarmersalongthebanksoftheDeeeventoday.3.8.1.2 AplacetocallhomeTheriverformsanimportanthabitat,supportingawiderangeofspeciesandalsoactsasacorridorfor themovementofmanyplantsandanimals, linking fragmentedhabitats. Evenspecies suchasRedSquirrels,batsandbirdsuseriparianwoodlandtomoveupanddownthevalley.Theriverhasalsoactedasabarrierandprotection,atKen-DeeMarshesnaturereserve,theWillowTitbenefitstothisdayfromthepresenceofundisturbedwetwoodland.Fish populations were of great repute in the 19th Century, with the river famed for its Salmonpopulationhistorically.

FreshwaterPearlMussels,whichspendtheirearlystagesattachedto Salmonid fish, were also once abundant. In the D&G NaturalHistory & Antiquarian Society’ Transactions and Journal ofProceedings’,JamesJohnsonstated,“MrBridger informsme that on themoors aboveNew-Gallowaystation, at a place called BarnsWater, he took them out by thepailful,but,strangetosay,withfewpearls,althoughbelowthisonSlogarieandBanksofDeepearlsareabundant.”There is a story that in the 1930s a gentleman tramp called'Moses' would earn money by wading into the Dee nearGlenlochar and collecting freshwater mussels which he wouldopenonthebank. Ifhe foundapearl inonehewouldtake it toEwing's the Jewellers in Castle Douglas, whereMr Ewing wouldbuyitfromhim.Pearlswerecollectedfromriveruntilthe1950s.

Perhaps as a result of the healthy fish populations, the river has always supported a strongotterpopulation,evenwhenthisspecieswasdriventoextinctioninmanyotherpartsofBritain.Thesouthernendof theGallowayGlens,atKirkcudbrightBayandtheSolwayFirth, isahavenforwildlife,particularlyformigratorybirds.Theriverhasdirectlysupportedhumanhabitationofthevalleyinmanyways,includingprovisionofwater fordrinkingand the removalofhumanwasteproducts.Waterqualityhasbeena recurringissue over the years, with recent issues such as diffuse pollution sources from agriculture andacidificationchallengingwaterstandardssetbytheEuropeanUnionandtheScottishGovernment.

RIVERDEEPEARLc.AlistairLivingston

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3.8.2 Culturalsignificanceofriver3.8.2.1 EarlyHumansWhenhumansfirstarrivedinthearea,theriverwouldhavedominatedthevalleyevenmoresothannow, forming the most reliable and safest means of travel and communication, as well as adependablewatersource. Itwouldhaveguided initialvisits toandtravelaroundtheareaandtheimpactithadonsettlementlocationisstillbeingunderstood.3.8.2.2 SettlementAsagriculturalpracticeswereadoptedandhumansbegantosettle,theriverwillhavecontinuedtobeused for transport, drinkingwater and food and removal ofwaste. Communications andnewswouldhavetravelleduptheriver,favouringpeoplenearestthebanks.Localplacenamesareoftenagood method to capture the historic settlement activity and the Galloway Glens Area shows auniqueselectionofGaelic,Norse,ManxandBretonnames.Theriver’suseasa transportcorridorhasvaried from informaluseby individuals tomoreformal,strategic transport efforts. The latter included themovementofmarl, believed to transformpoorsoilintoanagriculturalbonanza,dugfromtheCarlingwarkLoch.Transport was aided by the construction of the Carlingwark Canal in 1765, now an overgrownchannelbetweentheRiverDeeandtheLoch,andplansweredrawnupforamoreextensivecanalnetwork,onlyafractionofwhichwaseverbuilt.Before the industrial revolution, water was one of the most reliable and dependable sources ofenergytobeharnessed.Anumberofcornandtextilemills,withsmalldams, ladesandmillponds,were constructed along tributaries of the river, such as at Grennan, Ironmaccanie, Shirmers andKelton.3.8.2.3 DefenceTherelationshipbetweenstrongholdsandtheriverisstriking.KenmureCastle,nearNewGallowayhasbeentheseatoftheGordonfamilysincethe13thCenturyandstandsonapartlynaturalmoundbytheKenwhichmayhavebeenfirstusedfordefenceintheearlyMiddleAges(i.e.400-900AD).ItissaidthatislandssuchasThreaveandBurnedIslandwerehometotherulersofGalloway1,000years ago,with their position in the River Dee providing an excellent defensive position. ThreaveCastle, oneof themostwell-knownand visited attractions in the area,wasbuilt in 1369 and stillstandsonThreaveislandtoday.

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3.8.2.4 CrossingtheRiverWith thedevelopmentofdifferent transportationmethods, thebuildingof formal roadsand thenultimatelyrail,theneedtosafelybridgetheriverbecameanimportantdriverofsettlementlocationand layout. The resulting bridges also becoming important features in the local landscape. Theseincludes Glenlochar Bridge, which adjoins a large Roman camp, built beside the former crossingpointoftheriver.ExamplesofotherrivercrossingsincludethecurrentKenBridge,builtbyJohnRenniein1821.Thisisactuallythethirdbridgeonthesiteinmoderntimes.Thefirstwasdestroyedbyafloodin1806,andthesecondbridgewasnevercompletedasitwasdestroyedbyafloodwhilestillbeingbuiltin1815.Thebridgehasgivenitsnametotheneighbouringhotelandisaprominentlandmarklocally.TheBridgeofDeeisavillagenearA75trunkroadandtakesitsnamefrombridgingactivityovertheyears,bothroadandrailcrossings.Tongland Bridge was opened in 1808, designed by the world famous engineer Thomas Telford.TelfordwasactuallyborninnearbyLangholmandunsuccessfullybidfortheKenBridgeconstruction.ShroudedbytreestotheWest, thisbridge is thefirst tobenefit fromweight-savinghollowribbedspandrels instead of a solidmasonry arch. This bridge,with the neighbouring remains of theOldTonglandBridgeisheldingreataffectionbylocalresidents.BalmaghieChurchandCrossmichaelChurchlookacrosstheDeeateachotherandaferrycrossingusedtoexistheretoallowthepriesttotravelbetweenthetwocongregations.LochKenViaductistheonlycurvedviaductofitstyperemaininginScotland.Alistedlocallandmark,itusedtocarrythetrainacrosstheLochontheCarlisletoStranraer‘Paddy’lineandisthoughttobethe inspirationfor JohnBuchan’snovel,39Steps.Underneaththeviaduct, theBoatO’Rhoneferryusedtocarrypedestriansandcars,operatinguntilthe1960s.Theabandonedferryisstillvisibleonthewesternbankbytheviaduct.The river’s use for transport is perfectly captured in Andrew Symson’s ‘A Large Description ofGalloway’(Written1682,firstpublishedinEdinburgh1823):

GLENLOCHARBRIDGEwithHydroSchemeBarrageinbackground

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“abovethesaidislandoftheThreave,thisriverisadeeploch,whichlochextendsitselfeintothe river of Kenn, and reaches as far as the Castle of Kenmuir, so that the Vicecount ofKenmuirmayeasilytransporthimselfeandfurniturebyboat fromhisCastleofKenmuir, intheparishof theKells, toanotherresidenceofhis in theparishofCorsemichael,calledtheGreenlaw,lyingontheeastsideofDee;yea,soneertoit,thatsometimetheinundationoftherivercomesintohiscellarsandlowerroomes.ThedistancebetwixtthesaidstwohousesofKenmuirandGreenlaw,whichisalsothelengthofthesaidloch,willbeabouteightmiles.”

3.8.2.5 FishingToaccess theplentifulbountyof fish in the riverandsurroundingcoastline,and to receiveboats,humansettlementtookplacearoundtheriver,oftenascloseasitcouldbewhileacknowledgingtheregularriskofflooding.

Local fishing practices such as Haafnetting took place on estuaries acrossthe Solway. The river’s regular flowallowedtheestuarytobenavigableandhence Kirkcudbright to flourish as afishingport.Thefirstrecordofshippingbelonging to Kirkcudbright dates to1236 when one Erkin of Kirkcudbrightwas given official permission to sail toIreland to trade for corn. In the 14th -16thcenturiesrecordsshowtradewithIreland,France&Spain.Wool,woollenclothandhidesexported,andwineandironimported.As the nearest port in Scotland formerchants from France and Spain, the

portprospered to rank6th in Scotland in termsof its customsvalue. In1455 the townbecameaRoyal Burgh, with rights of self-government, and, most important of all, the right to conductinternationaltradethroughitsport.Therecordsoftheburghsurvivefrom1576,andtheveryfirstrecordconcernsadisputeaboutacargooftimbertoBrittany.JohnPaulJones,thefounderoftheAmericanNavy,landedinKirkcudbrightbaywiththeintentionofkidnapping the Earl of Selkirk illustrating the positive and negative aspects to having such anaccessiblelandingpoint.Kirkcudbrightnowhasathrivingfishingharbour,constructedin1911,withboatstyinguprightinthecentreofthetown.It'saworkingharbour,withitsownfishpackingbusiness.Whenthefleetisin,theboatsmoortwodeepattheharbourquay,andthefishermendrinkattheSteamPacketHotel(www.ports.org.uk).ItisunderstoodtobeoneofthebusiestfishingportsforlandingsofkingandqueenscallopsintheUnitedKingdom,withthesecondhighestannualcatch,byvalue,inScotland.

WOODHALLLOCH|ViewSouthc.StuartLittlewood

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3.8.2.6 Religion,MythologyandFolklore

Rivershavealwaysbeensignificantformythologyandfolklore,consideredthemethodoftravelforspirits and to provide healing benefits in their own right. There are a number of local wells andsprings connected to the river, including theGreenWell of ScotlandnearCarsphairn,whichweresaid to possess healing and alchemyproperties. The river and the variation in habitats supportedand continues to support a wide range of plants and other ingredients for home remedies andapplications.RowanandAspen treesarestill found in thearea,although theyused tobemorecommon.Theyhaveanumberoffolkloreapplications.ItusedtobethoughtinGallowaythatwitcheswouldpreventcurdsfromsettingwhenmakingbutterandsobuttermakingimplementsweremadefromRowan–atreehatedbywitches.There are a number of Galloway Aspen clones, unique to the Galloway Glens area. Aspen wasunderstoodtohavesupernaturalpropertiesandprotectthewearer–itwasthereforeoftenusedtomakearmourand shields.Wood from theAspen tree is alsoexceptionallybuoyant and thereforehadanumberofriverrelateduses,includingmakingpaddlesandoars.

3.9 TheGallowayHydroScheme3.9.1 BackgroundIn the 20th century, one of the greatest landscape changes for the Galloway Glens was theharnessingofwater for theproductionofelectricity.At thebeginningof thecentury,electricity intheUnitedKingdomwasprovided througha seriesof small, regionalpower supplynetworks.Thecreation of the Central Electricity Board in 1926 aimed to improve the inefficient and ofteninconsistentsupplyofelectricity.Thisallowedforthefirsttimeengineerstoconsiderelectricityonanational scale andmakeuseof generatingopportunities, irrespectiveof their proximity toenergydemand.3.9.2 Whyhere?TheGallowayregion,withhighrainfall,glaciallycarvedsteepvalleys,areasofmarginalfarmlandandalowpopulationlentitselfwelltoHydroSchemedevelopment.TheGallowayHydroScheme,builtinthe1930s,soughttocapturetheenergyofthewaterdrawnfromtheRiverKen,RiverDeeandRiver

GALLOWAYHILLS|NearMeikleMillyeac.S.Littlewood

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Doon through reservoirs at Loch Doon, Kendoon, Carsfad, Clatteringshaws, and Tongland.Watercourses were dammed to create reservoirs, tunnels and penstocks were built to carry thewater to power stations located in several places down the valley. A network of electricitytransmissionlineswasintroducedtocarrythepoweraway.TheGallowayHydroSchemewasthefirst large-scale, integratedhydro-electriccomplextobebuiltinBritainforthepurposeofpublicenergysupply.Eachdropofwatercangenerateelectricityuptofivetimesasitflowsdownthevalley.3.9.3 Construction

The infrastructure includes dams, pipes and channels, and power stations that were built in themodernist architectural style, designed by Scottish civil engineer, Sir Alexander Gibb. At peak ofconstruction,1,500workerswereinvolvedintheScheme’sconstruction.Suchwasthenatureoftheeconomic depression at the time, people travelled from all over Scotland to work on the HydroScheme,workthatcostoveralltoday’sequivalentof£36mtoundertake.Severalmenlosttheirlivesduringconstruction,acknowledgedtodaywithamemorialplaquenearGlenleePowerStation.DuringWorldWar2 thepowerstations–normallypaintedcream–weredisguised incamouflagecoloursinasuccessfulbidtopreventthembeingspottedandbombedbyenemyaircraft.

HYDROSCHEMEDAMCONSTRUCTION|Photosfrom“theHydro-ElectricschemeoftheGallowayWaterPowerCompany”(‘engineering’journal,ref.G(621.3)f)1934,courtesyDumfries&GallowayCouncilArchives&Records

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AlthoughtodaytheyareanintegralpartoftheGallowaylandscape,andthepowerstationbuildingsarelargelyvaluedandindeedlisted,earlyreactionswerenotalwayspositive.LocalPoet,W.G.M.Dobiewroteatthetime:

“AraidercomestodaywhokillsThegloriesofourglensandhillsWithunheroicactsandbillsand"PrivateLegislation"TheCompanypromoterspenWilldamtheDeughanddamtheKenanddamtheDee-ohdamthemenWhoplansuchdesecration!”

TheGallowayHydroSchemewasground-breakinginmanyways.Anumberofotherschemeswereexploredatthetime,includingontheFleetandtheUrr,butneverbuilt.3.9.4 TheHydroSchemetodayThereservoirshavecreatedseveral largeorsmallwaterbodiesinthearea,whicharenowenjoyedfor theirscenicandrecreationalvalue, thepowerstationsanddamshavebecomehidden intreesand form less prominent buildings than they would have been, and the transmission lines havebecomepartofthefabricofthelandscape.Theoverallscheme,includingLochDoonandDrumjohnpower station in Ayrshire has a maximum capacity of 109 MW and is a significant nationalcontributorofclean,renewableenergy.Recent floodingeventshave causedmuch reviewof thehydro scheme,withanumberof reportsadvisingthattheimpactoffloodeventshasbeenmitigatedbythepresenceoftheGallowayHydroSchemewhichisabletoaccommodatelargeramountsofin-streamwater,releasingitoveralongerperiodand‘bluntingtheimpactofasharprainfallevent.TheHydroSchemetodayisoperatedbyScottishPower,amemberoftheGallowayGlensScheme’sPartnershipBoard.

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3.10 AccessinandaroundtheArea3.10.1 RoadsRoad routes are the main routes along which local people and visitors experience the GallowayGlens area. These routes follow thepasses throughhigher groundand formanetworkon readilyaccessibleterrain.Themainroutestendtobenorth-southfollowingthevalleysides,withgenerallysmallerroadsconnectingeast-west,exceptfortheA75trunkroadthatrunsacrossthesouthernpartofthearea.Historicalaccessroutesareoftenverysimilartomoderndayequivalents.Elements of the historic environment showhow,where andwhy people havemoved around thearea since earliest times - fromMesolithic routeways through the uplands and along valleys, toRomanandHanoverianmilitaryroadsbuilttocontroltheregion,toamedievalpilgrimagebringingthefaithfultoWhithornandpost-medievaldroveroadsthatbroughtcattlefromtheCarricktotheStewartry.Someof the roadshavebeenhighlightedasvisitor routes, suchas ‘theGallowayTouristRoute toAyr’whichrunsdowntheA713toCastleDouglasandtheA745beyondtoDalbeattie.TheBiosphererecently designated its third ‘Biosphere trail’ the Loch Ken & River Dee Trail, which runs fromThreave Castle through Glenlochar, Mossdale, New Galloway and back via the A713 to CastleDouglas.3.10.2 Trails

The National Cycle Route 7 runs through the south of theGallowayGlensarea,alonganoldmilitaryroadsouthoftheA75east of Castle Douglas, through Castle Douglas to Gelston andthenalongtheB727toKirkcudbrightbeforecontinuingwestfromKirkcudbrightBay.TheSouthernUplandWayisapopularlongdistancewalkingroutefromthewestcoastontheMullofGallowaytotheeastcoastatCockburnspathintheScottishBorders.TheSouthernUplandWaypasses through the Galloway Glens from Glen Trool toClatteringshaws Loch, on to New Galloway, St John’s Town ofDalryandnorthoverBenbracktowardsSanquhar.Water routes include rivers, streams and lochs following thetopography. These water routes form wildlife corridors throughthearea,butarenotusualroutesalongwhichpeoplenowtravel,

exceptforriversidepathsorrecreationalusersonthelochs.There are opportunities for recreation in the Galloway Glens area, including the Galloway ForestPark, which is accessible for walking, cycling and crossed by the Raiders Road forest drive. AnexampleofarecentandsuccessfulnewinitiativeistheRedKiteTrail,adrivingroutewithanumberofwaypointsaroundtheGallowayGlensarea.

POLMADDYWALKSIGN

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3.11 Howitlookstoday3.11.1 OnthesurfaceBoth thegeologyand thechemical compositionof thebedrocksandsuperficialdeposits influencethetypesofsoilsthatformedabovethem.Thin,lessfertile,acidicsoilshaveformedonhighigneousrocksthathavebeenscrapedbytheglaciers,andrichersoilsoccuronareasofdeepdepositsandsedimentaryrocks.Thetypesofsoilshaveinturninfluencedthevegetation,andthevarietyofhabitatsandagriculturalcapacity,whichinturninfluencedwhereearlypeoplewenttohuntortostartcultivatingcrops,andwhereopenmoorlandcontrastswithintensiveagriculturetoday.Open moorland dominates the high mountains on these thin soils, and commercial forests havebeenplantedonmanyofthehighslopesandloweruplands, interspersedwithwaterbodies,bothnatural andmanaged through the hydro scheme. As such, the Galloway Forests form one of themostextensiveareasofforestintheUK.3.11.2 AgricultureToday, the landscape of the Galloway Glens area is still dominated by agricultural practices, andthere is a strong presence of the hydro-electric scheme that runs through the area. Traditionalfarmingofsheepandhardycattleiscarriedoutonthehigheruplandareas,whilemuchofthelowerareasareimprovedpasturelandsoverthemorefertilesoilsonthedrumlins.Afewareasareunderarablefarmingorleypasture.Openmoorlanddominatesthehighermoorsandhills,withextensivecommercialforestsplantedontheslopes.Fieldsareboundedbywalls,oramixtureofwallsandhedges,withoccasionalmodernfencelines.Wallsaremadeupof local rocks In the south,wallsaregenerallybuiltof flat chunky rockswhichhavebeensplitintorelativelyregularshapeswhichmakesound,tidywalls.Furthernorth,wallsarebuilt ofmore irregular boulders. Boundaries show varied levels ofmaintenance,with fallenwallswithfencesusedasreplacements.Thearea’sagriculturalheritageandcontemporaryprocessescontinuetocontributesignificantlytothe sense of community. Factors such as the location ofmarkets dictate associated services and

support industries. CastleDouglas’ recent dominance ofthe local livestock marketcontinues to attract farmers inthe north of the area to theCastle Douglas Market today,providing one of the fewopportunities for uplandfarmers tomeet others, eitherfor business or socially. TheButcher’s home delivery vanused to operate a routewhich

CASTLEDOUGLASFROMTHEAIR|aplannedsettlement

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started inCastleDouglasanddidn’t reach someareasaroundCarsphairnuntil late in theevening(knownas‘TheMidnightButcher’srun’).Theseagricultural‘hubs’influencetherelationshipsmadeandthereforcontributetothesenseofcommunityand,inturn,howlandscapeisperceived.3.11.3 SettlementsSettlements have expanded from their historic cores, to include more recent suburban housingestateswhich often adopt cul-de-sac arrangements and ‘off the shelf’ housing designs. There arerelativelyfewindustrialareassuchasbusinessparksaroundsettlements,althoughsomeareashavehadanindustrialpast,forexamplearoundTongland.Manycountryestateswithdesigned landscapesaresituated in theGallowayGlensarea,givingan‘estate’charactertopartsofthelandscape,withpolicywoodlandsandshelterbelts.Twenty-nineoftheseareidentifiedasgardensanddesignedlandscapesbytheCouncil,althoughonlytwoarelistedontheHistoricEnvironmentScotlandinventory.3.11.4 SignificanceofthelocallandscapeChapter5‘StatementofSignificance’aimstodrawtogetherthesetangibleandintangiblelandscapefeatures into an overview of the defining characteristics of the local landscape in its broadestpossiblesense.

LOCHGRANNOCHc.PeterNorman