Setting the foundations with improving awareness and understanding of the Park

Developing Awareness and Understanding of the National Park is a key priority in the developing National Park Plan for the Cairngorms and with the launch of the consultation on the Draft Plan, now is the opportunity for everyone to make their viewpoint known.

As a new National Park, it is particularly important to raise awareness of the Park and its special qualities to people across Scotland and beyond.

Murray Ferguson, the Cairngorms National Park Authority’s (CNPA) Head of Visitor Services and Recreation explained: “Although lots of people know the area really well, the concept of looking after it as a National Park is still very new.  It is very important that we all come to understand just what a special place the Cairngorms is.  These mountains and straths are a national assest and they have shaped both the people and the wildlife that live in the area.

“Increasingly we need to look at the Park as one whole, interconnected unit.  One of the things we want to achieve is a very strong sense of place.  This is important to the vitality of the communities in the Park as they often have similar needs but it is also important for attracting visitors and ensuring they come back.”

The Draft National Park Plan sets out the long term vision – 25 years – for the Park as a whole as well as the key priorities for the first five years of the Plan, from 2007 to 2012.

Some of the key aims proposed for the first five years with regards to the priority Developing Awareness and Understanding of the Park are:

• Ensuring people from all backgrounds have good opportunities to experience and enjoy the Park.
• Raising awareness of the Park as a national asset.
• Developing our understanding of the special qualities of the Park and their management needs.
• Making information about the Park widely available to help managers, businesses, communities and visitors.

The consultation period for the National Park Plan is from April to the end of June 2006.  Following the consultation, a report summarising the responses will be prepared and the final Park Plan will be developed, with partners for submission, to Ministers at the end of 2006.  This is the first National Park Plan for the Cairngorms and although the Plan looks ahead to 2030, a new series of priorities will be published every five years.

More information on the Draft National Park Plan can be found on the National Park Plan homepage.

To get involved in the National Park Plan consultation please contact the CNPA at: National Park Plan Consultation, 14 The Square, Grantown-on-Spey, Moray, PH26 3HG. Tel: 01479 873535  fax: 01479 873527 email: [email protected]