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WHAT IS THE PENTLAND HILLS REGIONAL PARK?

The enabling legislation for the creation and designation of Regional Parks is the Wildlife and Countryside (Scotland) Act 1981 and in it, Regional Parks are defined as:
large areas of countryside, parts of which are available for informal countryside recreation.

In a policy statement on the Regional Parks of Scotland by Scottish Natural Heritage it states that the aims of Regional Parks should:

"all refer to the wider wish to facilitate both the appropriate understandings and enjoyment of the countryside and the integration of this with the other uses of the area, such as farming, forestry and other development, with the context of maintaining and enhancing a quality natural heritage setting.
This type of approach is fully consistent with thinking about countryside management, as it has developed over the last 20 years. Regional Parks have indeed been to the fore in applying this more integrated approach in Scotland."

The Pentland Hills Regional Park was designated on 22 October 1984. Following a public inquiry, this designation was confirmed in September 1986.

Initially the Regional Park was operated by Lothian Regional Council who prepared a subject local plan to guide its management. Following local government re-organisation in Scotland in 1997, a partnership between The City of Edinburgh Council, Midlothian Council and West Lothian Council was formed. This Joint Committee with elected members from all three local authorities now has an overseeing management responsibility for the Regional Park, which is guided by a minute of agreement between the authorities.

Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Water as important park funding partners are non-voting members of the Joint Committee.

The aims of the Regional Park have stayed true to the original designation and are:

• To retain the essential character of the hills as a place for the peaceful enjoyment of the countryside
• Caring for the hills so that the landscape and the habitat is protected and enhanced
• Within this caring framework to encourage responsible public enjoyment of the hills
• Co-ordination of these aims so that they can co-exist with farming and other land uses within the park.

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Pentland Hills Regional Park, Boghall Farm, Edinburgh, EH10 7DX, UK
Telephone 0131 445 3383 | Fax 0131 445 3003 | Email pentlandhills@edinburgh.gov.uk

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