A new poll has revealed three in four people (75%) are in support of protecting Scotland's wild land from wind turbine developments.

The study, which was carried out by YouGov and released by the John Muir Trust, found significant support for the proposal that "the 20 per cent of Scotland's landscape identified as 'core wild land' – rugged, remote and free from modern visible human structures – should be given be special protection from inappropriate development including wind farms."

The survey, which was based on a five-point scale ranging from 'strongly support' to 'strongly oppose', 40% of respondents said they would 'strongly support' protection for Scotland's wild land, with a further 35% claiming they would 'tend to support' the proposal.

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Only 2% were 'strongly opposed' to the measures, with 4% choosing the 'tend to oppose' option.

14% would 'neither support nor oppose' the proposals, with 5% undecided on the issue.

The survey also discovered support for the land was evenly spread across the country's political parties and social classes, as well as across all age groups.

Stuart Brooks, Chief Executive of the John Muir Trust, said the recent poll provides the government with an "overwhelming mandate to introduce robust wild land protection."

He added: "With 75 per cent of Scots in favour of protecting wild land and only 6 per cent opposed, the government now has an overwhelming mandate to introduce robust wild land protection. We have argued all along that the Government's targets for reducing greenhouse gases can be achieved without sacrificing our unique wild landscapes.

"This poll sends a resounding message to the Scottish Government that the people of Scotland want them to stand firm and deliver their promise to safeguard our wild and rugged land from industrial-style development."

(JP/CD)