Summer 2012
breathing spaces newsletter of National Parks Wales Wales and the Well-being Factories The phrase “Well-being Factories” describes National Parks (and other protected areas, for instance, the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty). It takes a common industrial concept and a pplies it to a green and pleasant cause, the production of well-being from the raw materials found within Wales’ landscapes; the ecosystem services we depend upon.
green spaces, let alone the countryside or the deep rural parts of Wales. This work has been guided by the social inclusion strategies and action plans of the National Park Authorities. The latest version, the National Parks in Wales Social Inclusion and Child Poverty Strategy, was launched by the Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development, John Griffiths AM at the Royal Welsh Showground on the 23rd July.
Research has shown that access to green-space has a positive impact on well-being and that people with access to the natural outdoors - that they can easily use and feel comfortable in have higher levels of beneficial physical and mental activity.
The promotion of s ocial inclusion and the eradication of child poverty underpin the strategy. The social inclusion aspect was originally informed by the 2005 Social Inclusion Audit of the Three Welsh National Parks by Cardiff University. This piece of work provided an evidence base that informed subsequent The benefits of National Parks have been shared strategies and action plans. The second, more with individuals with little or no experience of recent, aspect which focuses upon child poverty
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derived from the duty on public authorities to produce a child poverty strategy contained within the 2010 Children and Families (Wales) Measure. The National Park Authorities agreed to work toward implementing two of the thirteen national aims: i. to ensure all children grow up in decent housing ii. to reduce inequalities in participation in cultural, sporting and leisure activities between children and between parents of children.
(Brecknock Womens’ Aid)
“Enjoyed. Gave me something to wake up for and look forward to." (Gwalia Housing)
A better understanding of child poverty eradication is mainstreamed within the work of National Park Authorities, while the National Parks themselves are put to use improving well-being and social inclusion. The well-being outcomes and associated actions were agreed in consultation with local community groups inside The well-being factory dividend is experienced and outside the National Parks. beyond the individuals and groups that the National Park Authorities are unable to deliver National Park Authorities engage with. Improved the strategy on their own and work in partnership well-being capital within National Parks with local authorities, government agencies and contributes to the well-being of the public at the third sector to tackle the access barriers large. people continue to face. Success can be measured by the feedback National Park The Social Inclusion and Child Poverty Strategy stresses that the National Parks exist for everyone Authorities have received: to experience, explore and enjoy. They remain "Geocaching was a great way for them to a unique resource for Wales, and are ideally forget their troubles and to build on their located to promote social inclusion. Their role as confidence. Just by finding a geocache well-being factories will develop, contributing to they experienced a great sense of triumph the improved social fabric of Wales as well as the and achievement and walking in the tackling the environmental and economic Beacons had a truly positive effect on their challenges we continue to face.
general mood and well-being"
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The Mosaic Project in Wales The Mosaic Project in Wales is part of the Campaign for National Parks (CNP). The project will run for three years from January 2012 and aims to build long term links between people from urban Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in Wales, and both the National Park authorities and rural communities within the parks. The project partners are the CNP, the three park authorities and the YHA. The project aim is to recruit Community Champions who are actively involved in their communities. They will then be able to promote National Parks, arrange visits and keep people informed. They'll also work with the Park authorities to make organisational changes that will make access easier for people from urban minority ethnic communities, very few of whom currently visit the Parks. Community Champions in Wales will be provided with training, park visits and personal support to enable them to work in whatever way makes most sense for them and their communities. They'll have plenty of opportunities to get to know each other and build networks that will sustain activity after the project comes to an end. They'll also be invited to join the National Network and meet up with the English Champions. During the three years of the project, it's hoped to recruit at least sixty active Champions across the three parks, and for them to have engaged more than one thousand three hundred people from Black and Minority Ethnic communities in getting to know more about the parks - what goes on and how to get there, as well as getting to know local people and developing a passion for the wonderful landscapes we are lucky to have in Wales. Sian Roberts, the project officer linking with Snowdonia National Park, will recruit from the ethnic minority communities in Bangor and Wrexham, and is attending a wide range of community events and meeting people from local organisations to identify potential champions. In South Wales Jasmin Chowdhury (Brecon Beacons) and Pat Gregory (Pembrokeshire Coast) are working with BME communities in Newport, Cardiff and Swansea. In May they organised an event in Cardiff. Park rangers from the two parks came to meet people and talk about their parks. Over forty people attended, and many of them decided to volunteer with the project. The first Group Leader visits, where potential champions will visit the parks to experience the types of activity available and meet with park and YHA staff, will take place in July. If you'd like to contact Mosaic project staff: Sian Roberts: sian@cnp.org.uk or tel: 07732 340728 Jasmin Chowdhury: jasmin@cnp.org.uk or tel: 07792 380931 Pat Gregory: pat@cnp.org.uk or tel: 07816 498108
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Brecon Beacons National Park Authority which we hope will breathe new life into rural and partners launch project benefiting rural communities not just here in Wales, but across Europe also.” communities across Europe An exciting new €10million initiative aimed at driving forward enterprising opportunities and regenerating rural communities across Europe was recently launched in Cardiff. Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and its eleven partners spread across Europe launched the three-year collaborative Rural Alliances project at the Millennium Centre, Cardiff. The new scheme will support rural enterprises and communities, inspiring them to work together in new alliances to generate new business opportunities, safeguard rural services and make their local areas special places for people to visit, live and raise their families. The Brecon Beacons will benefit from €0.5million (£400,000) allocated to Wales through the project under the EU’s Interreg IVB North West Europe programme. On top of this, the Welsh Government will invest over €400,000 (£320,000) through its Targeted Match Fund. As leaders of the Rural Alliances project, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority will focus its efforts on enabling tourism clusters to make links with their local communities in order to better manage and develop opportunities, including green tourism and the impact of demographic change in their communities.
Mrs Julie James, Chairman of Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, said: “Brecon Beacons National Park Authority is excited and proud to take the lead with this forward-thinking new scheme,
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Walkability puts best foot forward A simple walk, especially through beautiful scenery, can be an uplifiting experience, but for many it can be difficult to take the first steps onto a walking path on their own or to join a walking group. The Walkability Project established last year by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Sport Wales helps people to take these first steps and make the most of the walking opportunities on offer to them. This highly successful project has gone from strength to strength with 141 sessions held and meeting over 1,800 people between August 2011 and June 2012.
The Project Co-ordinator, Paul Casson said: “The Walkability project helps people to get out and use the Park to recover from an illness or just to improve their fitness, no matter what level they are starting from.” “We’ve had a very promising start to the programme, initially working with public health bodies, National Park Authority staff and Steps2Health volunteers. We now have established regular groups, including Bro Cerwyn day care and ex patients, Shalom House palliative care group, open sessions to include patients signposted by St Davids and Solva surgeries which anyone can attend, and liaising with the Army Family Welfare Team for parents and children of army postings.” Paul also supports a Bikemobility group, where those with special needs use adapted bikes to take part in a bike activity. He has recently started working with local hospital staff to support weekly lunch time health walks and is developing more formal sessions with exercise referral patients on a fortnightly basis. For more information contact Paul Casson: paulc@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk or call 07866 771107.
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Walks start from the Society for the Blind’s office in Bangor, on the third Wednesday of each month, and over the next few months walks will be held in A Tour with a Difference to Cwm Cynfal the areas of Trawsfynydd, Dinorwig and Nant Peris. A group of visually impaired people and a group of For more information contact Carys Dafydd, Snowvolunteers were recently offered the chance to visit donia National Park Authority's Community Officer the ravine at Cwm Cynfal. Walking tours for visually on 01766 772269 or Carys.Dafydd@eryri-npa.gov.uk. impaired people are now held every month. However, this was the first trip to Cwm Cynfal ravine. Twm Elias, lecturer at Plas Tan y Bwlch, was the tour guide and he narrated lively stories about the exploits of wizard and poet Huw Llwyd, together with stories about Blodeuwe dd and Lleu from the Mabinogi. The journey culminated with coffee and cake at the community pub, Pengwern in Llan Ffestiniog.
Your Park starts to knock down the barriers The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s latest BIG Lottery funded project, Your Park, Your Project Future has recently appointed its Coordinator. Over the next three years, Discovery Ranger Tom Moses will set up a programme of sustainable activities to develop the use of the National Park by other organisations, supporting people who face barriers to accessing the natural outdoors. Last December, the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) People and Places programme awarded the Authority just under £250,000 to set up the project which builds
On behalf of the group of walkers, Buddug Jones said, "Coming on these walks with Snowdonia National Park Authority means that we get to visit places that would otherwise be impossible, and having someone like Twm Elias as a guide, enhances the journey. We are grateful to the staff of the Authority and the Sports Council for Wales for enabling us to gain better access and understanding of the countryside in Snowdonia."
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upon learning gained through the Authority's Go4It! project, also funded by Big Lottery Fund, which ran from 2006-2011 and sought to engage young people from Pembroke Dock in regular physical Do you want to be a friend of Yr Ysgwrn? activity outdoors. An evening to establish the Friends of Yr Ysgwrn was held in Trawsfynydd on the 2nd July. The aim of the Tom said: “The Your Park programme will evening was to set up a support group which will complement our mainstream education and contribute to the development of the site and its activity and events programmes, and involve interpretation. Once established, it’s hoped the working with a wide range of organisations to group will develop activity programmes and work ensure that people of all ages and from all alongside the Snowdonia National Park Authority to backgrounds right across Pembrokeshire will be raise the profile of Yr Ysgwrn as a record of able to access and benefit from the special agricultural life and Welsh culture at the turn of the qualities of the National Park. 20th century and commemorate the life and literary contribution of the poet Hedd Wyn. In particular we are looking to make it easier for organisations working with traditionally underrepresented groups including those with physical or learning disabilities, older people, disengaged young people, disadvantaged communities or those being supported through rehabilitation programmes.” “Participants will be able to choose from a range of exciting activities as a reward for undertaking an environmental project challenge, and gain a John Muir Award which gives recognition to their effort, and enthusiasm for wild places like the National Park.”
On 1st March 2012 Snowdonia National Park Authority announced that Yr Ysgwrn the family farm of the famous poet and First World War soldier, Hedd Wyn had been secured for the nation, thanks to funding from the Welsh Government and the National Heritage Memorial Fund. As a result of the purchase, the National Park Authority will be able to protect and provide access and raise awareness of historical, literary, and local heritage. In doing so, it will educate and raise public awareness of the importance of heritage and land management.
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Astonishing time-lapse film reveals National Park skies as you’ve never seen them before Brecon Beacons Park Society and Brecon Beacons National Park Authority are hoping a new short film showcasing the Park after dark will make viewers starry-eyed and help the area win accreditation as Wales’ FIRST International Dark Skies Reserve. The short film was created by photographer Michael Sinclair who, over the course of several months, painstakingly captured countless hours of time-lapse footage of the dark skies above the Brecon Beacons National Park. Commissioned by Brecon Beacons Park Society and Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, the film underlines how dark the night sky is above the National Park. Introduced with the rich tones of Brecon Male Choir bass baritone Edwin Roderick, the two minute short film features iconic scenes from around the National Park transitioning from familiar sunshine into darkness, when the skies burst into life. Charles Henderson, Vice Chairman of the Brecon Beacons Park Society, said: “We’ve now completed our lighting surveys and so far the support we’ve had from communities in the National Park has been excellent. We’re extremely grateful for their co-operation and we’re hoping that this new video will encourage more people to enjoy our deep dark nights.
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Ruth Coulthard, Funding Development Manager for Brecon Beacons National Park Authority said: “There are so many benefits to us gaining accreditation, which is the reason we are actively pursuing this designation with the Park Society. Not only will it give deserved recognition to one of our most special features, it will help reduce light pollution in the future, reduce C02 emissions, have many benefits to wildlife and give a real boost to our tourism economy. In addition, with the education and community events programme we hope to develop, we will be able to increase understanding and enjoyment of our wonderful dark skies to residents and visitors – now and in the future”.
Working with Members and staff of Pembrokeshire Coast and other National Park Authorities, Welsh Government, Health Trusts, Local Health Boards, Pembrokeshire County Council, local tourism associations, Pembrokeshire Greenways, Pembrokeshire Local Access Forum and other organisations working in relevant areas as well as local communities, community groups and councils in the Park. Hannah will take up her position in September, and said: “It’s a very interesting and diverse role, fusing healthy environments with healthy communities. The initiative is an opportunity to open the Park’s aims to diverse groups.”
Residents living within the Brecon Beacons National Park are being encouraged to get involved in the initiative and see how reducing their light pollution could save them money on their energy bills, enhance their own views of the night sky and help support the drive to become Wales’ first International Dark Sky Reserve.
Health meets tourism in new role Hannah Buck has recently been appointed to the newly developed role of Health and Tourism Policy Officer by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. Hannah will take responsibility for policy development for health and well-being, recreation and tourism in the National Park and for increasing the profile and role of the Park in addressing relevant issues by helping to develop projects and programmes.
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Walkers Praise Safety Initiative
A new safety initiative developed by the Mountainsafe Partnership and implemented by the Snowdonia National Park Authority has received widespread praise from mountain users on the social networking site Twitter.
idea for placing grid references on footpath furniture originally came from local mountain rescue teams. By working closely with recreation groups through the Mountainsafe partnership we’ve developed the idea so that it’s as unobtrusive as possible. The markers are being placed on pre-existing stiles and gates so that temporarily disoriented walkers who’ve brought a map and remember their geography lessons, will easily be able to pinpoint their position. I hope the markers will also serve as a reminder for some to polish up on their map and compass skills.” This is the latest in a package of measures developed to promote mountain safety in Snowdonia. Earlier in the year the Mountain Info Services Project was launched at the National Park Warden Centre at Pen-y-Pass, aimed at giving mountaineers and hill-walkers access to state-of-the-art information, as well as traditional safety advice. The National Park Warden Service also plays an active role in promoting mountain safety. Along with a visible presence on the mountain, a twitter service was launched which updates users on potential risks and links directly to the Met Office’s weather forecast for Snowdonia. A set of commissioned designs by illustrator Jac Jones have also been distributed amongst businesses in the National Park to reinforce the safety message.
A series of grid-reference points are being trialled on Snowdon as part of a wider campaign to promote mountain safety. Small grid-reference discs are already in place on many of the stiles and gates on Snowdon. Snowdonia National Park Warden, Gruff Owen, explains the principles behind the measure, “The
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First National Park Authority meeting broadcast live on the Internet. Brecon Beacons National Park Authority is leading the way among UK National Parks by becoming the first to stream its committee meetings live online. Users will now be able to watch the Authority’s meetings which include Audit and Scrutiny and Planning and Rights of Way live over the internet, while a recording of proceedings will be made available on the Authority’s new webcasting micro site 48 hours after the meeting has finished, which will be archived for a six month period. Members unanimously voted to give the 18 month pilot webcast the green light at the Authority’s AGM held on Friday, June 15. The webcasting pilot was made possible with financial support from the Welsh Government’s Office of the Chief Information Officer. Chairman of Brecon Beacons National Park Authority Mrs Julie James said: “The National Park Authority’s decision to webcast its meetings live online is a real step forward in our ongoing bid to improve accessibility and transparency of our decision making and overall governance. “We hope this innovative approach and live access to decision making gives internet users across the UK, local people and communities real confidence in our services, as well as making our meetings more accessible.” Brecon Beacons National Park Authority’s live webcasts and archive are available at http://www.breconbeacons.public-i.tv/core/
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