Winter 2011/2012
breathing spaces newsletter of National Parks Wales One Body to Sustain a Living Wales The management of the natural environment and natural resources in Wales faces radical change over the next 24 months following the recent publication of the Welsh Government green paper, Sustaining a Living Wales. The consultation, launched on the 30th January proposes that environmental resource and management across Wales adopts an ecosystem approach, an approach that manages and regulates the environment and its health as a whole, not by addressing individual issues separately.
Offer greater certainty for decision makers.
The green paper contains a larger number of proposals. Some proposals, such as the intention to rationalise and integrate individual policy areas will influence the development of national parks policy in the immediate future. Other proposals will occupy a longer timeframe and contribute to Welsh legislation, such as an Environment Bill and Planning Bill that is due to be considered by the National Assembly in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
The Government expects the approach to: Improve the resilience and diversity of our environment and its supporting biodiversity; Provide simpler and more cost-effective regulation; National Parks Wales at the National Assembly Aneurin Phillips and Emyr Williams of Snowdonia National Park Authority represented National Parks Wales at the National Assembly’s Environment and Sustainability Committee on the 26th January where they gave evidence on the business case for the Single Environment Body. The NPW written response can be accessed via this link: http://goo.gl/4ahL2 1
The week following the launch of the green paper the Welsh Government published its proposals for Wales’ Single Environment Body. Natural Resources Wales sets out the proposed arrangements for establishing and governing the new body with the task of managing and regulating Wales’ natural resources sustainably for this - and future - generations. The challenges faced by the new body are described as “major”. For example, it is expected to improve and simplify the system of environmental regulation in Wales while developing and implementing the ecosystem approach to environmental management.
“We
are keepers of a fragment of neareternity, and a very gentle fragment, not young and ferocious like the Andes, or towering and edged like the Alps and the Atlas, but rounded, swirled, as kind and smiling as wild mountains can be.” Welsh author and journalist, Horatio Clare knows all about the power of the written word but it was his inspiring speech about his love for the Brecon Beacons National Park that won the hearts at an annual conference of Brecon Beacons Park Ambassadors held at Buckland Hall last week.
Speaking at the annual Brecon Beacons Park Ambassadors conference, the bestselling author of ‘Running for the Hills’, ‘A Single Swallow’ and the highly acclaimed ‘The Princes’ Pen’, Horatio Clare kept the audience in his rapt attention with his quick-paced presentation on eavesdropping in Iocal pubs, the wise musings of poets and his aunt, and more importantly how lucky we are to call the National Parks Wales will engage with the two Brecon Beacons home. He ended by paying ongoing consultations which end in May 2012. tribute to the great work of the Park Ambassadors Sustaining a Living Wales, which closes on the 31st for “…bringing anyone here, in giving anyone May can be reached via this link: another reason to return, in enhancing anyone’s http://goo.gl/ub58M experience in any big or small way…”
The consultation paper also includes proposals that touch upon the aim and objectives of the new organisations as well as its governance and stakeholder engagement.
Natural Resources Wales: Proposed arrangements for Establishing and Directing a new Body for the management of Wales’ Natural Resources which closes on the 2nd May can be reached via this link: http://goo.gl/oLqiw
Funded by the EU Interreg IVB project as part of Collabor8, the Park Ambassadors – who represent more than 50 diverse tourism businesses throughout the Park - were given an opportunity to network and set the tone for future Park Ambassador events and the collaboration between the National Park Authority and its tourism businesses.
Brecon Conservation Area consultation – all views welcome The consultation period for the Brecon Conservation Area Appraisal and Boundary Map runs from the 7th February to 27th March 2012. The draft appraisal and map can be accessed via this link: http://goo.gl/cDs2m 2
Using new technology to reduce accidents on Snowdonia’s Mountains
The number of calls for assistance to Mountain Rescue Teams in Snowdonia has significantly increased. During 2011, 411 calls for assistance to Mountain Rescue Teams were made as people ventured to North Wales to enjoy the beauty and special qualities of the area. These calls led to 291 Mountain Rescue team deployments. Recent research shows that a significant number of avoidable calls were made by young male adults who were not adequately prepared or did not have the required skills or equipment for their activity. The “Reducing Mountain Accidents in Snowdonia” survey concluded that young male adults from urban areas were mainly responsible for these avoidable calls. The Mountain Info Service Project was formally launched by Hywel Williams MP at the Warden Centre in Pen y Pass and it aims to target this particular audience by using modern mobile technology and an initiative to raise awareness.
In addition to the development of the new Mountain Info app which is available at the App Store (and was rated as the best available app for mountain safety planning by novices by Trail magazine in autumn 2011), three additional tools have been developed as a result of the Mountain Information Services project, which include: A daily report by Snowdonia National Park Wardens on ground conditions and snow levels on the mountains during the winter months. These are provided for the Met Office’s Mountain area forecasts page and on Twitter by following @safesnowdonia or @eryridiogel. A series of five short video clips narrated by Sian Lloyd, demonstrating the way to prepare for a journey in the mountains including hazard avoidance and what to do in an emergency. These are available on the Met Office and YouTube websites. A publicity and marketing campaign to publicise the project, made up of posters, banners, leaflets and commissioning articles in relevant magazines and periodicals. 3
National Park celebrates funding for Project which is backed with £8.5m from the European Regional Development Fund. prehistoric Pembrokeshire A project to guide visitors around prehistoric Pembrokeshire has been given the go-ahead thanks to a £171,000 funding boost. Origins will be run by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and aims to improve the experience for visitors wanting to discover more about Pembrokeshire’s past.
Phil Bennett, Culture and Heritage Manager for the National Park Authority, said: “I’m absolutely delighted. We’re looking forward to the project immensely and to working in partnership with Dyfed Archaeological Trust, PLANED and the National Trust to enable visitors to explore Pembrokeshire’s rich heritage.”
Gifts for the Adventurous!
Adventurous
and
less
New SNPA merchandise was sold at Snowdonia National Park Information Centres over the Christmas holidays. The DVD, Flight Over Snowdon features the flight of Gwydion, the Peregrine Falcon, over villages, mountains and lakes taking in scenes from some of Snowdonia’s remote places. The DVD, with a choice of Welsh or English commentary was originally prepared to be shown in the Theatre at the Stables The project will involve the creation of trails, Information Centre in Betws y Coed. But due to a guides and mobile phone apps which will high demand from customers, more copies had enable visitors to enjoy the prehistoric culture of to be produced. the National Park. It will also see the development of an interpretation centre at New also for Christmas was a set of leaflets, “6 Castell Henllys Iron Age Fort, which is owned and Snowdon Footpaths – The Complete Collection” managed by the National Park Authority. which includes the latest information of the Rhyd The funding was announced by the Welsh Government’s Housing, Regeneration and Heritage Minister Huw Lewis. Origins is one of nine projects across Wales to benefit from a £2.4 million pot from Cadw’s £19m Heritage Tourism
Ddu, Snowdon Ranger, Llanberis, PYG, Miners’ and Watkin Paths. They include detailed information on how to enjoy the mountains safely, details on what you are likely to see on the paths together with puzzles, activities for children and the Countryside Code. These leaflets replace the old
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Snowdon footpaths leaflets published at the end The canal winds its way 35 miles from Brecon south to Cwmbran, passing through both the of the 1990s. Brecon Beacons National Park and a World The DVD is priced £4.99 and the pack of Snow- Heritage Site that recognises the area’s don Paths leaflets are priced £3.00 or 75p each. important industrial past. The canal is a 200-yearUsing a credit card, and for a charge of £1 to old feat of engineering, originally built as a include postage, it’s possible to buy them over corridor for coal and iron; now it supports a the phone through Betws y Coed Information thriving leisure industry and is much-loved haven for people and nature. Centre, (01690 710426). Through a series of activities and events, Peal of Church bells recreates Canal’s 200th organisations, local groups and national bodies Anniversary celebrations! will be celebrating the canal’s history, enjoying its beauty and looking forward to its To mark the 200th Anniversary of the development beyond 2012 as a cherished asset Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal more than 30 to the communities through which it passes and churches across Brecon Beacons National Park connects. For more information and South Wales took part in the ‘ringing of the www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/monandbrec200 bells’ at 12 noon on Friday 10th February, recreating the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal opening ceremony held exactly 200 years ago. Church bells are a traditional way of calling people’s attention to important events taking place and what better way to grab the attention of the Brecon Beacons National Park and South Wales than to offer a peal of church bells stretching from Pontymoile Basin to Brecon to Newport to Hay on Wye!
Natural Environment is Wales’ Top Tourism Asset – Fact! The 2011 Visitor Satisfaction Survey for Visit Wales recently confirmed what we all knew, that Wales’ high quality natural environment is a significant tourist attraction in its own right. In the first survey to measure satisfaction with the quality of the natural environment it attracted the highest scores across two of the three surveys (it was rated second in the third survey). More here: http://goo.gl/iQB5Q 5
National Park gallops away with award for horse riding access
who enabled us to open up these tracks in the National Park.”
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority has been given a national award by The British Horse Society for its work in opening up horse riding routes. Each year The British Horse Society (BHS) holds an awards ceremony to recognise organisations and individuals which have done the most for the equestrian world. The Authority scooped the award as ‘The National Park most active in opening up equestrian routes’.
“By opening up these routes we are realising the Park’s potential for enabling horse riders – along with walkers and cyclists – to enjoy parts of the National Park where previously there was limited equestrian access.”
The Pantmaenog project was funded partly by a grant from the Welsh Government under the Rights of Way Improvement Plan funding programme, and the routes were opened as a Earlier in the year, the National Park Authority result of an agreement with the landowners, Mr opened up eight miles of sign-posted off-road and Mrs Holding. tracks for horse riders, walkers and cyclists in Pantmaenog Forest, in North Pembrokeshire. The Twittering Safety Park Authority built a new car park at the forestry entrance with dedicated horse box spaces, and Together with carefully planning your route beforehand, remembering to use appropriate it will manage the routes throughout the year. equipment such as an ice axe and crampons, wearing sturdy footwear and warm clothes to keep you dry, it is also important to check the weather forecast. This year, for the first time, a new bilingual service is available for walkers which will provide the latest information on ground conditions on Snowdonia’s mountains.
One of the Authority’s Directors Jane Gibson, receiving the award said: “We are thrilled to receive this award and we owe it in part to the landowners – Mr and Mrs Holding and the MoD –
Warden Gruff Owen and his colleagues already supply information the Met Office’s website, www.metoffice.gov.uk/loutdoor/mountainsafet y/snowdonia/snowdonia_latest_pressure. Now, Gruff is also responsible for the new bilingual Twitter service @eryridiogel in Welsh and @safesnowdonia in English. When ground conditions change due to the weather, @eryridiogel and @safesnowodnia will now
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tweet this. However, not only will the tweets include weather information, it will also tweet general advice on walking in the mountains and will also highlight good examples of mountaineering. Welsh language tweets of @eryridiogel will be re-tweeted by @croesoeryri, Snowdonia National Park’s Welsh language twitter account and will also appear on the Park’s Facebook page. The English language tweets of @safesnowdonia will be re-tweeted by @visitsnowdonia, Snowdonia National Park’s English language twitter account and its Facebook page, Snowdonia National Park-Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri
Over three years, the project will set up a programme of activities to promote the use of the National Park, particularly to people who face barriers to accessing the natural outdoors. National Park Authority Head of Discovery Phil Roach is delighted at the news. He said: “The National Park Authority has always run an outreach programme to encourage people to make the most of the fantastic natural playground and classroom that is the National Park. “In recent years we have extended the programme to enable people who traditionally haven’t had easy access to the natural environment to enjoy the world class opportunities on offer here. Barriers such as disability, poor health, financial hardship or even just being a young person can prevent people from getting out there, and we have worked with a wide range of organisations supporting local people to improve their lives.
“This funding will allow us to further tailor our work to ensure that people of all ages and from all backgrounds right across Pembrokeshire will be Quarter of a million to help people enjoy able to access and benefit from the special qualities of the National Park.”
National Park
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority is celebrating after being awarded one quarter of a million pounds in Big Lottery funding. The Authority’s project, Your Park, Your Future, will receive £249,864 in the latest round of the Big Lottery Fund’s (BIG) People and Places programme.
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