1
Spring 2010
breathing spaces newsletter of the Welsh National Parks As I write this (in May, mind you) the sky is bright, the sun is out, but the chill in the air reminds me of the long, lingering winter we have all experienced, especially within the National Parks. An eternal optimist, I am looking forward to a warmer, sunnier summer!
With less than twelve months remaining until the 2011 Welsh Assembly election, work will shift to raising the profile of the environment and of National Parks, making them relevant to political parties as they write their devolved manifestos. The special qualities of National Parks have are worthy of protection and are made accessible, this This year, the general election dominated has led to expertise that we are keen to the news, but it is with some regret to report share within, and beyond, the lines on the that environmental issues and potential maps. policies did not receive the same scrutiny or attention that they had receied in 2009. Failure at Copenhagen in December to secure a meaningful global deal on climate change has taken the wind out of the political sails, the election did not lead to a higher profile for environmental problems, but the same could be said for most policy.
Dates for the Diary
Hopefully the profile of the environment and other issues that are closely aligned to the National Park principles receive the attention they deserve post-election. The UK Government will have to acclimatise itself to the sort of coalition-building, consensual government that we have experienced in Wales for most of the Assembly’s existence between 1999 and the present day.
19 –23 July: Royal Welsh Show 26 July–1 August: National Parks Week, theme: Cultural Heritage 31 July – 7 August: The National Eisteddfod, Ebbw Vale 20 – 23 September: The ANPA Conference, Loch Lomond National Park
2
Brecon Beacons taxi drivers get top offering visitors a helpful ride to their destination, with information on local marks for National Park Knowledge
activities and attractions, festivals and In February, Brecon Beacons National Park events, the main walking routes, guides to Authority successfully delivered its first pilot the National Park and advice on which car training scheme for local taxi drivers parks are regularly used by walkers. designed to boost the local transport industry and give visitors more than just a Designed specifically for taxi drivers, the idea behind the pilot scheme was created some ride to their destination. months ago after Brecon Beacons National In what is believed to be the first of its kind for Park Authority approached local taxi drivers UK National Parks, more than a dozen local with the view to devise some free training taxi drivers attended the pilot scheme sessions especially for them. The training appropriately named ‘National Park course was then tailored to offer taxi drivers the chance to find out more about the area Knowledge’. they work in, the kind of information visitors With funding provided by Brecon Beacons need and also how to help increase business National Park Authority’s Sustainable in the local transport industry. Development Fund (SDF) and a partnership of Local Authorities, the course focused on
Park Authority names new man to take the helm Tegryn Jones, former Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy, has joined the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority as Chief Executive. Mr Jones, 41, joined Keep Wales Tidy in 2004, having moved from a senior policy post at the General Teaching Council for Wales. A fluent Welsh speaker, he was formerly Deputy Director and Education Officer of an educational activity centre run by the Urdd Gobaith Cymru movement in the Snowdonia National Park. Richard Howells, Chairman of the Authority, said that that Tegryn’s excellent track record and experience within the conservation sector, and his vision, qualities and leadership skills would guide the Authority into the future with enthusiasm and commitment.
3
re-developing the catering side and providing an interesting and diverse menu The benefits of the development of Hafod with the possibility of evening opening as a Eryri are becoming clearer as information restaurant. Improved Accessibility to the Miner’s Track comes in from counters and surveys.
The Hafod Eryri Effect
Visit Wales has found that it was an initial destination of 16% of the visitors surveyed in North Wales last year outstripping all other attractions. Visitor numbers to the mountain were 27% up on previous counts and the railway ran at near full capacity after the opening.
All the work on Hafod Eryri and Pen y Pass can tend to overshadow the continuing developments in access to the mountain. Using capital funding the Authority is developing the first mile of the Miner’s Track to greatly improve access for the disabled and young families. Resurfacing the track from Pen y Pass to Llyn Teyrn will allow smooth access into the lower slopes of Snowdon and open up views not easily seen before.
The knock on benefit to the local tourist trade was considerable and the coming season looks promising with the Mountain Railway Company appointing a Centre Manager to oversee all aspects of the The Authority has also purchased a powerful operation. tramper buggy to help transport disabled people up into the mountains. Pen y Pass Refurbishment The old café at Pen y Pass, Snowdonia National Park has come in for a lot of criticism over recent years and has been in desperate need of a re-vamp. The appointment of new tenants for the coming season has given the Authority the opportunity to re-furbish the café, provide new lighting and furniture and greatly improve the interior. The new tenants will be
4
Brecon Beacons launches first UK Park Ambassador scheme for businesses Last month, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority delivered the first of series of day courses to formally launch the UKs’ first National Park Ambassador Scheme aimed at helping tourism businesses offer Oriel y Parc scoops top UK planning outstanding service to visitors.
prize The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority clinched the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) 2009 UK Award for ‘Rural Areas and the Natural Environment’ at a ceremony at the London Hilton in February. Located on the outskirts of St Davids, Oriel y Parc was opened just over a year ago and marked the culmination of the Authority’s long standing plans for developing this gateway site providing a gallery, visitors’ car park and a bus service hub. The building has a BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) rating of ‘Excellent’ for its sustainable design and management and raises awareness through its interactive displays and programme of family-friendly activities.
Visit www.orielyparc.co.uk for more details.
Funded by the EU Interreg IVB project as part of Collabor8, the new Park Ambassador Scheme is a series of free on-day training workshops designed to offer local tourism businesses the information they need to engage and inspire visitors to explore the Brecon Beacons National Park.
5
Snowdonia Buzz In partnership with WBKA (Welsh Bee Keepers Association) and CALU Bangor University (Centre For Alternative Land Use), the Snowdonia National Park is offering a unique opportunity for those living within the Park to keep bees! Anybody can attend a training course through WBKA, gaining a qualification which will enable them to keep bees and this will also allow the participant to apply for a grant through the Park in order purchase a traditional beehive.
Competition winners are buzzing
Pembrokeshire’s bumblebees beat off all contenders to win a £25,000 prize for a bumblebee habitat conservation project. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park This is an exciting way of learning new skills as Authority and the Countryside Council for well as a means of promoting local produce Wales joined forces with the Bumblebee and contributing towards biodiversity within Conservation Trust to enter a competition the Snowdonia National Park. run by EOG Association for Conservation and ‘Live for the Outdoors’ website. Rhys Owen, Head of Agriculture and Conservation for Snowdonia National Park, The project will be based at Castlemartin said : Range and includes planting native “through this partnership between the Park, CALU and WBKA, we are offering a fantastic opportunity for our local people to learn traditional and exciting new skills. By encouraging more people to keep bees, we are also strengthening the biodiversity within the Park and educating people about the importance of preserving our wildlife.”
wildflowers, linking related habitats and working directly to conserve a UK Biodiversity Action Plan species, alongside the MOD’s proposed creation of a new trail for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Pippa Rayner, the Conservation Officer for the Trust, will be working alongside Lynne Houlston, Castlemartin Ranger to ensure rare species like the shrill carder bee continue to thrive in essential wildflower grasslands.
6
National Park’s online reporting online reporting system to provide details of system leads to successful prosecution any incidents that occur – the results of which we are finally starting to see. If offof off-roaders. Brecon Beacons National Park Authority’s new online reporting system has led to its first successful prosecution of illegal off-roaders using a restricted byway in the National Park. Last month at the Brecon Magistrate Court, three off-roaders from South-West England pleaded guilty to driving on the restricted byway at Sarn Helen, after being caught red-handed by Police and National Park Wardens in October last year. The offroaders were caught after a concerned member of the public submitted a report using the National Park’s online reporting system which then led to immediate action undertaken by Dyfed Powys Police to apprehend the offenders. Jon Pimm, Western Area Warden for Brecon Beacons National Park Authority who assisted Police Officers at Sarn Helen last year said: “Illegal off-roading has a huge impact on the countryside and our protected landscape and it was only last year, after liaising closely with Dyfed Powys Police and local communities in the worst affected areas, that we set up the online reporting system. It’s good news that our residents and visitors feel confident using the
roaders are looking for safe and legal places to drive they are welcome to contact our Local Rights of Way Officer for information or they could join one of the organisations we work closely with who represent riders such as Treadlightly, LARA, TRF, GLASS or CRAG who will also help them.”
7
Making the cyberspace connections Two, relatively new, internet buzzwords. If you have not experienced ‘Facebook’ (www.facebook.co.uk) or ‘twitter’ (www.twitter.com), you may well do so in the future, since this is once growing aspect of the Internet, taking on and sometimes replacing, more traditional forms of computing such as websites and email. In academic circles, social networking considered to have greater potential than acting as a tool for communication. It could offer a new approach to addressing environmental problems since it is less hierarchical than traditional organisations, and thereby better able to reflect opinion and identify solutions and innovation. Some National Park Authorities, including all three Welsh NPAs have begun to engage with social networking and are raising the online presence of National Parks. If you want to check out the new profiles, pages, tweets and channels. The National Parks Portal has a page that contains most, if not all of the appropriate links. That page is here: http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/aboutus/ourwebsites.htm
You can learn about WANPA at www.nationalparkswales.gov.uk. Most of our work, including seminar materials, consultation responses and position statements are constantly being made available on the site and comments are always welcome wanpa@anpa.gov.uk.