Breathing Spaces: Winter 2009/10

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Winter 2009/10

breathing spaces newsletter of the Welsh National Parks “Think Deeper” - Are Wales’ played and is due to play creating a protected landscapes able to deliver sustainable "Green Future" for Wales. On behalf of CCW, Roger Thomas launched the a “Green Future”?

Institute for Welsh Affairs report, "Living with Our Landscape". The piece of work, During the 4th and 5th of November two commissioned by CCW, led the IWA to call WANPA-supported events were held in for the National Parks to be given a socioCardiff Bay, they were linked, focusing upon economic "mission". Wales, its landscape and the transition towards a greener future. The CCW Conference was entitled “Green Futures” and took place on the 4th while the WANPA Members Seminar, a regular fixture in the NPA Member development calendar, took place during the 5th. The CCW Conference listened to Prof. Ian Mercer reflecting on the experiences of the past 60 years and Clive Betts, John Lloyd Jones and Sue Essex considered the general merits of landscape and the role it has

Shorts Spot Nic’s Blog You can follow the thoughts of Nic Wheeler and the work of his team in PCNPA via the Chief Executive’s “Blogspot”. Visit it via: http://tinyurl.com/PCNPABlogspot


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Participants were able to take part in workshops on Ecosystem Services, Health and Wellbeing, Climate Change and Land Use before feedback was provided to all participants in the final plenary session. The second day, at the WANPA’s Member Seminar, participants focused upon the role played by protected landscapes sixty years after the passing of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act. Steve Thomas of the WLGA presented a sobering account of the funding challenges facing local government and associated public bodies, while Alan Morris of the Wales Audit Office gave a brief taste of the Local Government Measure and the implications for NPAs. All attendees were able to participate in the two workshops. One featured the political challenges and opportunities protected landscapes face, while the other sought to examine the legal framework for protected landscapes and

questioned whether it remained “fit for the future”. Following the workshops the final plenary session focused primarily upon the relationship between NPAs and politicians. There emerged a general consensus that those organisations working on behalf protected landscapes had to improve the way in which their work is conveyed to policy-makers. Thank you to the staff of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority for their support facilitating both days. Contributions have been uploaded to the WANPA internet site: http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/wanpa/ wanpa-policy/wanpa-seminars.htm

Congratulations Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and Snowdonia National Park Authority were awarded a prestigious Member Charter Award for their excellent practice in Member support and development at an awards ceremony in Cardiff. The Member Charter Award – developed by the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) – recognises the quality support and innovative practice invested by Local Authorities and WLGA affiliate members (which include the Welsh NPAs) to provide Members with the knowledge and development opportunities needed to perform their duties.


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Artist-in-Residence leaves a lasting impression Oriel y Parc Landscape Gallery unveils an exciting first in November as the centre’s inaugural Artist-in-Residence, Brendan Stuart Burns, exhibits new work. Completed while Brendan was at Oriel y Parc as part of his year-long residency, the work is on display from November 14th to March 14th. It will feature alongside selected artwork from the National Collection that has inspired him. The National Park Authority owns and manages Oriel y Parc as a gallery, visitor and education centre, in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, and Brendan’s exhibition coincides with the attraction’s first birthday.

The exhibition is free, www.orielyparc.co.uk for more details.

visit

Excellent Customer Service at Plas On July 15, Plas Tan y Bwlch, Snowdonia National Park’s Environmental Study Centre, was presented “The Customer Service Excellence Award” by Elfyn Llwyd MP on behalf of the Cabinet Office. The Award is given for high level customer service and concentrates on the quality of delivery, timeliness, information, professionalism and staff attitude. The assessor noted in particular Plas‘ staff’s commitment to providing excellent customer service and their commitment to contribute to the lives of the community around them and further afield.


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East Wales launches Green Tourism Business Scheme Tourism business from across the Brecon Beacons National Park and from as far afield as Welshpool gathered together to give the green thumbs up at the launch of the Green Tourism Business Scheme in early October.

project. The National Park Authority has been actively been supporting sustainable tourism since 2002. COLLABOR8 takes us to a new level and we very much look forward to working with GTBS and Glasu to make a major success of the scheme in the Brecon Beacons area and beyond.”

The East-Wales project, which has been developed by Brecon Beacons National Parks Authority and Glasu, will provides specialist local business advisors to recruit around 50 businesses interested in becoming more sustainable and then to help them along the most appropriate path. The project will offer important opportunities for businesses to achieve cost-savings, differentiation and a marketing edge over less sustainable competitors. Chief Executive for Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, John Cook said: “The launch of this scheme is an important milestone in the implementation of our COLLABOR8

Shorts Hafod Eryri: Hibernating through the winter If you didn’t get a chance to experience Hafod Eryri, the new café and interpretation centre at the top of Snowdon, then you’ll need to wait until it re-opens - weather-permitting - in 2010. Due to the extreme winter conditions at the summit, the shutters are drawn down and visitors are warned not expect to access any of the facilities at the top. http://tinyurl.com/hafoderyri

Diary 26th – 28th January New Members Induction, Dartmoor National Park 1st February ANPA Executive Meeting, London 14th-15th April Members Workshop, hosted by Pembrokeshire Coast NPA


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Iron Age Fort wins third Sandford Award for education A unique visitor attraction run by the National Park Authority has won a prestigious award for education for the third time. Castell Henllys Iron Age Fort has scooped a Sandford Award for Heritage Education. The award is given to heritage sites offering a high standard of educational services, from Key Stage 1 to university level. Castell Henllys won the five-yearly award in 1999 and 2004 and reapplied in 2009, again impressing judges with its educational services. Sanford Award judge, Gareth Fitzpatrick said: “Interesting learning programmes engage visiting children with hands on experiences of what life could have been like in prehistoric Celtic Wales in ways that satisfy and enhance the demands of the contemporary curriculum.”

Crossing Park Boundaries successfully

For details of the Castell Henllys schools programme log onto reaching community groups www.castellhenllys.com. Nearly 50 diverse community groups from

across England and Wales have visited Brecon Beacons National Park since the Crossing Park Boundaries project was set up in 2007 – the strongest indication yet, that the project is successfully outreaching and supporting unique groups of people enjoy the National Park.


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At Snowdonia National Park’s stand, one of Wales’ most famous Welsh bands, Gwibdaith Hen Frân, launched new eco-friendly Snowdonia National Park T-shirts and hoodies. Words from Welsh songs are featured on the T-shirts, marking a further development of the National Parks Wales branding, Lle i Enaid Gael Llonydd / Britain’s Breathing Spaces. The shirts and hoodies were printed and produced with ecofriendly printing materials and methods. The project is co-ordinated by Brecon Beacons National Park Authority Ceri Bevan, Sustainable Communities Officer said: “The idea behind the visits is to develop innovative ways of breaking down any actual or perceived barriers there might be regarding access or enjoying activities within the Brecon Beacons National Park.”

During the week, SNPA announced the names of winners of the Bwrlwm Eryri Photography Competition. This was an opportunity to raise awareness of the wealth of Snowdonia’s heritage through the medium of a camera’s lens and the winning photographs were exhibited at the National Park’s stand.

Also at the Eisteddfod, Owain Glyndwr, the “Although many groups originate from famous Welsh rebel was voted Snowdonia’s urban areas outside of the National Park we Most Amazing Character as part of Bwrlwm have also encouraged and assisted local Eryri’s Gallery of the Famous survey. groups to enjoy what we hope will become part of a regular activity programme.”

National Park Week National Park Week was celebrated in Snowdonia at the National Eisteddfod in Bala.


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