The Emerging National Park

The Emerging National Park

Written by Mike Skuse

Natural Resources Wales, who are appointed by the Welsh Government to bring forward the plan for a new National Park based on the area covered by the existing National Landscape (which confusingly is the new name for an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), have written a report on the so-called Engagement Period, when the public were invited to a series of events to ascertain our feelings about the whole idea. And very interesting they were…..I  spent hours in Llanbedr Village Hall listening to farmers and other residents both for and strongly against the whole idea.

Before I go on, let me say that the Clwyd Branch of CPRW has nailed its colours to the mast with a resounding vote in favour. We look forward to better funding, better governance, better attention to wildlife, better opportunities for local business. We are not worried about greater visitor pressure, because we have it already. The carparks at Loggerheads, the Iron Gate and the Horseshoe Falls are usually full by 10am on summer weekends. Please read on: there is a way to alleviate this pressure.

NRW’s report is 83 pages long and full of statistics covering the public responses to the questionnaire they handed out. Page 36 has some interesting figures:

With what you currently know, can you foresee any potential benefits from this proposed new National Park?

YES 46%    NO 33%   MAYBE 7%   NEED MORE INFORMATION 15%

It’s probably fair to say that most of the  NO 33% were farmers and other landowners, fearing that added bureaucracy and greater emphasis on the obligation to provide opportunities for quiet outdoor recreation will make farming more difficult and landowning less enjoyable.   The National Farmers’ Union, the Country Land and Business Association and the Farmers’ Union of Wales have already held joint meetings to discuss it.

The document also names areas that are not included in the  provisional map presented at the public sessions, but might have been.  The following areas will be “taken forward” for evaluation at the next stage:  Halkyn Mountain; north of Hope Mountain; the Clywedog Valley; Rhug Estate; and importantly Mynydd Mynyllod and the Dee Valley at Llandrillo (the site of the proposed Gaerwen Windfarm).

And it lists some places that were suggested by the public but will not be “taken forward” for further consideration:  the Denbigh Moors; Llyn Brenig (we suggested this area, because it provides much needed opportunities for quiet outdoor healthy things to do); the Vale of Clwyd (although the eastern part is included in some places bounded by the River Clwyd); Pantasaph; Wepre Park; Ruthin; and Powys Castle.

However, having said that, I have an email from Ash Pearce, who leads the NRW team, saying that “you would be welcome to submit this (ie Brenig) at the Public Consultation this Autumn”……so it seems that no final decisions have yet been made.  I am encouraged that what was a rather crazy idea of mine to begin with is now being taken more seriously elsewhere, on the grounds that the quiet recreational activities around Brenig (and on it) would go a long way to achieving a National Park’s statutory obligation to provide ways to engage the public in healthy outdoor things for families to do. And of course it would draw people away from the three “honeypot” car parks mentioned above.

We now know that the dates for this coming consultation will be from 7 October to 16 December 2024. This one will be aimed not only at the public but also at a wide range of public bodies, like the relevant County Councils, the National Trust, RSPB, NWWT, the Eryri National Park Authority, and probably hundreds more.  This consultation will present their latest ideas on the boundary, but of course again not yet set in stone.

NRW have engaged  Craggatak Consulting to give advice about what are the “special qualities” that a National Park should have and that the governing body should “conserve, protect snd enhance”.  Our own AONB (sorry, National Landscape) knows Craggatak well and have used them to clarify policies and suggest how we go about things here many times.

NRW have also appointed a firm called Land Use Consultants Ltd to advise (inter alia) on the various methods of governance, and which method would be most suitable in this instance.

And finally, they have roped in Gillespies, a large and important firm of Landscape Architects, to advise on the boundaries which  must eventually  be decided.

It’s great to see so many experts now involved in this important decision.  The more people involved, the better will be the result!