Wales’ iconic National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty will receive funding of over £12m the Welsh Government has announced.
The areas, including Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons and the Pembrokeshire Costal Path National Park Authorities, will receive grant funding totalling £9.5m for 2017/18.
Meanwhile, Wales’ five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty have today been awarded £275,000 to help them to continue to deliver the Sustainable Development Fund.
Under this fund, AONBs will each receive £55,000 to establish projects which support ways of living and working in a more sustainable way, integrating natural beauty, wildlife, landscape, land use and community.
Farming in the Brecon Beacons
Agricultural land makes up by far the largest proportion of land area within the Brecon Beacons National Park and farming is an integral element in the development and maintenance of the current landscape and many of the habitats within it.
It is strongly embedded within local culture and continues to make a significant contribution to the community through income generation and employment provision.
It is therefore important for the National Park Authority to work in partnership with farmers and landowners in order to achieve National Park purposes.
Most land within the Brecon Beacons National Park is owned and managed by individual landowners and farmers.
Even though The National Park Authority owns a significant area of land, amounting to approximately 45,000 acres, most of this is common land and therefore its management is subject to its use by those with commoners rights, especially grazing with livestock.
The farming community therefore have a significant role to play if the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Park is to be conserved and enhanced.
'Stunning and inspiring'
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths said: “We all know Wales has some of the most stunning and inspiring natural landmarks anywhere in the world.
“Our breathtaking National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty have long been magnets for visitors and locals alike.
“Earlier this year, I was able to provide over £2.5m of additional funding to support projects identified by Wales’ National Park Authorities and AONBs. I look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition over the coming months.
“I am pleased today to further confirm funding of nearly £10m which will enable our National Park Authorities and AONBs to continue to protect and improve these valuable landscapes for future generations."
