NE National Park Event at Rhug Estate
Last week the CLA Cymru team held their second consultation event regarding the proposed new national park in North East Wales.
Ongoing Consultation
CLA Cymru recently hosted a key consultation event at the Rhug Estate, building on our ongoing series of discussions with members and stakeholders about the future role of Wales’ National Parks. This meeting, part of our wider consultation strategy, is aimed at ensuring that the voices of landowners, farmers, and rural businesses are central to shaping policy and practice within protected landscapes.
The consultation was well attended, with representation from local members, policymakers, and partners across the rural sector. Discussions focused on several pressing topics, including:
- Balancing Conservation and Economic Activity: Attendees emphasised the need to ensure that conservation priorities within National Parks do not undermine the viability of land-based businesses. Farming, tourism, and diversification projects were highlighted as key drivers of rural economies that must be supported.
- Addressing the Pressures of Regulation: Members raised concerns about the increasing regulatory burden, particularly around planning laws, renewable energy installations, and public access. These issues require more collaborative approaches to ensure that landowners can adapt and innovate while meeting environmental goals.
- Strengthening Community Resilience: Many participants discussed the need to preserve and enhance rural communities within National Parks, ensuring that housing, employment, and connectivity are prioritised to prevent depopulation and strengthen local economies.
The event at Rhug Estate was the latest in a series of consultations held across Wales, providing CLA Cymru with valuable insights to represent the concerns and aspirations of our members.
CLA Actions
The feedback gathered at Rhug Estate will be incorporated into CLA Cymru’s policy recommendations, which aim to influence the future direction of National Park management. We are working closely with policymakers, including National Park Authorities and Welsh Government officials, to ensure that the needs of Wales’ landowners and rural businesses are recognised and acted upon.
If you are based within a National Park or have a specific interest in protected landscapes, we encourage you to engage with us in this ongoing process. Further consultations are being planned, and we welcome your input to help shape our approach.
We have full details of all the consultations and the process on our information page here
Fill in our questionnaire
We would urge you to fill in our questionnaire. It is open to members and non members and we would like as many responses as possible ahead of the consultation period ending on the 16th December.
