A Welsh Government review has proposed changing the names of Wales' five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which includes the stunning Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB.
The possible re-branding is one recommendation being made under a review of how best to make Wales be recognised internationally as part of a global family of protected areas.
The first stage of the review looked at whether Wales' three National Parks and five AONBs should come under a single designation, and has recommended that the name Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty is changed to National Landscapes of Wales.
The Welsh Minister for Natural Resources has said he wants them “to be international exemplars of sustainability, living landscapes with vibrant, resilient communities, providing extensive outdoor recreation opportunities, tackling social issues and, creating thriving ecosystems which are rich in biodiversity” and that “reform will be necessary to ensure that these areas prosper through their continued protection while maximising the benefits they provide to the people of Wales." Whilst I fully support that ambition, I fail to see why the AONB brand needs to be ditched in order to achieve it.
It's no wonder that many people in North Wales are angry about the reclassification. They do not want to lose the title of Area of Outstanding National Beauty and neither do I.
The Clwydian Range was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by the Secretary of State for Wales in July 1985 under the National Parks and Access to Countryside Act 1949. In November 2011 the Welsh Government’s Environment Minister confirmed a southerly extension to include much of the Dee Valley from Corwen to Newbridge along with stunning natural features such as the Eglwyseg Escarpment, the Horseshoe Pass and Esclusham Mountain. At the same time the whole area became known as the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB - the scenic gateway of North Wales, embracing some of the UK’s most wonderful landscapes.
It is a national treasure and deserves to be called an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty because that it exactly what it is. In fact, it is such a special place that I have called in the past for the area to be designated as a National Park to ensure that it is afforded the promotion and recognition it deserves. But one thing is for sure; changing its name to National Landscapes of Wales belittles everything the area has to offer.
The Range covers miles of undulating landscape, which is characterised by sweeping moorland, heather hills, Iron Age stone forts and limestone cliffs, we need to be doing all be can to promote the area and attract more visitors to this part of North Wales, and I believe scrapping the AONB brand would do very little to help achieve this.
The natural environment is crucial to the Welsh economy and it is vital it is protected and managed as effectively and efficiently as possible to ensure the best outcomes for Wales, so I can understand why the Welsh Government may want to look at the way AONBs are managed and promoted, but changing their name seems to be wholly unnecessary.
I will be doing all I can to ensure these proposals do not go ahead and that these stunning assets of Wales can continue to be called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty well into the future.