Crestfallen residents are demanding to know why an “area of particular beauty” has been excluded from a new national park planned for North Wales. An environmental group described the decision as “illogical” and has written to Natural Resourses Wales (NRW) seeking answers.
NRW is running public engagement sessions to gather feedback on plans for a fourth national park in Wales centered on the north east of the country. A “search of area” map published this week shows its provisional boundaries extending south into Powys from the region’s existing Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
While there is some proposed westward expansion of the AONB, there was surprise at the omission of the Denbigh Moors (Mynydd Hiraethog) and the head of the Dee Valley. The latter is a 10 mile-long block between Bala and Corwen south of the A494. As well as a stretch of the River Dee running past Llandrillo, a peat-rich mountain range is not included in the provisional map.
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This range includes Mynydd Mynyllod, a designated Curlew Recovery Area. Also in the vicinity are three lakes, a nature reserve, numerous archaeological sites and several Grade 2-listed buildings.
“Leaving out this area is completely illogical,” said Llandderfel businessman Martin Glyn Murray, a former actor and musician. He now runs the Dee Valley Environmental Network, a community interest community that seeks to protect the area’s landscapes, wildlife, tourism and “special character”.
“It makes no sense for the proposed boundary to stop on the side of a valley and to exclude the River Dee. This is an area that ticks all criteria boxes for what NRW defines as beauty. It’s why Queen Victoria toured here in 1889, and why the Crogan estate was chosen to feature on the Mortimer and Whitehouse fishing series on TV.”
NRW said its decisions were evidence-based and "rigorously applied". The environmental regulator said the door remained open for submissions by individuals or groups who believe certain areas should be removed from the Search of Area - or be included.
![Wild ponies on Mynydd Mynyllod, a popular spot for riding and walking](https://i2-prod.dailypost.co.uk/incoming/article27897009.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_AFRDPW191022WindFarmStar_06.jpg)
“Beauty” criteria used by NRW to draw up its Area of Search map included scenic quality, wildness and tranquillity. These are the same for AONB but national parks must also meet wildlife and cultural heritage criteria. In addition, national parks must also provide opportunities for open-air recreation.
“The mountains and valley here are well serviced with public rights of way,” said Martin, lead guitarist in 1990s band the Mock Turtles. He also appeared in films such as Philomena, Enemy at the Gates and Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. “There are many holiday lets and caravan parks providing accommodation for tourists.
"This area meets all the criteria. It all points the finger of suspicion in one direction for the reason why this area was excluded.”
Both the Denbigh Moors and the upper Dee Valley lie within, or close to, Pre-Assessed Areas for wind farm development. National parks in Wales encourage small-scale renewable energy schemes but have a presumption against large schemes amid concerns these will compromise their “special qualities”.
On Mynydd Mynyllod, which lies mainly in Denbighshire, German firm RWE is aiming to erect Gaerwen Wind Farm. Two of its turbines will be 200 metres-tall from base to blade tip. Another seven will be 180 metres – still as tall as the Gherkin tower in London and five times the height of Llandrillo church spire.
Exasperated residents took to Facebook to express their disappointment and share their suspicions. A veteran wind activist said it appeared clear why the upper Dee Valley had been excluded from the provisional national park.
“It’s because windfarms trump landscape protection,” he said. "Gaerwen is inside an area designated for wind development which has been “pre-assessed” for renewable energy and where there is a “presumption in favour”. This is why the Denbigh Moors/Hiraethog area has also been excluded.”
![Ruins of the once spectacular Gwylfa Hiraethog hunting lodge on the Denbigh Moors](https://i2-prod.dailypost.co.uk/incoming/article27897039.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_File-picture-Gwylfa-Hiraethog-on-the-Denbigh-Moors.jpg)
NRW said the decision-making was based entirely on land value considerations. Keith Davies, NRW's principal advisor for designated landscapes, said the Denbigh Moors met land value parameters for inclusion but was considered to be "associated more with north west Wales".
In contrast, the upper Dee Valley was omitted from the Area of Search because its mapped land value was adjudged "moderate", and so failed to meet the bar necessary for national parks. With this area of land out of the equation, Mynydd Hirathog would also lack land continuity with the rest of the proposed national park.
But Mr Davies said nothing was off the table at this stage of the process. "If anyone were to submit clear evidence for an area to be included, or excluded, we would look at it very carefully," he said.
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If left out, the upper Dee Valley will find itself sandwiched between two national parks despite being classed as a Special Landscape Area. Instead, the national park, if its provisional boundaries are approved, will extend into north Powys before curving west to adjoin Eryri (Snowdonia). In doing so, it will narrowly skirt another Pre-Assessed Area for wind energy south of Llanfair Caereinion.
Some people feel the new national park should be much more ambitious in scope. “The whole of North Wales should be designated a national park!” said a Flintshire community councillor.
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