Pembrokeshire Outdoor Charter Group
Full Group Meeting 15th October 2012
At Celtic Camping - Pwll Caerog
Present:
Tom Luddington – Pembrokeshire Outdoor Charter
Alec Williams – Sealyham (Chair)
Steve Quinton – Pembrokeshire College
Bruce & Paul - Newsurf
Ian Griffiths – Celtic Camping
Cleopatra Browne – Celtic Quest Coasteering
Luke Ashman – Be Free Range
Richard Vaughan – PCNPA
Libby Taylor – PCNPA
David Jones – PCF
Phil Sadler – Princes Trust / PAC
John Haylock – TYF
Chris Jex – Princes Trust / PAC
Oli Tuggey - The Big Blue Experience
Andrew Tuddenham – National Trust
David Hunter – Be Free Range
Jethro Moore – Adventure Beyond / CBA / Fforest
Mark Horner – PCC Tourism
Jack Guest – Newgale YMCA
Xania Wear – Wear Active Croatia
Nige Robinson – YMCA / Sea Kayak Guides
Ian Meopham – PCNPA
Sophie Hurst – Preseli Venture
Kevin Bird – Abercastle Boat Owners
Craig Wear – Wear Active Croatia
Alan & Bramble – Dragon Activity Guides
Tim Brace – Pembrokeshire Tourism / FBM Holidays
Ack Moore – National Trust
Simon Ferguson – Pendine OEC
Matt Lister – National Trust
Apologies received:
Pablo Thorne, Charles Mathieson, Robin Mogg, Mike Mayberry, Lynne Houlston, Gethin & Jon Owen, Chris Payne, Chris Lawrence, Rob Eglestaff, Ana Green, Jane Merrony, Paul Warren.
Introductions
The group thanked Ian for providing the meeting venue at Celtic Camping, Alec Williams was also welcomed as the new Chair. All attendees introduced themselves.
Minutes from previous meeting
There were no formal minutes as the last meeting was the conference at the Liberty Stadium. This covered the role of WATO, the future for AALS, forthcoming merger of Environment Agency, Forestry Commission and CCW, National Trust policy on use of properties for outdoor recreation as well as workshops on several topics including marketing, coasteering and Wales Activity Mapping project.
Centre Updates
AW began by emphasising the excellent cooperation that exists between outdoor activity organisations in this area and hoping that this would continue despite the increasing pressures from the recession, overcrowding at some venues and access issues.
Dragon Activity guides have had a good first season delivering kayaking, surfing and climbing, mainly for families and other small groups.
Newsurf have been approx.10% down on business compared to last year but still reasonably busy with shop and hire activities.
Pendine Outdoor Education Centrehas been busy with school groups and using the climbing wall trailer on road trips when the centre has been less busy. Also running various innovative activities to keep ahead of the recession such as beach touch rugby.
Newgale YMCA centre has a new centre manager – Nigel Robinson is filling in while Denise is in New Zealand. They have had a good season working mostly with youth organisations.
Pembrokeshire Tourism has a sustainable transport workshop on 14th Nov. at the Stackpole Centre. The recent visitor survey is also now available on-line at (document library) – worth having a look at this survey to see what visitors are expecting / think of Pembrokeshire.
Adventure Beyond have done OK but business is down 25% compared to previous year.
Be Free Range –Are running Outdoor Education and Adv. Sports – 2 successful courses with schools this summer. Thanked group for support during first year.
Big Blue Kite Surfing have done OK but suffered from poor weather. Hiring out Yurts as well as kite sports etc.
The National Trusthas been busy with Red Bull event and also monitoring use of their sites for outdoor recreation. Takings from car parks are down 30% from last year. Richard Ellisis retiring. The group would like to record their thanks for his contributions over many years.
Pembrokeshire Adv. Centrehas increased work with more teams involved in activities and conservation projects. Surf Life Saving club is going well. Business for Adv. Activities picked up after Olympics finished.
TYF have had slightly lower numbers but did better with school bookings. They are keeping the same seasonal staff for next year and also delivering sustainable development education in local schools over the winter.
PCNPA have undergone a re-structure. Charles Mathieson will now have less time to work with POCG but Libby will take over this role. Most of the rangers will still be working as previously.
Celtic Quest have been doing a lot of coasteering and also winning awards for digital marketing.
Celtic Camping - have expanded their accommodation and have 240 beds + campsite. Plans are to extend again in 2013 so that there will be 300 beds available – Working mostly with schools, particularly focusing on farming and linking food from field to plate. Ian is hoping to work with even more with activity providers next year.
Preseli Venture - had a slow start but have had a successful season after working hard to get more business in.
Sealyham - are still doing OK with school bookings but adventure tourism bookings have been down.
Pembrokeshire Tourism – Tim Brace (FBM holidays)
Pembrokeshire Tourism is mainly composed of accommodation providers but would like to improve links with the outdoor activity sector & would like to see if a more ‘joined up’ approach to selling holidays is possible. Tim impressed on the group the importance of being a member of Pembrokeshire Tourism as they are the Regional Tourism Partnership and offer many benefits to members. Funding for promoting tourism in the UK and Wales is low compared to most other competitor countries and it is important that local businesses cooperate to maximise effectiveness of marketing, and spend on tourism promotion.
Tim also updated the group about FBM holidays which takes large numbers of holiday bookings (70% on-line) and expressed an interest in being able to send information out about activities to customers before they arrive for their holidays.FBM Holidays are very keen to work with activity providers.
MH added that effective and cheap marketing can be achieved by releasing PR stories to the press about adventure activities / events etcvia the tourism section at Pembs. Co. Council.
More major events like Red Bull and Ironman could be valuable to the tourism sector if promoted and organised well.
Progress Report
TL recapped the reasons why Pembrokeshireis a protected and special place (wildlife & geology etc) as well as the membership criteria for POCG. Anyone with suggestions for amendments for 2013 can contact Tom.
There are 9 new operators in the group since 2010 and there are now 39 businesses open to the public in the group.
POCG has been recognised by the Welsh Government as the representative body for the outdoor activity sector in SW Wales (as part of WATO supported by Visit Wales). Snowdonia Active has recently appointed an Outdoor Charter Officer, following in the footsteps of Pembrokeshire. Tom & WATO colleagues met with the Environment Minister John Griffiths on 4th Oct and discussed issues affecting the sustainable development of outdoor recreation. The Minister was very supportive and keen to see more progress including discussions with the new Environment Body re establishing a Wales Outdoor Recreation Network for Wales.
The Coasteering good practise DVD is finished and available as DVD or short on-line version. Tom has also been working on a good practise DVD for kayaking and sit on tops. This is aimed at paddlers, not just group leaders so lots more copies are being produced. A clip was shown to the meeting which was well-received. Unedited versions of the seabird and seal sections of the DVD can be seen here: & here:
The coasteering workshop has been postponed until March due to poor timing / bookings in the autumn.
TL has also been chairing a series of meetings and actions to resolve a conflict between local residents and coasteering / activity groups at Ceibwr Bay – this is on-going and it is hoped that an amicable agreement can be reached between all users of this area at the forthcoming meeting.
TL has been working on wildlife appreciation cards which are available via the website – these show approx. locations of various types of wildlife + some key facts.
There is a wind sports meeting scheduled for 6th Nov & various other meetings all listed on the Pembrokeshire Outdoor Charter website:
After discussions with landowners, conservation bodies and Pembrokeshire Paragliding, paragliders have not been granted permission to paraglide in the Preseli Hills by the land owners. Minutes of the meeting are online (see link above) – the main reason was due to disturbance of sheep, which could inturn affect the conservation of the Preseli Hills due to the importance of grazing for the SSSI.
The annual Cliff Climbing Liaison meeting is scheduled for 13thNov. and Milford Haven MCA HQ. SQ hopes to attend – any issues re climbing access, contact SQ
Highly Protected Marine Zones
The consultation is still underway – reaction has been very negative so far, probably due to a lack of consideration of the socio-economic characteristics of the proposed areas (especially at Dale and Abercastle areas in Pembs.) Awaiting Welsh Government statement on what will happen next. Public will be able to consult on next stage proposals.
TL organised a Climbing/conservation/education event at Treffgarne in August. Attendance was low due to weather but all benefitted from expertise from Sid Howells (CCW geologist) and enjoyed walk up to crags via Nant y Coy Mill. Tom Luddington will circulate contact details for farmer who owns the higher rock (Poll Carn) which is not on CROW land. It was also suggested that keeping groups in single file on approach path would be a good idea to minimise erosion, and potentially park in the lower main layby on busier days to avoid filling up the car park which is also used by local people walking their dogs etc.
Forthcoming events:
Bushcraft best practise workshop at Newgale YMCA on 13th Nov – details on the OC website (Events).
Wildlife Sightings Event at Pembrokeshire College 21st Nov. book online via POCG website (Events). There will be a £5 fee per ticket. Photo competition is also running again – see website for details.
Funding
TL has raised more £14,000 in addition to the budgeted £36,000 this year which means that the project hopefully has greater security going into 2013. This has been the result of funds from various projects which have added to the workload of the POC group.
Tom announced to the group that he will be leaving his post in March 2013.
The Chair recorded thanks to Tom for the excellent job he has done over the last 7½ years. This was strongly supported by the group.
Red Bull Cliff Diving Event Feedback
All considered that the event was a great success and generally very well organised. Some concerns about Jet Skis associated with the event breaking the Marine Code (driving into sea caves to view seals). Also a shame that there were not opportunities given for promoting the National Trust and National Park at the event site. The National Park only had 2 complaints about the event. The National Trust is placing a poll on their website to see if the public were in favour of the event or against it. Feedback was overall extremely positive about the event from all those present.
Wales Activity Mapping (David Jones)
The Welsh Government is looking for more information on the economic value of outdoor activities. DJ has secured funding from SDF Fund and MHPA to use the WAM info in order to assess monetary value of the outdoor environment in terms of income generated due to people taking part in outdoor recreation. Two pilot areas of Dale and St Davids Peninsular will be used for the study.
Proactive Management of Coasteering:
The Coasteering layer consists of 3 lines which providers should check – please comment by right clicking on the line. This is particularly important for the red line – please contact David Jones to agree (or not) with these lines which are suggested ‘no-go zones’ for commercial coasteering development. Google “Wales Activity mapping” and see this video: to see how to use the WAM website:
Layers will be finalised at the forthcoming regional coasteering meeting (details on the OC website).
A.O.B.
Jethro raised the point that access issues are becoming a big problem in several areas and felt there is a need for centres to work together on how to deal with access issues to be more proactive. It was suggested that a small working group should be set up to look at this and ensure we are working in the best way to preserve access for centres to provide outdoor recreation and minimise the possible trend towards payment for access to the natural environment.
Date of Next Meeting –
Please add this to your diaries!- Monday March 11th 6pm Stackpole Centre
TL Thanked Celtic Camping for hosting & preparing food for everyone.