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Carl Sargeant, the Minister for Natural Resources, was in Swansea om Friday 17^th April 2015 to see first hand how the Tawe trial is helping bring the outdoors to the community.

The trial, one of three funded by the Welsh Government, is being led by Natural Resources Wales and will help inform how best to implement future requirements for managing Wales’ natural resources that will be set out in the Environment Bill shortly. This will include developing and implementing Area Statements, which will set out the opportunities and challenges, for the management of natural resources at the local level.  

Speaking at the Kilvey Hill project, which will link an under-utilised green space at the heart of Swansea to the city, the river Tawe and Crymlyn bog, the Minister said:

“The Environment Bill, which I intend to introduce to the Assembly next month, will place a range of duties on Natural Resources Wales - ensuring that we plan and manage our fantastic natural resources in a sustainable and mutually beneficial way. Trials like this one are key to understanding how we can deliver lasting benefits for our communities and economy, as well as environmental ones.

“We have invested £1m on a range of trial projects in the Tawe area, with this one at Kilvey Hill demonstrating the impact that well-targeted investment can have on the health and well-being of our communities while boosting tourism, reducing flood risk, tackling climate change and enhancing our natural resources and the services they provide.

“I am particularly pleased that the Tawe area trial is focused on working with local partners and the community to examine the issues, challenges and opportunities for the area. This is something I’d certainly like to see replicated across Wales – empowering our communities to ensure maximum benefits for all.”