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“To advance the enhancement, protection and conservation of the countryside and other amenities of the Brecon Beacons National Park for the benefit of the public”
“To advance the education of the public in the ways in which to achieve the above including the provision of opportunities for healthy recreation and in particular walking.”
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What is the Society?
The Society is a Registered UK Charity, number 1075345 and is governed by a Constitution, amended at the Annual General Meeting in June 2007. The Officers of the Society consist of an Honorary Chairman, Honorary Vice Chairman, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer. The Executive Committee consists of the Officers plus up to eleven other members of the Society.
The Committee meets about every six weeks and minutes are published on this site.
Click here for Executive Committee.
Click here for Minutes.
History of the Society
The Brecon Beacons National Park in the 1990s was the only national park that did not have a “friends” association to represent the people using and living in the Park. At the instigation of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority the Society was formed in 1992, driven by Brian Powdrill, a County Councillor and Member of the BBNPA. Sir Chris Bonnington attended the inaugural meeting in Brecon along with 70 to 80 initial members.
The Society is involved with other groups and bodies all involved in aspects of preserving and using the facilities of the National Park. Brief outlines of all our activities are given below and you can click on the links for more information.
Walls Of Llangynidr
Dry stone walls form a unique part of the agricultural, landscape, historical and ecological heritage of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Due to changes in farming practice, dry stone walls have not been repaired and maintained.
The Walls of Llangynidr was initially a partnership involving Llangynidr Community Council, The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, and the South Wales Branch of the Dry Stone Wall Association. It has subsequently formed an association with the Brecon Beacons Park Society.
Brecon Beacons Trust
The Park Society is a member of the Brecon Beacons Trust, which is a charitable company established to help people, communities and voluntary organisations achieve positive environmental conservation and enhancement within the Brecon Beacons National Park. The Trust supports:
- Environmental conservation, protection and improvement of the Park for the benefit of the public.
- Greater educational awareness and knowledge of the conservation, protection and improvement of the Park’s physical, natural and archaeological environment.
Art in the Park
This project was initiated by the Society in 2008 with the aim of giving young people who would not otherwise have had the opportunity to visit the National Park, the chance to walk and explore the landscape and to gain some understanding of the ways in which it has helped inspire professional artists.
The BBNPA education service has managed the project, and members of their staff have led the walks, which follow part of the Beacons Way, each featuring one of the art works created for the Art Trail.
The Forest Fawr Geopark
Fforest Fawr Geopark, which covers the western half of the National Park, is a member of the European Geoparks Network and the UNESCO-assisted Global Geopark Network.
The Park Society supports the aims of the Geopark, is represented on its Management Group and works in partnership on suitable projects.
Much more information about Fforest Fawr Geopark can be found at www.fforestfawrgeopark.org.uk
Dark Skies
If you pollute the environment you are acting illegally. Not so with light pollution. The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 gives local authorities powers to address intrusive light nuisance. However the night sky itself, half of our visual environment, has no protection in law.
The Park Society and the Park Authority feel that preserving the quality of the night sky in important and as a result have decided to carry out a Feasibility Study on gaining Dark Sky Park status and to look at what measures would be appropriate to help minimise the adverse effects of light pollution.
The Beacons Way
The Beacons Way is a 161km (100 mile) linear walk across the Brecon Beacons National Park. It was devised by ex-Park Society Secretary John Sansom (who died in June 2006), in conjunction with Arwel Michael and Chris Barber.
The route starts in the east at Skirrid Mountain (often nicknamed Holy Mountain) and ends, after 8 days walking, in the west at Bethlehem. A book by Chris Barber describes the route.
The Society works closely with the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority (BBNPA) on a number of subjects and is consulted on planning and development issues as well as being a member of the BBNPA Advisory Forums.
Planning and Development
The Society keeps a watching brief on all planning applications within the National Park. For those that are considered significant the Society will provide a statement outlining its position. On major planning issues the Society will be represented at the planning meeting where the issue is to be discussed and will, if necessary, speak. The Society regularly attends the BBNPA Planning and Rights of Way committee.
Information on BBNPA Planning and Development Control can be found here.
If you wish to contact Elizabeth Gibbs, who holds the planning brief for the Society, please use the contact form below.
Rights of Way
As the Society runs a regular walks programme across the whole of the National Park it is well placed to observe and advise on the state of the parks’ network of public rights of way. It provides a regular review of issues and problems found to the Rights of way officer at BBNPA. The Society is also actively involved in the fight against illegal off-roading.
Contact the BBNPA directly using the links below.
Contact BBNPA Rights of Way
Report Illegal Off Roading
You may also contact Judy Cox, the Society’s Rights of Way representative using this contact form.