As Wales moves towards the next Senedd elections in 2026, we thought we should give all parties and candidates a pointer to the best way forward for the new Senedd term so we’ve produced a short Manifesto – entirely politically neutral and suitable for inclusion in any- and every party’s pitch to the electorate next May. We’ve set it out below in full, and you can download it (to send to your local constituency’s party secretary) in English here or in Welsh yma.
Please do ask all those knocking on your doors soliciting votes for a commitment to these four simple proposals. And of course, if you’d like us to come along to a local hustings to explain our case in more detail, just get in touch!
A Cambrian Manifesto
Wales, like the entire United Kingdom, is facing a nature emergency. In the last century, the pace, extent and severity of change have all accelerated to the point where natural systems are unable to adapt. Such familiar and once-abundant birds as the House Sparrow are now included on Wales’ list of Priority Species. Plainly, no species are so abundant and so resilient that they are not threatened by consumption of further space and resources for human purposes.
To enable nature to respond resiliently, and ensure that Wales’ beautiful uplands remain as an inheritance for future generations to enjoy, we need natural habitats that are more numerous, bigger, in better condition and – crucially – joined up. Without this, the overall biodiversity of Wales will continue its precipitous decline despite substantial money and energy being spent on specific, small scale conservation projects. Future remedial action to restore biodiversity at landscape scale will cost vastly more than prevention through precautionary measures.
Wales’ existing designated landscapes can contribute to slowing the decline. But alone, they are not sufficient. The Cambrian Mountains of Mid-Wales, forming a nature network at landscape scale connecting the iconic mountain landscapes of North and South Wales, are uniquely suited, and critical, to this need.
That’s why we want to see the next Welsh Government prioritise urgent action to maximise their potential to be more nature-rich, secure and enjoyed by all. Here are some key priorities for your party to bring forward at the next election:
- Instruct NRW to begin work on scoping the potential for a new Cambrian Mountains National Landscape to boost local communities through providing new opportunities for farming businesses, encouraging local investment and tourism opportunities while putting the culture, history and language of the area on the national stage.
- Back farmers in all of Wales’ uplands, through an enhanced Sustainable Farming Scheme and a long-term commitment to the Ffermio Bro programme.
- A right for every child in Wales to have an outdoor learning experience encouraging more responsible access through countryside code awareness as a core part of the National Curriculum.
- A true multifunctional land use framework for Wales including clearly defined targets for stronger enforcement of existing laws in areas such as water pollution and wildlife crime as part of the ‘Nature Positive’ Bill.
For further information, please contact Lorna Brazell at secretary@cambrian-mountains.co.uk