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Making the Most of all our Assets in the Rhondda 2: Creating a healthy and vibrant Rhondda together, 04.06.2015 and

The Summary of public engagement events in the Rhondda Summer 2015

CONTENTS SECTION 1 - MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER Agenda.................................................................................................................................................................................................... Page 3 Introduction............................................................................................................................................................................................ Page 4 Visual Minutes........................................................................................................................................................................................ Page 6 Aims.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... Page 8 Ideas Tree: Collating What Works in RCT....................................................................................................................................... Page 9 Questions 1 & 2 and 3: Theme 1: Management of public land [environmental focus] & nature recovery in the Valleys................................Page 12 Theme 2: Creating “Capable Guardians” – involving local people in the places around them.................................Page 13 Theme 3: Helping health to fund outdoor activities (building an evidence base).......................................................Page 14 Theme 4: A Restored Hydrology in the Rhondda. How do we achieve this?.................................................................Page 17 Theme 5: Improving Access to the countryside....................................................................................................................Page 19 Theme 6: Changing Perceptions of the Rhondda – Economic regeneration, tourism.................................................Page 21 Theme 7: Collecting and Sharing What Works..................................................................................................................... Page 22 Participants........................................................................................................................................................................................... Page 23 Feedback from the event.................................................................................................................................................................. Page 25 Facilitators............................................................................................................................................................................................Page 26 APPENDICES Appendix 1: Table Exercises (World Café).................................................................................................................................... Page 27 Appendix 2: Summary of Public Engagement Events in the Rhondda, Summer 2015...................................................... Page 33

SECTION 1: MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER

AGENDA 9.30am Tea / coffe e on arriva l 10.00am Introductio n and aim s of the se 10.03am ssion Fran Re-cap of O’Hara, Sc Rhondda W arlet Desig orkshop 1 Christian S n & t he 7 main ervini & Be t hemes wh cky Davies 10.10am ich emerg 5 minute p ed resentatio ns relating • Proposa to some o l for family f the key t bike park in hemes Jamie Row the Rhond land, The B d a icycle Doc • Restorin tor g the Rhon dda’s hydr Jonathan M ology ead, SE W a le s Rivers Trus • Creating t ‘Capable G uardians’ – around the involving lo m cal people Gary Evan in the plac s , F es ly Tipping 10.35am A ction Wale Exercise 1 s : How to ta ke these th Group exe emes forw rcise (60 m ard ins), includ 11.35am ing roundr Refreshme obin of the nt break mes. 11.35am Exercise 2 : Identifyin g links and Group exe better way rcise (15 m s of workin ins) 12.30pm g Open disc ussion and feedback How we’re going to ta ke this forw Thanks & f ard eedback 12.35pm Close

INTRODUCTION

The environment is one of our greatest assets, worth approximately £8bn to the Welsh economy each year. Our purpose as NRW is to ensure joined-up delivery so our natural resources in Wales are sustainably maintained, enhanced and used for people, business and the environment. We are the first organisation of its kind which looks at the big picture for the environment.

4. Helping the health sector to fund outdoor activities (building an evidence base between health and the natural environment) 5. A restored hydrology in the Rhondda 6. Improving access to the countryside 7. Changing perceptions of the Rhondda.

On 24 March 2015, we held our first stakeholder engagement workshop in the Rhondda to help establish a set of priorities for managing the area’s natural resources that could deliver multiple benefits for the people, economy and environment. From this initial workshop, seven key themes emerged: 1. Management of public land (environmental focus) and nature recovery in the Valleys 2. Collecting and sharing what works (ideas, models, case studies) 3. Creating ‘Capable Guardians’: involving local people in the places around them

Rhondda workshop 2: 4 June 2015

A report from the first workshop is available at: http://bit.ly/1jsG6Mv and on the NRW website: https://naturalresources.wales/about-us/how-we-work/ natural-resource-management-in-the-rhondda

To maintain energy and momentum, we held a second, follow up workshop in the Rhondda on 4 June 2015. The purpose of hosting a follow up workshop was to explore the key themes identified above in greater detail, and identify better ways of working between partners to help deliver them. This document provides an overview of the second stakeholder engagement workshop held in June 2015.

SECTION 1: MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER

Why are we doing this?

Summer 2015

To enable Wales to develop sustainably now and in the future, changes to the law are being put in place. In 2015, both the Well-being of Future Generations Act and Planning Act received Royal Assent. Currently, the Wales Environment Bill is being drafted and by mid-2016, this will put in place a modern statutory process to plan and manage our natural resources in a joined up and sustainable way.

So far, much of our work and engagement has been with professional partners. In the summer of 2015, we shifted attention to people who live, work and play in the Rhondda to find out their views. We attended a variety of community events which helped us gather information relating to energy (past, present and future), skills / jobs, what people most like / love about their area, how they use the outdoors and what their aspirations for their communities are.

This Bill includes new duties for NRW to develop and implement a proactive and more joined-up approach to the planning and management of our natural resources. NRW will also be required to produce Area Statements which set out the vision, priorities and opportunities for a place, incorporating the environment, society and economy. To prepare for these new duties, NRW is running three area based trials (the Rhondda, Tawe and Dyfi) to explore the practicalities of this new approach, and help embed natural resource management within Wales.

Next steps We’regratefultothepublicandpartnersfortheirvaluabletimeandinput sofar-thishasbeeninvaluable.We’renowbringingtogetherallofthe data,informationandevidencewe’vegatheredtodate.Thiswillformthe basisfromwhichwewillprepareanddraftatrialRhonddaStatement tohelpshapeavisionforhowwecanmanagetheRhondda’snatural resourcesinawaythatdeliversmultiplebenefitsforthepeople,economy andenvironment.Weintendtohostafinalworkshopinlate2015toshare thedraftprioritiesformanagingtheRhondda’snaturalresources-we’ll keep you posted. Christian Servini and Becky Davies, Area Based Project Leads for the Rhondda, Natural Resources Wales e rhondda@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

SECTION 1: MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER

Visual Minutes by Fran O’Hara Scarlet Design Int Ltd.

SECTION 1: MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER

AIMS The event was designed to build on the themes defined by the participants at the first event in March. We also wanted to embed co-production at the centre of our approach, by working in collaboration with people and partners. Following the presentations the group was invited to self-select into themed tables and answer 3 questions. Participants recorded their ideas and responses on the large table-sheets, which have been transcribed into this document pages 11-21. The outcomes demonstrate the wealth of work which is currently being undertaken and a wide range of opportunities to expand and built on these. It is hoped through these connections and conversations, that projects and collaborations will emerge to take this valuable work forwards. This report is designed to share the outcomes of the June workshop to those who attended, and to a wider audience. Fran O’Hara Lead Facilitator

‘Making the most of all our assets in the Rhondda’ Thursday 04 June, Heritage Park Hotel, Rhondda

Q1. What would help you and NRW to deliver for this theme? Projects on the ground? Policy? A joint strategy? Exploring new ways of working better together? Anything else?

Q2. Based on your discussions for Question 1, what are the best 2 ways to take this forward? Agenda plan Fran O’Hara 24/3/15 ‘Making the most of all our assets in the Rhondda’

Thursday 04 June, Heritage Park Hotel, Rhondda

Identifying links and better ways of working Q3. Who do you think you (and your organisation) could work more closely with to help better deliver the 7 themes? Are there currently any projects / proposals where this is already happening? Agenda plan Fran O’Hara 24/3/15

SECTION 1: MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER

IDEAS TREE: COLLATING WHAT WORKS IN RCT

●● Pentre Heritage Walk leaflet

Participants were invited to contribute their suggestions for what works in RCT to the ideas tree.

●● W BP Evidence Gaps Project matches research needs with academic/ student projects

●● Natural Health Service campaign/project ●● Healthy Rivers Groundwork Wales

●● L.I.F.T. reen Care Consortium looking at outdoor based health and ●● G wellbeing interventions being used by NHS and PH ●● H ydrology - Greening Grangetown Project - Cardiff - Uni, LA, Community - Flood Risk/Urban Prevention/Water Management ●● 1. BCIG 2.Cwm Saerbren 3. Tylorstown ●● Outdoor classrooms - once really popular, need more new land ●● Local/National Ramblers ●● Bounce Below (North Wales) ●● Daerwynno Outdoor Centre

●● Pontbren Project (Coed Cymru)

●● Cardiff Hops Campaign ●● R CT Countryside Gercins Project - Cwm Fields - Dare Valley - Case Studies ●● School projects - Adopt a Field/Mountain and manage and observe it. ●● Co-ordinated web access for all sites ●● Pen y Cymoedd - should be a good demonstration project for upland management ●● Potatoes - grow your own potatoes ●● It’s Autumn! ●● NHS - funds to health improving outdoor activity ●● Active nutrition - active woods ●● Training Torfaen - ASC based approach training ●● Examples - SI06 planning agreements - re: site management - related to upland wind farms etc ●● Y Graig Llanlisoul - Conservation grazing

SECTION 1: MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER

THEME 1 Management of public land [environmental focus] and nature recovery in the Valleys. Q1. What would help you and NRW to deliver for this theme? Q2. Based on your discussions for question 1, what are the best 2 ways to take this forward? Group: Becky Davies, Ken Moon, Richard Wistow, Gareth Davies, Shaun Moody • Priorities • Grazing for Biodiversity grasslands, heath, ffridd • Grazing for fire prevention • Grazing for woodland • Peat bog regeneration • co-ordination of others • removal of obstacles for proper discussion • Realise that many departments owned land - working to get agreed actions e.g. wind farm schemes • Work together to develop effective, low cost, sustainable management e.g. Pontsticill grazing animals project e.g. Pen y Cymoedd • Go for ‘simple’ management options - pragmatic/easy to do e.g. conservation grazing

• R ecognise planning gain capacity to deliver ecosystem work - a number one set up in place • C an we realise fully the benefits of land management for planning agreements • L and - who owns it, who manages it (Key), for what purpose, for whose benefit? - fear of losing control/power • F or whose benefit - farming, conservation, forestry, recreation, basic human need, food / medicines, clothing, jobs, homes / shelter • M anagement of public land record what is there, BioBlitz events SEWBR&C as partners engaging people with nature • Indicates best management ideas • D ifficult to manage without knowing what is there • N ature recovery - access record centres (SEWBRec) to check historical records for areas

• K nowing what was there before indication of seed bank & soil bank aids recovery

• Employment scheme - targeted at 15-21 yr olds (1 year qualification) in Land Management

• Direction for recovery

• Timescales and a priority list with end dates SMART

• Deal with risk aversion ow do we create links between • H land owners to create change? • C ommunication and understanding between main bodies is key • Who owns what? • Who manages it?

• Is there an overarching way of organising and managing the land? • Who has responsibility? • Can we have a directory of RCT or NRW owned land and perhaps a map?

• I s it legally constrained in terms of its use, covenants etc.?

• Management plans - must be consistent - major theme in Area Statement

• M indsets need to change - all decisions in the current era seems to be driven by the accountants

• Time-scaled plan - Too much talking shop - need ACTION

• D ifferent solutions - which are environmentally driven

• Management layers

• N eeds a responsible coordinator (probably NRW or LA and participants need to be given authority to act and make decisions • F unding and a shift on political priorities presents an opportunity it is not just about funding cuts • S et up a properly constituted body with prioritised objectives with a time-scaled plan’ • M anaging the land for all the people of the Rhondda’

• Long term approach • First step is to change the course of action/change of culture • Pen y Cymoedd - new land NRW must be fully engaged • This could show the way demonstration of massive landscape approach • Coordination - need to know what is public land - an up to date directory, map of public land • Will help with perception of what is ‘ours’ • Who owns the land?

• Proper access - signposted’

• How do we find out?

• Encourage access’

• How can we get in touch?

SECTION 1: MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER

THEME 1 Management of public land [environmental focus] and nature recovery in the Valleys. Q1. What would help you and NRW to deliver for this theme? Q2. Based on your discussions for question 1, what are the best 2 ways to take this forward? • N ot always obvious that we own the land. • Land is being disposed of because it is seen as a burden and difficult to manage - public bodies being risk averse. • Need to change this - need budget to manage public land • NRW Estate needs to be more integrated and work with others to use the land opportunities being missed - because of old FC/WG targets. • What is the priority - access? biodiversity? Anti Social? • Better joined up working - act upon opportunities • Steering group formed for Rhondda - ongoing - key to action - link closely - LSB to prioritise and inform action and ownership • Pen y Cymoedd - demonstration project - will be very useful

Q3. Who do think you (and your organisation) could work more closely with to help better deliver the 7 themes? • P CSO’s who engage with kids on the street

olice Service - links to anti-social • P behaviour - land management

• Country Land Owners Association • Boys and Girls Clubs

• S ustrans/PROW - using trails as growing - Network Rail

hondda trial needs to make • R a recommendation that one organisation takes a lead - should be NRW

• P ublic ground/land - grow food good for communities

• Visit Wales - Local biodiversity action groups

• Off road motoring Associations

• C ommunity groups and organisations

• T his is public land! The people own it! It is for us to use!

• Celebrity Champions ‘Sport’

• S teering Group under a chair - proper group - not too many must have delegated authority • N RW important/useful tool to implement actions • C ouncil has land ownership layers (GIS) - greatest areas land rec land • NRW has land ownership • H ow do we get it all considered as a whole? • Different land uses/targets • H istory of public land - what was it used for originally? Forestry/pit props/mining - this has changed

• LIFT • L IFT Project - 2nd/3rd Generation unemployed - to get people into work - training • P HD students to multiple topics, to monitoring (Biodiversity, Access, Social) - Need to work with academia • B etter links with a younger demographic • E ducation - fire safety environmental education - No RCT Function • W ildlife charities/organisations eg. butterfly conservation, Plant life, etc. • C ountryside contractors - fences

• Forestry - policy change

• Graziers - potential site managers

• W orking group targeting 15-21 yr olds give skills - manage the land and prevent fires.

• University projects • F orestry angle - these should be working with others

• I nterlink County Voluntary Council (community sector) • V olunteers and Training placements - students - out of work - time wealthy • Land rec. sites/Dept working with community groups to manage these small areas of land • G rowing food - links to pollinators - food poverty • F arming Unions - agricultural contacts important • P rivate land owners - private houses/connectors - work with them • Sports Clubs - excellent community connectors • C hurches and WI and Mothers Groups - good community connectors • WBAP -Evidence gaps project

SECTION 1: MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER

THEME 2 Creating “Capable Guardians” – involving local people in the places around them. Q1. What would help you and NRW to deliver for this theme? Q2. Based on your discussions for question 1, what are the best 2 ways to take this forward? Group: Gary Evans, Mike ash, Gabi Torkington, Caryn Le Roux, Wynford Price, Richard Barret, Joanne Nicholas

• C ommunities confidence required - are they skilled in doing it adequately

• I nterlink/Sustrans - database of groups that could become capable guardians, due to data protection act we can’t get hold of it.

• A ccess to new land is unclear am I trespassing? How long is the route is there good signage? Good interpretation also required.

• Should landowners hand over land to community groups to bring about environmental benefits - Public Liability Insurance - huge problem

• Paws on Patrol

• S outh Wales seminar on Public Liability Llais y Goedwig (Body for community woodlands • Adoption means contributing to give benefit, volunteers not allowed • Local Authorities worried about litigation - volunteers want to be covered if hurt • LA’s looking to utilise volunteer groups to deliver strategic duties, due to lack of resources

• R equires policy changes and a new way of working

• A ll organisations need to have a strategic view to breaking down barriers to help communities access the natural environment more beneficially. • P olicy needs to reflect this, Health - Access - Biodiversity • I ncrease access by anyone?- more capable guardians • O r are there specific requirements? ‘formal’ guardians, eg. physical capability, Insurance, authority - is this too constricting for willing volunteers • I nformal’ guardians - private individuals (public liability) ccess is not a social norm - lack • A of confidence - how do we give this> - Information • Remote Areas • Fast food outlets

• P romotion of access to NRW estate - you must listen to communities.

• H ow do we inform the public about access?

• G ateway to estate needs to be inviting and accessible for all tackle the transitional areas

• C ultural change in organisations, such as LAs needed to encourage community usage/responsibility

• N eed to engage with existing community groups to deliver messages that NRW estate is to be accessed and enjoyed by all the community

• Know who is out there - groups

• W e need to use willing volunteer groups, but somehow give them the skills to carry out activities on the NRW estate.

• Knowing where people can go • S chools, informal education, cradle to grave approach = ownership of ‘Their’ outdoors. • A ctif Woods is a good example - local people lead their own community on walks, etc.

Q3. Who do think you (and your organisation) could work more closely with to help better deliver the 7 themes? • W elsh Government: Top of all LAs, NRW, etc. • Change requires “buy in” from all partners from top to bottom. • Some changes require policy change/ resource etc. • We require evidence-based arguments and relevant case studies to convince senior officials to ‘buy in’ • Policy need to have a holistic view to ensure policies compliant one another to achieve better use of the natural environment. • NRW not promoting change in policy with enough to demonstrate differences in FCW/NRW. • “Doers” are doing great work on the ground, despite lack of organisational support or perceived support from organisations. • More at community level requiring improvement in support, to demonstrate to communities. • Need to connect with organisations.

SECTION 1: MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER

THEME 3 Helping health to fund outdoor activities (building an evidence base).

• C wm Taf Health Observatory - local site for all health data funded by various partners

• Policy - public health wanting to develop a framework to support this pan-Wales

Q1. What would help you and NRW to deliver for this theme? Q2. Based on your discussions for question 1, what are the best 2 ways to take this forward?

• G o4It! - RCT homes/Meadow Prospects

• Growing Together project - FCFCG - social enterprise

• Sportrct.co.uk - register of clubs

• Central database for activity providers, data collection, activity users, outdoor activity sessions. etc.

Group: Christian Servini, Adell Bridges, Sam Holt, Vicky Norman, Jill Price, Norma Greene, Michelle Gibbs, Charlene Davis, Lee Davies, Darren Bowden, Rosalind Davies, Jamie Rowland, Martyn Broughton, Julie Price • N etwork of outdoor groups that health professionals can refer to • Align aims and objectives of various profs. - Steering groups go forward in partnership - joined up thinking/funding stream • Work with communities - Needs to be sustainable/longterm projects - What do they already have? Where are the Gaps? • Coordinators to act as link between GPs and environmental/ outdoor groups

• S ignpost out to communities ensure people know what is local to them - What opportunities are there for them to access? • Let’s Go! • T arget areas with issues such as obesity, mental health - have coordinators in these areas - 3 yr pilot with guarantee from Health board for continued funding • N eed sound pilot projects evidence to show that it works • M arketing and promotion - how do you reach the majority of people? • C entral source of information website directory - ‘gocompare’ type system - postcode/activity/ health problems as choices. • H olistic approach to the problems these people have - housing etc. • Linking with agencies • Sustainability

• M apping - what is already going on and where? • C omplex needs of participants - may lead to higher level of knowledge for activity leader • Cost:Sustainability • C onstituted’ outdoor activity clubs i.e. walking, Geocaching, cycling etc. • W alking groups on tourism website • Taf (Team around the Family) • M arketing and promotion of what is happening, what groups exist, suppliers, etc. • P erson - GP - Let’sGo Coordinator - outdoor groups - healthy people - Evidence unding for community projects • F increased referrals • S haring measurement tools - those in organisations to hold a licence for others to share. • Greencare consortium - UK group

• Activity providers must show sustainability to get onto the central database, to make them eligible for any funding that is needed to ‘top-up’ the projects. • Marketing = critical - one location for everything • referring to community groups - how do we know that they are ‘safe’ for some of the participants needs? Do we need to know this? If so then who will do this? Coordinators? • Small, separate community groups • Some start and end, and they are disconnected. - How can we bring some of this together coordinator for all groups? • Other Work - Cynefin - Norma working with Cwm Taf, ‘Let’s Go’ Gurnos and Tylorstown • Groundwork - Go Green for Health

• R HS campaign and others Natural Health Services

SECTION 1: MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER

THEME 3 Helping health to fund outdoor activities (building an evidence base). Q1. What would help you and NRW to deliver for this theme? Q2. Based on your discussions for question 1, what are the best 2 ways to take this forward? • S hared outcomes between organisations - rather than separate organisation outcomes

• Marketing - communication linking groups requirements/ funding to a need.

• Referral schemes (outdoors) need to be sustainable.

• V arious partnerships working together to access funding opportunities

• 1. Projects/proposals have to be sustainable!

• Access to spaces - NRW land

• 2. Standardising data collection we’re all doing it separately

• R eferral activities available for the whole family

Q3. Who do think you (and your organisation) could work more closely with to help better deliver the 7 themes? • Local Elected members • Community Connectors (the busy bodies) • Choirs/Ramblers Associations • Sports Teams - Rugby Clubs • Area-based approaches happening in Council, UHB, Interlink, NRW - let’s work together with communities • Community Associations • Local/Public Service Boards - top partnership of the area

• 4. An organisation to hold/ centralise tools as small groups can’t necessarily afford them, eg. WEMWEB, Outcome Stars, EQ5D these are the tools WG recognises

• Media - Journalism - positive perception - tourism

• Health and Wellbeing • Financing long-term projects • Better communication to access projects • Know Your Area’ • Open space accessible

• Funding - WG, UA’s, community chest funds, grants

• National Third Sector

• 3. Partners working better together

• Ski lift at bike parks

• 7 PF - NRW - Phoenix - Road Safety - wild land/fire

• Welsh Government • There is a Cwm Taf Public Engagement Group - set up to look at joint engagement needs across our organisations - We are a resource - (Contact Heledd) • Private Grant Funding • SWFRS - change personnel location - utilise staff

• Standardise monitoring and compiling data

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THEME 4 A Restored Hydrology in the Rhondda. How do we achieve this? Q1. What would help you and NRW to deliver for this theme? Q2. Based on your discussions for question 1, what are the best 2 ways to take this forward? Group: Daniel Lewis, Jonathan Mead, Liz Dean, Gareth Henson, Hywel Abbot, Ian Woodland, Michelle Russ • R econnect people to rivers - Value river (enjoy) - promote - look after - attract people (tourism)

• C hange perception that water is dangerous and a threat - It shouldn’t be kept in pipes below ground or fenced off with defences - Treat it as an Asset!

• People disconnected from rivers flood defences - urbanised

• M icro-connections - surface water to foul also an issue

• Wind farm - opportunity to set a precedent - mitigate correctly. Create an example or model that can be replicated on other wind farm developments

• M anage run-off at source, rather than working the end of a pipe symptomatic solutions

• England - catchment management partnerships - led by DEFRA and EA - involve stakeholders (All) apply this to Wales/ Rhondda? • Greater opportunity for funding • Innovative run-off techniques opportunity • Landowner - improve way farmers use land, basic changes in farming practices • Publicity

ehaviour change campaigns WQ • B - Yellow Fish campaign - Let’s Stop the Block

• Maintenance • W orking together across organisations to maximise financial investment to deliver multiple benefits and increase potential for grant funding • R etrofit examples -= Llanelli, Gowerton, Grangetown, Waunlwyd • T ake SuDs out of the too hard box on the basis of geology and ground conditions. Use the whole run off destination hierarchy to look at more innovative solutions.

• N ot just about new development will only maintain status quo.

• Partnerships - holistic approach in environment

etrofit SuDs need to be used to • R make improvements.

• Regulation

• W ind farm mitigation money not being match-funded to restore the peat bogs.

• Improve and sell fishing in the Rhondda

• E conomic value of angling development - we should be more bold in promoting valleys fishing. • C atchment partnerships - lead partners and stakeholders will be more effective than individual organisations all doing their own thing • B ridgend Natural Neighbourhoods - Water video • Re-engage people with their rivers • Education and visits eeds better publication/media • N presence • L oss of forestry is concern restore to peat? • 5 % Future - landowners give up land for tree-planting • U sing wind farm money to match fund • W ind farm mitigation needs to be understood and how to maximise benefits • J oined-up approach between organisations and within organisations

• re-wetting upland peat bogs

• Culverts are main cause/source of flooding in the Rhondda • SUDS - new and retrofitting • DCWW is doing this now in Wales • Share funding • Ecosystem services approach in Wales • CBA - England - catchment partnerships • Education - working in partnership • Hedgerow restoration and tree planting • Improved land management needs to engage landowners and farmers. • Larch removal - if large blocks felled at once issues for water runoff/flooding, debris and culvertblocking • Peat bog restoration opportunities wind farm restoration of peat bogs - long term management by conservation grazing • Land management for farmers change subsidy regime to reduce stocking levels, improve soil quality

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THEME 4 A Restored Hydrology in the Rhondda. How do we achieve this? Q1. What would help you and NRW to deliver for this theme? Q2. Based on your discussions for question 1, what are the best 2 ways to take this forward? • Shout loud how good area is. • Austerity and risk/need to join up • Engage communities - engage landowners • recreational improvement opportunities • Block drains - slow water down • De-forest conifers - replace with broad-leafed cover in right areas

Q3. Who do think you (and your organisation) could work more closely with to help better deliver the 7 themes? • Housing

• Schools

• Education (LEA?)

• Funding

• Need the decision makers present - key projects or issues can be agreed on the day

• Elected Representatives • Need to make the rivers valuable to people

• Awareness of what is already there • Shout about the good - media inc. and working - develop rather than social media reinvent - find the gaps and plan • What does the public want? to fill them. • What does hydrology mean to • Cynefin - Everyone them? • Cwm Taf - NRW - staff swap over (informal secondment) • The Public

• Grant scheme for farms and landowners - habitat management - improved soil and water management - hedgerow restoration

• Fed of C.F.&G. - links to Cwm Taf

• Statutory Agencies

• Vattenfall, Education, Universities

• Outdoor Visitor Centres

• Missing: Space Savers, Housing Associations, Network Rail

• Training and Education

• Partnerships - Wye and Usk, Coed Cymru (Pontbren), NRW, WG, LAs

• What do the public want?

• Clean and Clun

• Community Groups • Community engagement • The heads with the power

• Salmon in the classroom - river schools • School/college field trips • River restoration qualification Agored Cymru Level 1 • Preventative work is important!!! Saves emergency spending • Universities - Researchers

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THEME 5 Improving Access to the countryside Q1. What would help you and NRW to deliver for this theme? Q2. Based on your discussions for question 1, what are the best 2 ways to take this forward? Group: Andy Robinson, John Spanswick, Gwyn Smith, Stacey Delbridge, Ray Edwards, Ceri Lloyd, Arry Beresford-Webb • D estination management hubs • Community adopted informal routes - difficult to promote • Signage locally agreed location, but inconsistent colours etc. • Work together - destination plan/Active travel - Long routes, community routes. signage, web, money, etc. • Need to consider access for buggies, disabled, etc. • Reinvigorated local access forum • Rights of way - Ramblers and RCT & NRW work together • Promote trails • Share new trails with RCT - Ceri Lloyd • Dark Sky initiative - H&S can be a barrier

• I ssue with loops and links no longer being maintained • Access for dog walkers • Sharing Data • N RW contacts and coordination rights of way, forestry land • W eb access to all routes/trails, formal and informal • R amblers surveys of all paths/ routes etc across Wales • L AF. could be utilized better to help coordinate ‘access’ issues. • Pathwatch - Ramblers GB

• N RW internal communication tends to be a barrier to progress

• Shared data RCT, NRW, Sustrans

• F orestry informing of operations to PROW

• Strict guidelines on signing

• S maller local access groups, because current LAF too big issues too general • O rganisations/communities taking ownership over routes - not necessarily PROW • K ey contacts in organisations need list • R estore ROW on NRW land historic issues of forestry land • H ealth and Safety - excess paperwork - too many hurdles • Working with Ramblers Cymru • P ull all trails together into one place for the public to access • C VBP route (Church Village ByPass) = success story

• NRW - Harvesting v. Recreation • NRW to come up with strict signing guidelines • changing decision and information • Make it easy to find the correct people • Improved working together and practice • Barrier to Support organisation • Changing staff • providing information, PROW’s, picnic sites etc • Show where local amenities and facilities are and look at safe access • Use Ramblers data to improve maintenance • LAF - re-invent

• W aymarking - needs to be done by people who are not familiar with the route

• Renew ROWIP

• Need ROWIP V.2

ore dog poo bins or improved • M education/fines

• National Path Maintenance Volunteers

• L ink with Let’s Walk Cymru (contact - Melanie Jones) and Ramblers Cymru re: recommended trails, both identifying and promoting (cerddwyr@ramblers.org.uk)

• O ne place to promote trails and improve consistency

• P otential links with Ramblers volunteers - path maintenance, recommended routes, Waymarking, promoting

• H ealthy routes linked to doctors/ hospitals

• A dd information re. history and heritage, local flora and fauna, famous people etc. • I mprove access barriers - consider dogs, prams etc.

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THEME 5 Improving Access to the countryside Q3. Who do think you (and your organisation) could work more closely with to help better deliver the 7 themes?

• Who? • Welsh health impact assessment support unit Liz Green • RCT - NRW - Ramblers Cymru Sustrans • Keep Wales Tidy • Sustrans • RCT Row

• A gree priority routes and develop a joint action plan apping - consistent approach • M one stop shop • S tart small - partnership group SLA Needed • Communities - local volunteers • NRW

• Communities First • RCT Tourism • Planning Dept • Local Planning Authority • Local Knowledge • Groundwork? - when referred • RCT Regeneration • Neighbouring authorities • Tread lightly • British Horse Society • Destination Management Hub • What ? • Planning Enforcement • Promotion

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THEME 6 Changing Perceptions of the Rhondda – Economic regeneration, tourism Q1. What would help you and NRW to deliver for this theme? Q2. Based on your discussions for question 1, what are the best 2 ways to take this forward?

• S how CYP and they will tell their parents • C ouncil RCT together/voluntary sector - campaign - support what’s already there e.g. bike doctor, social enterprise and business

• E ngagement with local people People feel alienated from their natural assets,

• B uild trust between large organisations and communities get the legality sorted out. • E mploy local people - employment is empowerment

• O rganisations need visionary people, a new message is needed

• Y ou have to give something back - we’re asking communities to fulfil statutory duties - Involve community connectors

• Get more people on the ground, working in the communities we’re talking about

• W hat are the economic benefits to the community from this work? Money going back in?

• Work in communities to fix small things, people see change and then help professionals - senior managers in many organisations need to recognise this

• S ocial entrepreneurs, community energy, local business opening to complement our natural assets

Group: Heledd Morgan, John Jenkins, Ian Thomas, Kay Galvin, Calum MacIntosh, Rachel Price

• Profit is not a swear word • NRW and partners need to consider this • NRW need to move away from regulatory/enforcement and more to management of natural resources • NRW need to be mandated by Welsh Govt to lead on management of natural resources BE CLEAR

• R ole models within organisations take people around the valleys and show people

• Doing with not to. • G rant/fund handouts have not helped

• Community engagement and consultation = social marketing • Control media - stop negative news - it encourages ‘copycat’ crimes and ASB • Early Education - to encourage the use of natural resources • Changes to the mandatory curriculum

This theme group did not discuss question 3.

• P ublic Service boards need a joint statement based on social justice All organisations signed up • H elping to deliver this - we’re the wrong people • We’re professionals. • G et up there and speak to these communities • Approach it in a different way.

• A sset based community Development - local associations need to be at the table not us

• W e err on the negatives - business closures, economic problems - we should focus on job creation and social justice - everyone needs to pay their bills

• I s there a perception change needed - or is it just about focussing on the positives?

• R ole models within organisations take people around the valleys and show people

• M edia coverage - create a story/ tourism - look at NZ tourism, employ local people and they benefit - be visionary

• Physical changes - simple task • N RW - engage local groups, organisations, schools

THEME 7 Collecting what works-ideas, models, case studies. How can we do this and share learning? This theme was not included as a table exercise and was incorporated instead within the Ideas Tree (see page 9).

SECTION 1: MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER

PARTICIPANTS

NAME

ORGANISATION

JOB TITLE

Fran Oâ€™Hara

Scarlet Design / Working With Not To

Lead Facilitator

Kay Galvin

S Wales Fire & Rescue Service

Youth Services Manager

Shaun Moody

S Wales Fire & Rescue Service

Group Manager

John Jenkins

S Wales Fire & Rescue Service

Station Commander

Dr David Llewellyn

Blaengad

Research Associate

Liz Dean

Rhondda Cynon Taf

Environmental Planner

Heledd Morgan

Rhondda Cynon Taf

Partnerships Manager

Ian Woodland

Rhondda Cynon Taf

Emergency Response

Richard Wistow

Rhondda Cynon Taf

County Ecologist

Michelle Gibbs

Rhondda Cynon Taf

Community Sports Officer

Julie Price

Rhondda Cynon Taf

Sport

Lee Davies

Rhondda Cynon Taf

Sport

John Spanswick

Rhondda Cynon Taf

Parks & Countryside Manager

Ceri Lloyd

Rhondda Cynon Taf

Destination Management

Ray Edwards

Rhondda Cynon Taf

Landscape Architect

Stacey Delbridge

Rhondda Cynon Taf

Public Rights of Way Officer

Jonathan Mead

South East Wales Rivers Trust

Operations Director

Gwyn Smith

Sustrans

SE Wales Area Manager

Gareth Henson

Coed Cymru

SE Wales Officer

Victoria Norman

Cwm Taf Health Board

Senior Health Promotion Practitioner

Ken Moon

Interlink

Community Advice & Support

Caryn Le Roux

Welsh Government

Biodiversity Policy Team Leader

Gabi Torkington

Cynefin (Rhondda Cynon Taf)

Place based Coordinator

Norma Greene

Cynefin (Merthyr Tydfil)

Place based Coordinator

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PARTICIPANTS

NAME

ORGANISATION

JOB TITLE

Michelle Russ

Dwr Cymru / Welsh Water

Rainscape Regulation Manager

Rosalind Davis

Communities First

Cluster Manager

Martyn Broughton

Sports Nutrition

Based in RCT

Joanne Nicholas

Merthyr Tydfil CBC

Rural Action Programme Coordinator

Sam Holt

Federation of City Farms & Community Gardens

SE Wales Development Officer

Charlene Davis

SEWBReC

Biodiversity Information Assistant

Hywel Abbott

Groundwork

Healthy Rivers Project Officer

Arry Beresford-Webb

Ramblers

Wales Development Manager

Ian Thomas

Welcome to our Woods

Project Officer

Calum MacIntosh

Welcome to our Woods

Chair, Cwmsaebren Steering Group

Mike Ash

RCT Local Access Forum

Forum member

Jamie Rowland

The Bicycle Doctor, Porth

Local business owner

Darren Bowden

Bicycle Doctor Cycling Club Treasurer

Club Treasurer

Jill Price

Daerwynno Outdoor Centre

Director

Wynford Price

Daerwynno Outdoor Centre

Director

Gary Evans

Fly Tipping Action Wales

Programme Manager

Christian Servini

Natural Resources Wales

Rhondda NRM Trial Lead Officer

Becky Davies

Natural Resources Wales

Rhondda NRM Trial Lead Officer

Andy Robinson

Natural Resources Wales

Natural Resources Planning Manager

Adell Bridges

Natural Resources Wales

Come Outside! Officer

Daniel Lewis

Natural Resources Wales

Water Framework Directive

Nigel Pugh

Nigel Pugh Photography

Photographer

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SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE EVENT

“Delivered well, very organised - good time keeping!” “Very good. Many links established.” “Very interesting topics and lots of good opportunities to chat and share info. and ideas.”

“Plenty of workshops and opportunity to network.”

“Good chance to network and discuss ideas.”

What worked for you today?

“General format was very good and facilitated discussion.” “Presentations informative and good intro to workshop sessions.”

“Efficiently run.”

“Good speakers, liked the graphic boards.” “Generated good ideas.” “Very good, set action plans and mandates.”

“Ability to discuss the theme that was most appropriate to me.” “Great venue. Questions focussed more on Who / How / When and next steps.”

“Plenty of chance to talk and share.”

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FRAN O’HARA – LEAD FACILITATOR SCARLET DESIGN & ‘WORKING WITH NOT TO’ Fran O’Hara is the founder and MD of Scarlet Design Int. Ltd, a strategic design, training and visual facilitation company based in Cardiff. Fran brings a wealth of expertise, gained from 4 years at Disney in Hong Kong and Los Angeles and 16+ years working with multi-sector clients. These range from global giants such as Walt Disney Company, Shell and Vodafone, to the Welsh Government, NHS Wales, 1000 Lives Improvement, local authorities, Wales Audit Office, CHC and South Wales Fire & Rescue Service. Fran is an IFVP member, and experienced in using her expert skills to facilitate and lead events, world cafés, conferences, focus groups, workshops, meetings, planning and staff days to develop strategies and stories to share messages and engage. She works with organisations to identify their stories and to co-create the most effective, accessible communication tools to engage with their audience - both on and off-line. This could be a strategic vision map… an engagement toolkit… a hand-drawn video or live large scale ‘visual minutes’. www.franohara.com ohara@scarletdesign.com @fran_ohara Fran is also director of the ‘Working With Not To’ a social enterprise which work across Wales to grow co-production from ‘grassroots’ up, to create resilient and self-empowered people, communities and organisations. www.workingwithnotto.com @workingwithnot2

SECTION 1: MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER

APPENDIX 1 TABLE EXERCISES (WORLD CAFÉ): What will a healthy and vibrant Rhondda look like, which uses all our assets and makes the most of everything we’ve got here?

THEME 1 Management of public land [environmental focus] & nature recovery in the Valleys.

APPENDIX 1: MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER

APPENDIX 1 TABLE EXERCISES (WORLD CAFÉ): What will a healthy and vibrant Rhondda look like, which uses all our assets and makes the most of everything we’ve got here?

THEME 2 Creating “Capable Guardians” – involving local people in the places around them. 26

APPENDIX 1: MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER

APPENDIX 1 TABLE EXERCISES (WORLD CAFÉ): What will a healthy and vibrant Rhondda look like, which uses all our assets and makes the most of everything we’ve got here?

THEME 3 Helping health to fund outdoor activities (building an evidence base). 27

APPENDIX 1: MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER

APPENDIX 1 TABLE EXERCISES (WORLD CAFÉ): What will a healthy and vibrant Rhondda look like, which uses all our assets and makes the most of everything we’ve got here?

THEME 4 A Restored Hydrology in the Rhondda. How do we achieve this? 28

APPENDIX 1: MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER

APPENDIX 1 TABLE EXERCISES (WORLD CAFÉ): What will a healthy and vibrant Rhondda look like, which uses all our assets and makes the most of everything we’ve got here?

THEME 5 Improving Access to the countryside 29

APPENDIX 1: MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER

APPENDIX 1 TABLE EXERCISES (WORLD CAFÉ): What will a healthy and vibrant Rhondda look like, which uses all our assets and makes the most of everything we’ve got here?

THEME 6 Changing Perceptions of the Rhondda – Economic regeneration, tourism 30

APPENDIX 1: MAKING THE MOST OF ALL OUR ASSETS IN THE RHONDDA 2: CREATING A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT RHONDDA TOGETHER

APPENDIX 2

Summary of public engagement events in the Rhondda Summer 2015

Rhondda natural resource management trial 31

September 2015

1 Introduction To help us prepare and deliver a trial Area Statement for the natural resource management trial in the Rhondda, we continue to engage with partners and communities for their views. In spring 2015, we held two formal stakeholder engagement workshops in the Rhondda for partners and community groups to attend. The aim of these events was to help identify potential priorities and opportunities for managing the area’s natural resources that could deliver multiple benefits for the people, economy and environment. We also wanted to explore better ways of working between partners to help deliver the emerging priorities and opportunities. In the summer of 2015, we shifted our focus to the people who live, work and play in the Rhondda to find out their views. The views of the public are critical to help us identify the social, economic and environmental needs of the area. To do this, we attended a variety of community events which helped us gather information relating to energy (past, present and future), skills / jobs, what people most like / love about their area, how they use the outdoors and what their aspirations for their communities are. This document is a summary of the public events we attended, the methods and materials we used to engage, and the main findings.

Residents completing the Rhondda A5 flyers

Summary of public engagement events in the Rhondda, summer 2015 APPENDIX 2: SUMMARY OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS IN THE RHONDDA SUMMER 2015 RHONDDA NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRIAL REPORT

2 Community events: summer 2015 To complement our ongoing engagement work with professional organisations, we worked with the local authority and other partners to plan and attend a variety of community events held in the summer of 2015. We chose to take part in community events already planned for the area to avoid duplication, and help ourselves and partners save time / money. We attended the events highlighted below in July and August 2015 to help gather people’s views on a healthy and vibrant Rhondda: • Youth Wellbeing Day at Ferndale Comprehensive, Rhondda (22 August) Attended by children and teenagers from the 5 main comprehensive schools in the Rhondda. • ‘Have a voice in the Valleys’ at Rhondda Fach Sports Centre, Rhondda (23 July) *see below for further information A co-‐organised community engagement event between ourselves (NRW) and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough council, who are also trialling an area based approach to how they deliver their services. Attended by children, parents and local users of the sports centre. Approximately 180 people attended with 65 people completing the Snap Survey. The main themes discussed were jobs / training / skills, with information gathered via snap survey, post-‐it notes and our own A5 flyers.

Flyer for the NRW / RCT organised event, ‘Have a voice in the Valleys’.

Summary of public engagement events in the Rhondda, summer 2015 APPENDIX 2: SUMMARY OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS IN THE RHONDDA SUMMER 2015 RHONDDA NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRIAL REPORT

• ‘Stories of Change’ at Treherbert Library, Rhondda (28 July – 4 August) A unique, nostalgic and successful two week event held in the disused Treherbert Library. The event was led by Blaengad, Storyworks and Welcome to our Woods, with nearly 700 members of the community attending over the 2 weeks. The main themes at this event were energy (past, present and future), the upper Rhondda, recreation and anything else visitors wanted to chat about. • Big Welsh Bite at Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd (1-‐2 August) The Welsh food and agriculture show is a two day food festival featuring locally grown produce. Toolkit (see section 4) used by our colleagues in the Taff Natural Resource Management team. 44 flyers were completed by festival goers.

Pic 1) At the NRW / RCT co-‐organised Voice in the Valleys event; Pic 2) Visitor at the Big Welsh Bite Festival completing an A5 flyer; Pic 3) Chatting with Treherbert residents

Summary of public engagement events in the Rhondda, summer 2015 APPENDIX 2: SUMMARY OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS IN THE RHONDDA SUMMER 2015 RHONDDA NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRIAL REPORT

3 Engagement materials To meet and talk with the community, we worked with our facilitator to create a visually striking toolkit which we could take to a range of places. Our bilingual and modular community engagement toolkit shown below, is designed to be used either with a person present, or as a standalone poster / leaflet / ideas box. The Rhondda landscape visual shows some of the different ways people can use their local environment.

Summary of public engagement events in the Rhondda, summer 2015 APPENDIX 2: SUMMARY OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS IN THE RHONDDA SUMMER 2015 RHONDDA NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRIAL REPORT

4 Methodology A5 flyer questionnaires Our engagement with the public took place through informal conversations at the various events we attended. To capture the views of the public, we asked people to complete one of our A5 flyers (as shown in the toolkit in section 4). The flyers have a tickbox for ‘place / postcode’ and age category to capture a simple demographic, and includes 3 questions for people to answer: 1. What do you most like / love about your area? 2. How do you use the outdoors in your local area? 3. What are your ideas for improving your local area? Over 100 people completed the A5 flyers. Snap survey For the co-‐organised ‘Have a voice in the Valleys’ event in the Rhondda Fach Sports Centre, snap survey questionnaires (tablet and paper) and community asset mapping techniques were used to record responses. A videographer was used to record the event, and carried out a series of on camera interviews with attendees. 65 people completed the Snap Survey. Maps We took enlarged maps of local areas to two of the public events to enable people to write, draw and scribble any information they wanted. The maps work well and have provided us with a wide range of information including: crime and anti-‐social behaviour spots, common areas for walking, spots of nature interest, and other information relating to local flooding issues etc.

Summary of public engagement events in the Rhondda, summer 2015 APPENDIX 2: SUMMARY OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS IN THE RHONDDA SUMMER 2015 RHONDDA NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRIAL REPORT

APPENDIX 2: SUMMARY OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS IN THE RHONDDA SUMMER 2015 RHONDDA NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRIAL REPORT

Overview of question 1 46% of the people who responded stated that the hills, countryside and woodlands are what they most love about their area. 26% of people responded to say how much they love their local parks and green spaces (including sports pitches) and the scenery. Together, this represents 72% of all responses where people refer to green spaces and the surrounding countryside as the reason they most love where they live. The other significant response was the sense of community spirit in the Rhondda. ‘We have some o f the most beautiful scenery and love seeing the greenery change colour through the seasons’

‘I love the people ‘I love the trails and countryside’ and community’ spirit’ Overview of question 2 Walking and cycling are by far the most common uses of the outdoors in the Rhondda. 58% of the people who responded use the outdoors for walking (including walking their dogs), 14% cycle and use bike trails, 10% like to both walk and cycle. Together, this means 82% of respondents either like to walk or cycle in the Rhondda. The remainder includes participation in other sports including climbing, golf, cricket, rugby and football, and fishing.

‘I love walking, enjoying the scenery, picking winberries’

‘I’m 14 and love walking up the mountain with my dad’

‘I walk the mountains and often take my grandchildren on nature walks’

Summary of public engagement events in the Rhondda, summer 2015 APPENDIX 2: SUMMARY OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS IN THE RHONDDA SUMMER 2015 RHONDDA NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRIAL REPORT

Overview of question 3 The largest response to what could help people’s local area is to tackle crime and anti-‐social behaviour (26%). Other significant responses include more activities for children and teenagers (20%), improving access for recreation (17%), and bringing jobs / education and training to the Rhondda (16%). Other answers related to improving the local environment (6%), reducing traffic congestion (5%), using disused / empty buildings (5%), promoting the valleys (3%), as well as other comments including community food growing. ‘We need dedicated green ‘Install proper cycle lanes ‘I’d like to see more recreation areas for adventure, and on the roads and raise to make the most of the open free to access’ awareness of the spaces, e.g. horse riding, benefits of cycling’ hiking clubs, and cycle tracks’ ‘Community ownership ‘We need a crackdown on and better access to our anti-‐social behaviour’ natural resources’ ‘We need more things for ‘We need cleaner rivers ‘Getting the community and more ways for to work together to tidy kids to do to keep them up their area’ busy’ people to get involved’

Summary of public engagement events in the Rhondda, summer 2015 APPENDIX 2: SUMMARY OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS IN THE RHONDDA SUMMER 2015 RHONDDA NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRIAL REPORT

Snap Survey results The information above highlights people’s responses to the 3 questions asked on our A5 flyers (further information about our engagement toolkit is in Section 4). In addition to this, 65 people completed a Snap Survey at the ‘Have a voice in the Valleys’ event organised by NRW and Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC in the Rhondda Fach Sports Centre on 23 July 2015. From the Snap Survey questions, 63% of respondents highlighted their desire to see more jobs and learning opportunities to improve the area. After this, 30% of respondents wanted a nicer environment with 6.5% highlighting improved health services. With regard to who people perceive to be responsible for bringing improvements to the area, 28% of responses identified the government as being responsible, with another 28% identifying the Council as the lead authority for improvements. However, a reassuring number (28%) made specific reference to improvement being the combined responsibility of organisations, communities and individuals. Just 1.7% of responses put the onus on themselves to facilitate change in the area. In response to being asked about what they most love about their area, the majority of respondents highlighted the people and community spirit, followed by the natural and outdoor environment. Attendees identified the Rhondda as a good place for outdoor activities such as walking, bike riding and walking their dogs, and the natural environment was commonly highlighted as something people love about their area. There were both positive and negative feelings recorded about the future of the area. Negative responses were more focussed and highlighted people’s concerns over the lack of funding in the area, a perceived lack of political interest, a lack of jobs / prospects, as well as concerns over the increase in crime and anti-‐social behaviour. Despite this, many attendees were positive about what they felt they could give to the area, e.g. skills, time and volunteering.

Summary of public engagement events in the Rhondda, summer 2015 APPENDIX 2: SUMMARY OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS IN THE RHONDDA SUMMER 2015 RHONDDA NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRIAL REPORT

6 Summary of key messages From all the responses we collected in the summer of 2015, several clear messages emerged which highlight that many people in the Rhondda: • Love their surrounding countryside, local parks, and scenery and are proud of the strong sense of community spirit • Enjoy using the outdoors for walking, dog walking, cycling etc but would like to see better provision for walkers and cyclists • Don’t venture into surrounding countryside, despite their relative close proximity to outdoors spaces • Would like to see more jobs / opportunities in the area and address the constant threat of crime and anti-‐social behaviour • Are concerned about a lack of activities / things to do for children and teenagers in the area. The results of the 3 questions are illustrated in charts below. Next steps The information we’ve gathered from the public so far will form part of our supporting information to help us prepare and deliver a trial Area Statement for the Rhondda. Combined with the views of our partners, this evidence will help us to identify the priorities and opportunities for how we manage the Rhondda’s natural resources. In the coming months, we will continue to seek the views of the public. Adopting the same approach we used in the summer of 2015, we will work together with partners to focus on participating at community events that are already planned for the area.

Summary of public engagement events in the Rhondda, summer 2015 APPENDIX 2: SUMMARY OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS IN THE RHONDDA SUMMER 2015 RHONDDA NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRIAL REPORT

Question 1: What do you most like / love about your area?

Other 6%

Wildlife 5%

Tranquility 2%

Urban green spaces 12% Countryside 46%

Scenery 14%

Community spirit 15%

Summary of public engagement events in the Rhondda, summer 2015 APPENDIX 2: SUMMARY OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS IN THE RHONDDA SUMMER 2015 RHONDDA NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRIAL REPORT

Question 2: How do you use the outdoors in your local area? Fishing 2% Other sports 16%

Walking & cycling 10%

Walking (inc. dog walking) 58%

Cycling & biking trails 14%

Summary of public engagement events in the Rhondda, summer 2015 APPENDIX 2: SUMMARY OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS IN THE RHONDDA SUMMER 2015 RHONDDA NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRIAL REPORT

Question 3: What are your ideas for improving your local area? Promote the valleys Other 2% Reopen / use disused buildings 3% 5% Improve traﬃc congescon 5%

Address anc-‐social behaviour 26%

Improve local environment 6%

Jobs, educacon, training 16%

More accvices for youth 20%

Improve recreacon 17%

Summary of public engagement events in the Rhondda, summer 2015 APPENDIX 2: SUMMARY OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS IN THE RHONDDA SUMMER 2015 RHONDDA NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRIAL REPORT

Thank you to everyone who has filled out a flyer so far! We’ll continue to gather the views of partners and the public over the coming months.

If you would like to find out more, please email us on: rhondda@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk w www.naturalresources.wales e enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk twitter @NatResWales t Customer Care Centre 0300 065 3000 (Mon-‐Fri, 8am-‐6pm)

Summary of public engagement events in the Rhondda, summer 2015