This is my favourite welsh peak Tryfan
ERYRI NATIONAL PARK (SNOWDONIA)
NORTH WALES
Eryri or the Snowdonia National Park was designated a National park in 1951, the third National Park to be created in England and Wales under the 1949 National Parks and Access to the countryside Act. It is the second largest National park in England and Wales, covering some 2,171 square kilometres (838 square miles) of north west Wales, and including the Carneddau, and Glyderau mountain ranges as well as the Highest mountain in England and Wales (1085m/3560ft)- Yr Wyddfa (the Tomb in welsh), or Snowdon from which the Park takes its (english) name. The welsh name Eryri means 'place of the eagles'.
Crib Goch and the summit of Yr Wyddfa in winter
Eryri contains not only some of the most beautiful scenery in Britain but also contains a variety of landscapes, and habitats for animals, birds and plants; from 23 miles (37km) of coastline with sand dunes, estuaries; to glacial valleys, the remnants of broad -leaved woodlands of oak, ash, rowan and hazel that once covered the mountain slopes, lakes, streams and open mountains. There are more National Nature reserves in Eryri than any other National Park in Britain and it is home to many nationally and internationally rare species such as the Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, and the Snowdon Lily (Lloydia Serotina) an arctic/alpine plant only present in the park, and the beautiful rainbow coloured snowdon Beetle (chrysolina cerealis)found only around Yr Wyddfa.
View from Tryfan
Trum y ddysgl
It is also an area steeped in history and Legend and was the natural fortress for the Princes of Gwynedd and for Llywelyn, the last true Prince of Wales.
Dolbadarn Castle below Yr wyddfa, An 11th century castle of the Princes of Wales, and of Llywelyn.
Eryri, unlike many National Parks in Europe and the US, is not a wilderness area, rather it is a landscape where 27,500 people live and work. It is also positioned within the heartland of Welsh speaking Wales and an estimated 65% of the parks inhabitants speak Welsh. For many, Welsh is their first language and the language of choice in everyday conversation, commerce, business and government.
National Parks in Britain are 'national' in the sense that they are of a national value and importance, but they are not nationally owned. The designation of an area as a National park does not affect the ownership of the land, neither does it remove the rights of local communities or infer special rights to the public. Most of the land remains in private ownership, although there are significant areas of Parks that are in public ownership, most notably the Ministry of defence and the Forestry Commission. In Eryri 69.9% of the land is in private ownership, 15.8% is owned by the Forestry Commission, 0.9% by water companies, 8.9 by the National Trust, 1.7% by the Countryside Council for Wales, 1.65 by other groups,and 1.25 by the Park authority itself.
It may be considered incompatible with landscape and nature conservation to have land in private ownership and to have economic landuses in a designated area, however, the International union for Nature and Natural Resources conservation (IUCN) acknowledges that a high proportion of the natural beauty and diversity in the world occurs in areas occupied by people. In recognition of this , IUCN established a category of protected landscapes (category V) in its list of Protected Areas Management Categories. The objectives of Categotry V protected landscapes are:
"to maintain significant areas which are characteristic of
the harmonious interaction of nature and culture, while
providing opportunities for public enjoyment through
recreation and tourism, and supporting the normal life-
style and economic activity of these areas. These areas
also serve scientific and educational purposes, as well as
maintaining biological and cultural diversity".
The 1949 Act defined the purposes of British national parks as:
* preserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the areas,
*promoting their enjoyment by the public
Eryri National Park therefore attempts to reconcile landscape and nature conservation with recreational needs, tourism, and the local economy; whilst attempting to maintain traditional land uses and the cultural heritage of the area.
The National Parks Authority
The 1949 Act set up the National Parks Commission, which was to be responsible for the designation of National Parks and for advising on administrative matters. The functions of the Commission were continued by the Countryside Commission from 1969 and in Wales these responsibilities were transferred in 1991 to the Countryside Council For Wales.
The management and administration of the Park lies in the hands of the National Park Authority. Until the reorganisation of local government in Wales on the 1st April 1996 the Snowdonia National Park was a department of the Gwynedd county council. With the creation of the new unitary authorities of Gwynedd Council and Conwy County Borough Council came also the creation of a new local authority , the Snowdonia National Park Authority.
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This page created and maintained by Gareth A. Rennie,
Division of Environment, Tourism and Leisure; University of Wales, Bangor
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