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NRW Board Paper - DRAFT NRW Recreation Strategy

Robin Grant
Robin Grant

NRW Board Paper - DRAFT NRW Recreation Strategy

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Page 1 of 5 NRW Board Paper Date of meeting: 23rd May 2024 Title of Paper: DRAFT NRW Recreation Strategy Access to nature on the land in our care Paper Reference: 24-05-B09 Paper sponsored by: Ceri Davies Executive Director for Evidence, Policy and Permitting Paper prepared by: Dawn Thompson Recreation Strategy Development Manager (Secondee) Paper presented by: Dawn Thompson Recreation Strategy Development Manager (Secondee) Purpose of the paper Approval Summary Approval of the draft Recreation Strategy for publication Background 1. In September 2022 a decision was made by the Board to develop an Outdoor Recreation Strategy to: Set strategic direction for outdoor recreation on the land cared for by NRW (freehold and leasehold land) and National Nature Reserves managed by NRW. NB: It does not cover sites where NRW does not have direct management, or the NRW flood assets Support decision making Tell the story about what we do and why we do it 2. The Strategy focusses on the land in our care, where we can, and are best placed to, make a difference using our resources, but equally the Strategy will evolve how we work in partnership with others to effect change and drive positive outcomes. 3. The Strategy will see a shift from putting our own resources into creating opportunities for recreation, to being about managing (and in some cases restricting) recreational activity, and supporting others to deliver on the land, to connect people with nature, and support the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR) aims and our well- being objectives. This will also mean that there will be less of our direct resources going into recreation on the land in our care.
Paper Ref: 24-05-B09 Page 2 of 5 4. However despite this shift there will still be a demand for outdoor recreation on the land in our care that we will need to manage using Visitor Safety Group principles. Nearly all of this land is open access, with lots of public rights of way, so people will still come and we cant, by law, stop them. 5. The Strategy has to work at both a national and a place level whilst being realistic within existing resources and financial pressures. The Strategy will also be clear on delivering outcomes that support the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 goals and the Well-being Objectives in NRWs Corporate Plan. 6. It will support decision making on all aspects of managing outdoor recreation access and activities, but have particular focus on social and environmental justice including: Improving inclusive access Promoting responsible behaviour Protecting the natural environment 7. By 2030 the Strategy will have provided the direction to, for example: Enable third parties to step in and deliver intense tourism based activity such as mountain biking and Visitor Centres Have higher quality everyday, informal access in the right places that has even fewer barriers to diverse users Reform our permissions process to have the right activity in the right place, including streamlining those events that need full permission and being clearer where we will say no to requests for events and activities that are not consistent with our Strategy. 8. In January 2023, the Land Estate Committee approved the scope and approach to developing the Strategy using a three phase engagement plan. 9. Approval was also given to extend the timescales for delivering the Recreation Strategy from November 2023 to June 2024. This was to allow a thorough engagement process with internal and external stakeholders to be carried out. 10.This approach and scope was also approved at Board in January 2023. 11.Phase 1 of the engagement plan started in March 2023 with internal insight and evidence gathering, and consisted of horizon scanning (desktop research, site visits and internal meetings), seven questions interviews with 12 members of staff from different grades/roles/geography, and three Future of Recreation face to face workshops attended by 63 staff. 12.Phase 2 started in August 2023 with external stakeholders and further internal engagement to inform the design and development the Strategy. This phase included six internal focus groups attended by 63 staff from across the organisation, a survey for
Paper Ref: 24-05-B09 Page 3 of 5 stakeholders which attracted 3465 responses, six external focus groups attended by 20 representative organisations plus a Local Access Forum chairs specific group. 13.Full reports of both phases of engagement are available on request, but a summary of the key headlines from both phases of engagement are: Partnership working: Emphasis on creating a coordinated and community-focused approach to share resources, access additional funding, engage with local communities, share information, and best practice. Current feeling that NRW is a difficult organisation to engage with and needed to be more outward looking and collaborative. Facilities and infrastructure: Focus on maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure and set standards as these are not consistent at the moment. Ensure long-term maintenance, and dont create new facilities at the risk of neglecting existing ones. Volunteering and collaborating with user groups has immense potential for sustainability. Access and inclusivity: Prioritising accessibility for all users, considering diverse needs, and promoting alternative sites to reduce overcrowding in popular areas. Focus more on community connectivity and sustainable travel to sites. People need to be clearer on what they can and cannot do, but dont put barriers in the way of access (physical, psychological and process). Visitor engagement: Connect with audiences in their space rather than expecting them to come to us. Use positive influencers and work with partners to raise awareness of responsible recreation. Evidence and data: Recommendations to adapt to post-COVID conditions, engage in new research but also understand more about what data and evidence is already out there. Use data to balance increased demand with ecological impacts, alongside efforts to manage illegal activities / misuse. Tourism and commercial: Encouragement to explore commercial products and partnerships, with support for sporting events and overnight camping to generate direct income. Caveat though that this should be done considering the impact on sites and aligning with NRW's goals and financial realities. 14.The final phase of engagement (phase 3) to present the draft Strategy has included internal endorsement from the Land Estate Committee on 13 February, Land Stewardship Business Group on Tuesday 26 March 2024, and Executive Team on Tuesday 23 April 2024. 15.Staff have also been able to see the draft via the intranet and through a webinar.
Paper Ref: 24-05-B09 Page 4 of 5 16.External stakeholders have also been engaged with the draft being presented to Local Access Forum chairs meeting on 21 February 2024 and National Access Forum members meeting on 5 March 2024, where it has received support from both Forums. Risks, Risk Appetite and opportunities 17.For the Strategic Risks, the Strategy is relevant to the following in particular by clearly supporting the Corporate Plan Well-being Objectives, and providing a clear decision making framework: "Risk 1: Failure to deliver the vision and mission set out in our Corporate Plan as a result of our values and ways of working not being aligned to support its delivery" "Risk 5: Failure to achieve financial sustainability" 18.For Land Stewardship Business Group risks the Strategy helps manage the following in particular: "Risk 5: Failure to manage potential for costs of NRW Estate management to outstrip income and availability of grant in aid (over next 3 years)" "Risk 3: Failure to achieve required standards of operational management on the NRW Estate". 19.The Strategy will provide opportunity to really focus on a core aim to connect people with nature through a sustainable use of resources by: Delivering a sustainable future Improving internal integration Improving processes and decision making Improving external collaboration Wider implications 20.Well-being Objectives: The Strategy supports the SMNR aims, and also supports the three well-being objectives through its focus on connecting people to nature. 21.Finance: n/a 22.Resource implications: The Strategy will give opportunity to refine the recreational offer and increase efficiencies. 23.Equality: An Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) was developed for the engagement process to develop the Strategy, but going forward the outputs of the Strategy are in scope of the Land Stewardship Service Plan and are therefore covered by its Equality Impact Assessment. The EqIAs are available on request.
Paper Ref: 24-05-B09 Page 5 of 5 24.Data Protection: n/a Next Steps 25.Publication of the final strategy in June 2024 26.Continued internal communications and implementation via the Land Stewardship centre out Place in and back again Service Planning approach. Recommendation 27.Approval of the draft Recreation Strategy. Index of Annexes Annex 1 People and nature thriving together draft Recreation Strategy Approval / Consultation process Responsible: Who has developed the paper/process and who has had input? Dawn Thompson and Dominic Driver Accountable: Who is accountable for the ultimate approval? Who will be or is being asked to approve? NRW Board Consulted: Who has been consulted to date? Where endorsement is required, is this in place? Will further consultation be required? Internal stakeholders including land management, people, and places, and outdoor, access & recreation teams, Commercial and Land Estate Committee External stakeholders including Welsh Government, National Access Forum, Local Access Forums and representative bodies Informed: Who has been informed or who needs to be further information about the work? Internal and external stakeholders

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NRW Board Paper - DRAFT NRW Recreation Strategy

  • 1. Page 1 of 5 NRW Board Paper Date of meeting: 23rd May 2024 Title of Paper: DRAFT NRW Recreation Strategy Access to nature on the land in our care Paper Reference: 24-05-B09 Paper sponsored by: Ceri Davies Executive Director for Evidence, Policy and Permitting Paper prepared by: Dawn Thompson Recreation Strategy Development Manager (Secondee) Paper presented by: Dawn Thompson Recreation Strategy Development Manager (Secondee) Purpose of the paper Approval Summary Approval of the draft Recreation Strategy for publication Background 1. In September 2022 a decision was made by the Board to develop an Outdoor Recreation Strategy to: Set strategic direction for outdoor recreation on the land cared for by NRW (freehold and leasehold land) and National Nature Reserves managed by NRW. NB: It does not cover sites where NRW does not have direct management, or the NRW flood assets Support decision making Tell the story about what we do and why we do it 2. The Strategy focusses on the land in our care, where we can, and are best placed to, make a difference using our resources, but equally the Strategy will evolve how we work in partnership with others to effect change and drive positive outcomes. 3. The Strategy will see a shift from putting our own resources into creating opportunities for recreation, to being about managing (and in some cases restricting) recreational activity, and supporting others to deliver on the land, to connect people with nature, and support the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR) aims and our well- being objectives. This will also mean that there will be less of our direct resources going into recreation on the land in our care.
  • 2. Paper Ref: 24-05-B09 Page 2 of 5 4. However despite this shift there will still be a demand for outdoor recreation on the land in our care that we will need to manage using Visitor Safety Group principles. Nearly all of this land is open access, with lots of public rights of way, so people will still come and we cant, by law, stop them. 5. The Strategy has to work at both a national and a place level whilst being realistic within existing resources and financial pressures. The Strategy will also be clear on delivering outcomes that support the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 goals and the Well-being Objectives in NRWs Corporate Plan. 6. It will support decision making on all aspects of managing outdoor recreation access and activities, but have particular focus on social and environmental justice including: Improving inclusive access Promoting responsible behaviour Protecting the natural environment 7. By 2030 the Strategy will have provided the direction to, for example: Enable third parties to step in and deliver intense tourism based activity such as mountain biking and Visitor Centres Have higher quality everyday, informal access in the right places that has even fewer barriers to diverse users Reform our permissions process to have the right activity in the right place, including streamlining those events that need full permission and being clearer where we will say no to requests for events and activities that are not consistent with our Strategy. 8. In January 2023, the Land Estate Committee approved the scope and approach to developing the Strategy using a three phase engagement plan. 9. Approval was also given to extend the timescales for delivering the Recreation Strategy from November 2023 to June 2024. This was to allow a thorough engagement process with internal and external stakeholders to be carried out. 10.This approach and scope was also approved at Board in January 2023. 11.Phase 1 of the engagement plan started in March 2023 with internal insight and evidence gathering, and consisted of horizon scanning (desktop research, site visits and internal meetings), seven questions interviews with 12 members of staff from different grades/roles/geography, and three Future of Recreation face to face workshops attended by 63 staff. 12.Phase 2 started in August 2023 with external stakeholders and further internal engagement to inform the design and development the Strategy. This phase included six internal focus groups attended by 63 staff from across the organisation, a survey for
  • 3. Paper Ref: 24-05-B09 Page 3 of 5 stakeholders which attracted 3465 responses, six external focus groups attended by 20 representative organisations plus a Local Access Forum chairs specific group. 13.Full reports of both phases of engagement are available on request, but a summary of the key headlines from both phases of engagement are: Partnership working: Emphasis on creating a coordinated and community-focused approach to share resources, access additional funding, engage with local communities, share information, and best practice. Current feeling that NRW is a difficult organisation to engage with and needed to be more outward looking and collaborative. Facilities and infrastructure: Focus on maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure and set standards as these are not consistent at the moment. Ensure long-term maintenance, and dont create new facilities at the risk of neglecting existing ones. Volunteering and collaborating with user groups has immense potential for sustainability. Access and inclusivity: Prioritising accessibility for all users, considering diverse needs, and promoting alternative sites to reduce overcrowding in popular areas. Focus more on community connectivity and sustainable travel to sites. People need to be clearer on what they can and cannot do, but dont put barriers in the way of access (physical, psychological and process). Visitor engagement: Connect with audiences in their space rather than expecting them to come to us. Use positive influencers and work with partners to raise awareness of responsible recreation. Evidence and data: Recommendations to adapt to post-COVID conditions, engage in new research but also understand more about what data and evidence is already out there. Use data to balance increased demand with ecological impacts, alongside efforts to manage illegal activities / misuse. Tourism and commercial: Encouragement to explore commercial products and partnerships, with support for sporting events and overnight camping to generate direct income. Caveat though that this should be done considering the impact on sites and aligning with NRW's goals and financial realities. 14.The final phase of engagement (phase 3) to present the draft Strategy has included internal endorsement from the Land Estate Committee on 13 February, Land Stewardship Business Group on Tuesday 26 March 2024, and Executive Team on Tuesday 23 April 2024. 15.Staff have also been able to see the draft via the intranet and through a webinar.
  • 4. Paper Ref: 24-05-B09 Page 4 of 5 16.External stakeholders have also been engaged with the draft being presented to Local Access Forum chairs meeting on 21 February 2024 and National Access Forum members meeting on 5 March 2024, where it has received support from both Forums. Risks, Risk Appetite and opportunities 17.For the Strategic Risks, the Strategy is relevant to the following in particular by clearly supporting the Corporate Plan Well-being Objectives, and providing a clear decision making framework: "Risk 1: Failure to deliver the vision and mission set out in our Corporate Plan as a result of our values and ways of working not being aligned to support its delivery" "Risk 5: Failure to achieve financial sustainability" 18.For Land Stewardship Business Group risks the Strategy helps manage the following in particular: "Risk 5: Failure to manage potential for costs of NRW Estate management to outstrip income and availability of grant in aid (over next 3 years)" "Risk 3: Failure to achieve required standards of operational management on the NRW Estate". 19.The Strategy will provide opportunity to really focus on a core aim to connect people with nature through a sustainable use of resources by: Delivering a sustainable future Improving internal integration Improving processes and decision making Improving external collaboration Wider implications 20.Well-being Objectives: The Strategy supports the SMNR aims, and also supports the three well-being objectives through its focus on connecting people to nature. 21.Finance: n/a 22.Resource implications: The Strategy will give opportunity to refine the recreational offer and increase efficiencies. 23.Equality: An Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) was developed for the engagement process to develop the Strategy, but going forward the outputs of the Strategy are in scope of the Land Stewardship Service Plan and are therefore covered by its Equality Impact Assessment. The EqIAs are available on request.
  • 5. Paper Ref: 24-05-B09 Page 5 of 5 24.Data Protection: n/a Next Steps 25.Publication of the final strategy in June 2024 26.Continued internal communications and implementation via the Land Stewardship centre out Place in and back again Service Planning approach. Recommendation 27.Approval of the draft Recreation Strategy. Index of Annexes Annex 1 People and nature thriving together draft Recreation Strategy Approval / Consultation process Responsible: Who has developed the paper/process and who has had input? Dawn Thompson and Dominic Driver Accountable: Who is accountable for the ultimate approval? Who will be or is being asked to approve? NRW Board Consulted: Who has been consulted to date? Where endorsement is required, is this in place? Will further consultation be required? Internal stakeholders including land management, people, and places, and outdoor, access & recreation teams, Commercial and Land Estate Committee External stakeholders including Welsh Government, National Access Forum, Local Access Forums and representative bodies Informed: Who has been informed or who needs to be further information about the work? Internal and external stakeholders