A new approach to managing the Four Falls Trail now and for the future
A new approach to managing some of the most popular locations in our designated landscapes has been supported by Landscapes Wales and Welsh Government.
The Four Falls Trail is an incredibly popular location within the Brecon Beacons National Park. The increasing attraction of ‘instagramable’ locations such as these spectacular waterfalls in deep wooded gorges leads to has lead to high levels of visitor footfall, especially at viewpoints, natural rest points and places where people make decisions about where to go next. This has meant that the existing trails have become eroded and exposed.
Several attempts have been made at addressing this issue with varying degrees of success. Then during summer 2020 post lockdown with even higher numbers of visitors it became apparent that different approach was now needed.
Speaking about the project, Catherine Mealing-Jones, Chief Executive of BBNPA said: “We are delighted to have this project support and we hope that this new approach with help us to not only identify the areas that need to be looked at but also to work with stakeholders and partners to agree and design the best approach to restore areas of damaged, eroded and exposed vegetation and soils.
“ This also extremely timely as we continue to see high numbers of people visiting and enjoying what we have to offer in the Brecon Beacons National Park.”
It is hoped that benefits to visitors will include:
- Reduced likelihood of unintended damage to the SSSI/ SAC by improving the underfoot experience and reducing ‘spreading’
- The ‘path of least resistance’ approach will change the focus from looking down to avoid tree roots and puddles to looking up and around and engaging with the special nature of the area
- Support for more learning and education
- Provide for the views and experiences and stop off points that people have naturally chosen on their routes
This project has been supported by the Sustainable Landscapes Sustainable Places Fund administered through the Welsh Government and Tirweddau Cymru Landscapes Wales.
The Sustainable Landscapes Sustainable Places SLSP fund is a programme of capital investment across Wales’s eight Designated Landscapes, enabling them to contribute to key Welsh Government objectives around promoting biodiversity and nature recovery, accelerating decarbonisation, supporting resilient and green communities and delivering sustainable tourism.