Representing providers of Outdoor Adventurous Activities in South Wales and the Brecon Beacons
WATO has received a letter from the Welsh Government Minister for Education which confirms that: “I fully understand and appreciate the importance of outdoor learning for our children, and the impact that this unprecedented situation has had on the school travel and educational visits sector. With the introduction of the new curriculum, outdoor learning is … Read more
We have received the following notice from Brecon Beacons National Park, which is likely to be of interest to some SWOAPG Members. NB: “We need this to happen quickly!! So if you are interested please email lisa.lloyd@beacons-npa.gov.uk for further details by Wednesday 5 August, with completed bids back by Thursday 13 August.” “Due to the … Read more
From 8 August, all Providers operating in the Dinas / Sychryd and Mellte gorges under the SWOAPG Concordat with NRW must become certificated with “We’re Good to Go”. This condition is being applied by NRW and BBNPA, who wish to ensure that groups fully understand the evolving Covid recovery situation and its implications for their … Read more
Further to our recent reminder that gorge-walking groups should not use the private lane between Loonies’ Leap / the Gunpowder Works and Pontneddfechan Village Hall, we are delighted to report that NRW will now permit groups to use the path on river-left from the lower Mellte footbridge (near SN915081) to Dinas Rock car park, subject to … Read more
Our recent survey on how best we might support SWOAPG Members as they start returning to activities following lock-down (see attached summary) showed that: Providers are by-and-large finding their way through the maze of guidance, but would find additional support from SWOAPG useful; A simple ‘guide to the guidance’ – together with venue-specific guidance – … Read more
Following the publication of its new ‘arrangement’ for paddling from Glasbury-Hay, the Wye & Usk Foundation (WUF) has offered some additional explanation (see below) and has asked SWOAPG to give the arrangement our “fullest support on the basis that we need to end the conflict and build a way forward across Wales’ rivers.” Deadline extended: … Read more
We’ve added details to our online CPD page of two new courses that might be useful for Providers opening-up after Covid-19: Opening up – property cleaning (free) Covid-19 Awareness Course for the Sports & Recreation Sector (£2 – £4)
If you might be interested in using Lower Swiss Valley / Cwm Lliedi Reservoir for group paddlesports, please complete this brief questionnaire from Llanelli Rural Council by this Friday (31 July). WATO (Wales Adventure Tourism Organisation) is collecting data about the impact of Covid on outdoor activity businesses in Wales, to help us inform and … Read more
Now that the gorges are ‘re-open for business’, this is just a reminder that gorge-walking groups using Dinas / Sychryd and Mellte gorges: are not to use the private lane from Pontneddfechan towards the gunpowder works, but to access Loonies’ Leap either over the hilltop from Dinas Rock or returning to the car park using … Read more
SWOAPG is considering how best it might support its Members over the coming weeks as they start returning to activities following lock-down. We’d really appreciate if all our Members could complete this brief online survey by 26 July to help us understand your intentions and how we might help. Thanks!