A CAMPAIGN has been launched to designate the Tywi Valley as an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Carmarthenshire’s landscape campaigners – Carmarthenshire Residents Action Group - are seeking to build on the emerging political consensus regarding the importance of the Tywi Valley and Natural Resources Wales’ existing description of the landscape.

Natural Resources Wales – the body that designates areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) – describes the Tywi Valley as ‘an outstanding landscape of national importance.’

The campaigners also say that much of the valley is a registered historic landscape due to its chain of castles.

Havard Hughes, one of the campaigners, said: “Having challenged Carmarthenshire County Council on their deletion of the Special Landscape areas and following the motion condemning the plan to erect pylons, we’re seeking cross party support for a Dyffryn Tywi AONB.

“Our political representatives from Adam Price MS to Cllr Darren Price and from Westminster to County Hall have all come out opposing development of the Tywi Valley. We are therefore seeking to build on this consensus to have Dyffryn Tywi designated an AONB by Natural Resources Wales giving the special historic landscape of the Towy Valley the status it deserves.”

The campaigners want to have the area of the valley from the Cambrian Mountains to the sea at Carmarthen Bay designated as an AONB to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the landscape along the course of the Towy River and would protect and promote Carmarthenshire’s key tourism areas including Llyn Brianne reservoir and the estuary at Llansteffan.

Tara-Jane Sutcliffe, a conservationist and resident in the valley, said: “Given the rich natural and historic environment of the Tywi Valley, it is remarkable that it has not yet been afforded recognition and protected status as an area of outstanding natural beauty.

“Protected landscapes play a valuable role in tackling some of our most pressing challenges: halting habitat degradation, promoting biodiversity and supporting action on climate change. They provide multiple public benefits, including for health and wellbeing, and contribute significant economic value. The National Association for AONBs, for example, estimates that protected landscapes contribute some £24 billion per year to the UK economy.

“Designation of the Tywi Valley as a protected landscape would present a win all round: benefitting nature, as well as all those who visit, live and work in the area.”

Campaigners are appealing for people to get involved with the campaign by visiting https://www.craigsirgar.org/contact-cysylltwch-a-ni/