Unlocking the potential of the countryside

The next Welsh government must provide solutions to unlock the full potential of the countryside by: 

• Establishing a dedicated Countryside Champion to act as a liaison between rural communities and the government, ensuring rural concerns are addressed and integrated into national policy decisions.

• Publishing a Rural Community Impact Assessment (RCIA) when a proposed policy, development or project is likely to have a significant impact on rural communities.

• Creating an annual State of the Welsh Countryside Report to provide up-to-date, data-driven insights into the economic, environmental and social health of rural areas to inform policy development and raise awareness of rural issues.

Datgloi potensial llawn cefn gwlad

Datgloi potensial llawn cefn gwlad

Rhaid i lywodraeth nesaf Cymru ddarparu atebion i ddatgloi potensial llawn cefn gwlad drwy:

• Sefydlu Hyrwyddwr Cefn Gwlad dynodedig i fod yn gyswllt rhwng cymunedau gwledig a’r llywodraeth, gan sicrhau bod pryderon gwledig yn cael eu hystyried a’u hintegreiddio mewn penderfyniadau polisi cenedlaethol.

• Cyhoeddi Asesiad Effaith ar Gymunedau Gwledig (RCIA) pan fydd polisi, datblygiad neu brosiect arfaethedig yn debygol o gael effaith sylweddol ar gymunedau gwledig.

• Creu Adroddiad blynyddol ar Gyflwr Cefn Gwlad Cymru i ddarparu mewnwelediadau cyfredol, yn seiliedig ar ddata i iechyd economaidd, amgylcheddol a chymdeithasol ardaloedd gwledig i lywio datblygu polisi a chodi ymwybyddiaeth o faterion gwledig. 

Thriving rural communities

The Countryside Alliance calls on the next Welsh government to:

• Ensure policies are rural proofed so that rural communities are not disadvantaged by a one-size-fits-all policy.

• Work with the police, local authorities and other public bodies to ensure that rural crime is taken seriously and the impacts it has on rural communities is understood and tackled.

• Protect and maintain essential services, including local healthcare, banking, transport and postal services.

• Develop a 365 day a year tourism strategy, recognising the value of country pursuits and supporting hospitality establishments throughout the year.

• Reduce business rates in rural towns and villages, helping small businesses to survive and grow at the heart of their communities.

Cymunedau gwledig ffyniannus

Mae’r Gynghrair Cefn Gwlad yn galw ar lywodraeth nesaf Cymru i:

• Sicrhau bod polisïau’n diogelu cefn gwlad fel nad yw cymunedau gwledig dan anfantais gan bolisi un ateb sy’n addas i bawb.

• Gweithio gyda’r heddlu, awdurdodau lleol a chyrff cyhoeddus eraill i sicrhau bod troseddau gwledig yn cael eu cymryd o ddifrif a bod yr effeithiau y maent yn eu cael ar gymunedau gwledig yn cael eu deall a’u datrys.

• Diogelu a chynnal gwasanaethau hanfodol, gan gynnwys gofal iechyd lleol, bancio, trafnidiaeth a gwasanaethau post.

• Datblygu strategaeth dwristiaeth 365 diwrnod y flwyddyn, gan gydnabod gwerth gweithgareddau gwledig a chefnogi sefydliadau lletygarwch trwy gydol y flwyddyn.

• Lleihau cyfraddau busnes mewn trefi a phentrefi gwledig, gan helpu busnesau bach i oroesi a thyfu yng nghanol eu cymunedau. 

Land use management

The Countryside Alliance calls on the next Welsh government to:

• Champion responsible access to the countryside, fostering healthy connections with nature and the great outdoors.

• Guarantee long-term financial support for farmers, prioritising food production while rewarding farmers and land managers for delivering social and environmental public goods.

• Support smaller, community-led renewable energy projects and protect productive land by adopting a “Rooftops First” policy for solar development in Wales.

• Set planning limits on the size and scale of wind farm developments, ensuring projects are proportionate, appropriately sited and do not compromise productive farmland or rural communities.

• Introduce a community levy for large-scale tree planting which passes the RCIA test that would be returned to the community for education and well-being.

Rheoli defnydd tir

Mae’r Gynghrair Cefn Gwlad yn galw ar lywodraeth nesaf Cymru i:

• Hyrwyddo mynediad cyfrifol i gefn gwlad, gan feithrin cysylltiadau iach â natur a’r awyr agored.

• Gwarantu cymorth ariannol hirdymor i ffermwyr, gan flaenoriaethu cynhyrchu bwyd tra’n gwobrwyo ffermwyr a rheolwyr tir am ddarparu nwyddau cyhoeddus cymdeithasol ac amgylcheddol.

• Cefnogi prosiectau ynni adnewyddadwy llai wedi’u harwain gan gymunedau a diogelu tir cynhyrchiol drwy fabwysiadu polisi “Toeau yn Gyntaf” ar gyfer datblygiadau solar yng Nghymru.

• Gosod terfynau cynllunio ar faint a graddfa datblygiadau ffermydd gwynt, gan sicrhau bod prosiectau’n gymesur, wedi’u lleoli’n briodol ac nad ydynt yn peryglu tir fferm cynhyrchiol neu gymunedau gwledig.

• Cyflwyno ardoll gymunedol ar gyfer plannu coed ar raddfa fawr sy’n pasio’r prawf RCIA a fyddai’n cael ei dychwelyd i’r gymuned ar gyfer addysg a lles.

Managing our countryside

The Countryside Alliance calls on the next Welsh government to:

• Adopt a consistent, evidence based and principled approach to wildlife management, animal welfare and habitat protection across all species.

• Support and recognise the importance of wildlife management and the value of hunts, shoots and anglers to the Welsh rural economy.

• Develop environmental and wildlife management policies, working with stakeholders and practitioners, such as farmers and gamekeepers, for the benefit of Wales’ flora and fauna.

• Promote responsible access to the countryside by improving rights of way, making many unused paths accessible and creating safe circular routes.

• Review and strengthen the Deer Management Strategy for Wales, ensuring it supports woodland regeneration, biodiversity and sustainable land use.

Rheoli ein cefn gwlad

Mae’r Gynghrair Cefn Gwlad yn galw ar lywodraeth nesaf Cymru i:

• Mabwysiadu dull cyson, egwyddorol yn seiliedig ar dystiolaeth i reoli bywyd gwyllt, lles anifeiliaid a diogelu cynefinoedd ar draws pob rhywogaeth.

• Cefnogi a chydnabod pwysigrwydd rheoli bywyd gwyllt a gwerth helfeydd, saethu a physgotwyr i economi wledig Cymru.

• Datblygu polisïau rheoli amgylcheddol a bywyd gwyllt, gan weithio gyda rhanddeiliaid ac ymarferwyr, fel ffermwyr a chiperiaid, er budd planhigion ac anifeiliaid Cymru.

• Blaenoriaethu cynnyrch Cymru mewn caffael sector cyhoeddus, fel sicrhau bod prydau ysgol yn cefnogi ffermio lleol, cynnal safonau lles anifeiliaid ac amgylcheddol uchel.

• Adolygu a chryfhau Strategaeth Rheoli Ceirw Cymru, gan sicrhau ei bod yn cefnogi adfywio coetiroedd, bioamrywiaeth a defnydd tir cynaliadwy.

Harvesting our countryside

The Countryside Alliance calls on the next Welsh government to:

• Build on “Brand Wales” by continuing to invest in promoting world- class Welsh food and drink at home and abroad.

• Develop a dedicated food tourism strategy that creates food trails and experiences linking food production, hospitality and rural tourism, strengthening rural economies and showcasing Welsh produce.

• Expand and promote the Welsh wild game sector, supported by a marketing strategy that highlights its conservation, environmental and economic benefits.

• Prioritise Welsh produce in public sector procurement, such as ensuring school meals support local farming, upholding high animal welfare and environmental standards.

• Introduce transparency and reporting on public sector food procurement, making it clear where food is produced so parents, taxpayers and policymakers can see that public money is supporting the Welsh economy. 

Cynaeafu ein cefn gwlad

Mae’r Gynghrair Cefn Gwlad yn galw ar lywodraeth nesaf Cymru i:

• Adeiladu ar “Brand Cymru” drwy barhau i fuddsoddi mewn hyrwyddo bwyd a diod Cymreig o’r radd flaenaf gartref a thramor.

• Datblygu strategaeth twristiaeth bwyd ddynodedig sy’n creu llwybrau a phrofiadau bwyd sy’n cysylltu cynhyrchu bwyd, lletygarwch a thwristiaeth wledig, cryfhau economïau gwledig ac arddangos cynnyrch Cymreig.

• Ehangu a hyrwyddo sector helgig Cymru, gyda chefnogaeth strategaeth farchnata sy’n tynnu sylw at ei fanteision cadwraeth, amgylcheddol ac economaidd.

• Blaenoriaethu cynnyrch Cymreig mewn caffael yn y sector cyhoeddus gan sicrhau bod prydau ysgol yn cefnogi ffermwyr lleol, gan gynnal safonau lles anifeiliaid ac amgylcheddol uchel.

• Cyflwyno tryloywder ac adrodd ar gaffael bwyd yn y sector cyhoeddus gan ei gwneud yn glir ble mae bwyd yn cael ei gynhyrchu, fel y gall rhieni, trethdalwyr a llunwyr polisi weld bod arian cyhoeddus yn cefnogi economi Cymru.