New National Park. Okay, so Wales is considering creating its fourth national park. That’s a big deal since they haven’t done this since 1957. They’ve got three already—Eryri (Snowdonia), Pembrokeshire Coast, and Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)—and now they’re thinking, “Why not one more?”

What’s the Plan?

This idea’s been brewing for a while. It was part of Welsh Labour’s plan in the last election. And guess what? After they won, they kicked off a whole process to figure out if this new park in the north-east could happen. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is the crew leading this operation, and it’s costing £700,000 a year from the Welsh Lake for now.

Making It Official

To make this new park a reality, Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths needs to give it the green light. The goal is to get it all sorted before the next election in 2026.

Where’s It At?

They’re eyeing an area that’s already super pretty—the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Think heather-covered peaks and medieval vibes with castles and aqueducts.

What’s the Difference?

So, an AONB is all about conserving and enhancing natural beauty, managed by local authorities. But a national park goes even further. It’s about protecting wildlife, cultural stuff, and giving folks chances to soak up the area’s uniqueness. Plus, it would come with its own authority to handle all that.

The Money Talk

National parks get a chunk of their cash from the Welsh government—about 75%. Then there’s extra funding from a levy on councils in the area and other bits like fees for stuff like planning applications. But with cash being tight, some worry this new park could take away money from the other three.

What Does It Mean for Folks There?

Supporters think it’s a winner for the local economy. I mean, the UK’s national parks pull in loads of visitors who spend a bunch of cash—like over £4bn a year. But some worry about the pressure on local services and house prices, ’cause a report said living in a national park jacked up property prices by 25%.

Helping Out Mother Nature

National parks are meant to protect nature and wildlife. But some reports say nature’s not doing too hot. Take Bannau Brycheiniog national park—it’s seen a drop in farmland birds and rivers facing pollution issues. Groups like RSPB Cymru hope this new park will have the powers and cash to team up with landowners and bring nature back on track.

So yeah, that’s the deal with this potential new national park in Wales. Big plans, big hopes, and hopefully, big wins for nature!