What we do

The Access Reform Advisory Group was established in 2019. The establishment of the group was part of our response to this consultation: Taking Forward Wales’ Sustainable Management of Natural Resources Consultation – Access Proposals.

The group comprises a Steering Group and 3 Expert Groups. 

The infographic outlines the group’s membership and how it will work.

The group’s remit is:

• to provide advice on the implementation of access reform proposals
• to report back to the Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government in March 2021

Steering Group Membership:

• Simon Pickering (Welsh Government)
• Jont Bulbeck (Natural Resources Wales (NRW))
• Ben Sears (Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA))
• Adrian Walls (Wales Rights of Way Managers Working Group)
• Eifion Jones (National Parks Wales/Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB))

Three expert Groups will consider:

• Changes to Open Access
• Flexibility on public paths
• Communicating access rights

Each Expert Group includes representatives of:

• Land Management interests; including farming unions and landowner representatives
• Recreational interests; including cyclists, horse riders and walkers
• Public Sector.

Expert Group 1 membership:

• Jonathan Hughes – National Trust
• Rhian Nowell Phillips – Countryside Alliance
• Sophie Dwerryhouse – Country Land and Business Association
• Rachel Lewis-Davies – National Farmers Union Wales
• Hugh Craddock – Open Spaces Society
• Mark Weston – British Horse Society
• Kieran Foster – Cycling UK
• Elfyn Jones – British Mountaineering Council
• James Nevitt – Ministry of Defence
• Richard Ball – Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority
• Arwel Evans – Ynys Mon Council 
• Pete Rutherford – Snowdonia National Park Authority

Expert Group 2 membership:

• Rhian Nowell Phillips – Countryside Alliance
• Sophie Dwerryhouse – Country Land and Business Association
• Rachel Lewis-Davies – National Farmers Union Wales
• Nick Fenwick – Farmers Union Wales
• Angela Charlton – Ramblers Cymru
• Kate Ashbrook – Open Spaces Society
• Mark Weston – British Horse Society
• Duncan Dollimore – Cycling UK
• David Shiel – Clywydian Range AONB
• Gareth Owen – Ceredigion County Council
• Chris Dale – Swansea County Council
• Anthony Richards – Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority

Expert Group 3 membership:

• Rhian Nowell Phillips – Countryside Alliance
• Charles de Winton – Country Land and Business Association
• Rachel Lewis-Davies – National Farmers Union Wales
• Nick Fenwick – Farmers Union Wales
• Rebecca Brough – Ramblers Cymru
• Beverley Penny – Open Spaces Society
• Mark Weston – British Horse Society
• Tim Hutton – Cycling UK
• Gwyn Teague – Vale of Glamorgan County Council
• Lisa Lloyd – Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority
• Caroline Ferguson – Carmarthenshire County Council
• Duncan Mackenzie – Data Cymru