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