Outdoor and environmental groups have welcomed the Welsh Government's proposal to establish a new National Park in north-east Wales, but would like aspects of the plan to go further. A consultation on the park - which centres on the Clwydian Hills and Dee Valley, and which would be the country's fourth - recently concluded.

The Open Spaces Society (OSS), Britain's oldest national conservation body, say the park will benefit the landscape, wildlife and culture of the area, and help to promote responsible public access. However, it has also called for the Welsh government to make sufficient funds available so that existing protected landscapes are not penalised.

"We are delighted that Natural Resources Wales has consulted on the proposed new national park in north-east Wales, and we give it a strong green light" said Kate Ashbrook, the society's general secretary, citing the area's great natural beauty and opportunities for public enjoyment as things that could be enhanced by national park designation.

"We believe that a national park provides excellent value for money, [and] by attracting recreational users it will generate income for the local economy, as well as boosting people's health and wellbeing" she went on.

"The new national park authority will be well placed to improve recreational opportunities here. The highway authorities can, if they wish, delegate some of their powers to the park which will liaise with landowners and the public, and provide a ranger service to smooth relations and understanding and manage any recreation pressures. The park authority can also establish a local access forum to bring all the interests together. All this is hugely beneficial to the area, those who live there and those who visit."

The OSS say that the region includes significant areas of common land in the Clwyd Hills, the Berwyns, and the Ceiriog and Tanat valleys, which are important for their history, culture and landscape, and for public access.

But they have called for the popular Halkyn Mountain to also be included in the park. This is one of several valuable adjacent sites currently excluded from the plan, a concern shared by several environmental organisations. In addition it has been pointed out that a number of SSSIs are cut in half by the proposed park boundary, a situation that would make coherent nature management difficult.

"It is highly appropriate that this should be proposed in the 75th anniversary year of the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act - what a great way to celebrate" said Kate Ashbrook.

The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) have also come out in support of the principle of establishing a new National Park in the region.

Evidence is clear, they say, that existing National Parks in Wales deliver 'outstanding' value. But, they believe, there is still much that the designating authority needs to do to make any new park a success.

"The designation of a National Park is the strongest legal protection we have available to protect nature, natural beauty, and cultural heritage, but environmental experts tell us that the current proposed boundary could do much more to create ecologically coherent boundaries within the park" said BMC Policy & Campaigns Officer for Wales, Eben Muse.

"We have joined many other access and conservation organisations in calling for the urgent publication of the delayed Benefits for Nature report so that we can all be properly informed of the benefits of designation to nature."

"We are asking that proper investment be made to improve access in this new Park, including the provision of a warden service, volunteer programmes, public transport, visitor centres, and a move towards full funding from the Welsh Government" said Eben Muse.

"The general consensus view of the process thus far from the environment sector is that they are doing things by-the-book, relying on traditional aesthetic methods of designating the park which are not sufficient to meet the urgent need (and expressly stated purpose of the park) to address the climate and nature crises.

"In 2019, Wales became the first nation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Simply declaring it is not enough - we have to embed that urgency into policy across all portfolios, especially land use. We look forward to working with the Welsh government to help them do so."