It has been a rewarding year for the National Park Authority - in many senses of the word. At the time of writing last year's Observer new year message, we had just received news that we had achieved Green Dragon Environmental Standard Level Four - the first of the three Welsh National Parks to do so. We remain committed to minimising the impact of our operations in our efforts to help keep your Park special. Following this achievement, we went on to receive several other awards in 2007, many of which would not have been possible without the support of our partner organisations, communities and individuals. It was a particularly eventful year for Carew Castle and Tidal Mill, which is managed by the authority. In May, the castle was the venue for the Carew500 Pageant, a splendid community-led initiative which marked the anniversary of the Great Carew Tournament of 1507. The grounds were once again filled with medieval music and merriment, and a spectacular re-enactment of the jousting tournament itself proved a great success. In June, the castle and mill was presented with the Sandford Award for Heritage Education, for its work to help children understand what life was like in medieval times. This year, Carew Castle and Mill are open over winter for the first time, so Observer readers looking for something to do to brighten up a cold winter's day are welcome to visit! Another special place for people and wildlife in the National Park was given the same protection as Snowdon and other treasured Welsh landscapes. Freshwater East Burrows was officially launched as a Local Nature Reserve, the culmination of many years' efforts by the local community and the authority. I was delighted to officially open the reserve in November, when children from Lamphey Primary School and members of the Freshwater East Society and community association took a walk around the discovery trail. It was an historic day for Freshwater East as the Burrows is highly valued by local people. Local Nature Reserve status will make sure this value is protected for future generations. We also completed our acquisition of 120 acres of land around Freshwater East, for which we are now the registered title holder. This means we can apply to give the land further protection under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act: good news for conservation and for local people. In Tenby itself, it was a busy year for the National Park Interpretation Centre opposite the Five Arches. A full year of business was marked in July, by which time the centre had welcomed more than 40,000 visitors through its doors. Developments in interpretation at the centre are continuing and include a new film, Pembrokeshire - Shaped by the Sea, and displays featuring work by Tenby schoolchildren. Also, look out later this year for a new discovery trail around the town which provides another excellent example of community partnership working. On Caldey Island, too, there have been improvements. The Old Priory's east and west ranges were re-roofed along with the Priory Church, thanks to a £88,000 grant from the Welsh Assembly Government's Physical Regeneration Fund, which is managed locally by the authority. The work to the Grade 1 listed medieval priory will make the buildings weathertight. Further repairs are planned to the walls and windows. Other successes of 2007 included awards for conservation, archaeology and access for all - all achieved through partnership working. So the authority looks forward to working with existing and new partners in 2008 to help care for this special place, remembering that the National Park is not ours, but ours to look after. I wish all readers of the Tenby Observer a happy, healthy and successful new year.
