Dr. Marion Herbert, who died in her 88th year in August 2016, was a botanist and a keen conservationist and was a prominent figure in the history of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

For much of her life she lived with her family near Carmarthen, where her husband, Dr. John Herbert (deceased), was a medical doctor.

Marion Herbert was one of the early Secretary of State’s appointed members on the National Park Committee of Dyfed County Council, which came into being in early 1974.

As a botanist, she excelled on committee visits and tours when she would regale members with the names of all the plants in Latin. She was universally liked and respected for her quiet, calm and sunny disposition, and contributed significantly to the development of the National Park in the new semi-independent era. She regularly represented the committee at events and on conferences.

She kept in touch with the National Park over the years, and left a lasting reminder of her time there - a fine traditional antique Victorian print of a Razorbill which is still at Llanion Park.

Marion was a supporter of the Wildlife Trust (West Wales) and served as its secretary between 1992 and 1996. For many years, she was also a member of the Friends of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

In her will she left a legacy to the Friends with the wish that part of it should be used to erect a memorial to her within the park. With the agreement of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, the friends have sponsored a gate, marked with a plaque, on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path at Dar y Cadno (OS Map Ref. SM737288), which is a spectacular location approximately a mile north-east of St. Davids Head.

Tomorrow (Saturday), the Friends will be holding a walk around St. Davids Head, which will include a visit to the ‘Marion Herbert gate’. Members of the public are invited to come along.

This stunning walk incorporates all that is so good about Pembrokeshire: a mixture of dramatic shore and coastline stretching away for miles in each direction, a wonderful sense of remoteness, towering rocky outcrops and a mass of colourful, coastal flowers.

As usual, the walk leader will pause along the route to tell about the history and the natural history of the landscape.

The figure of eight walk will start from Whitesands Bay and follow the coastal path, gently climbing onto St. Davids Head.

At a point the group may split to complete either a shorter walk of 3.5 miles (assessed as ‘easy/moderate in places’) or a longer walk of about 8.5 miles (assessed as ‘moderate’).

Please bring sturdy footwear, waterproofs, drinks and a packed lunch to eat en route. Full information on this walk and other future events can be found on the Friends’ website: http://www.fpcnp.org.uk/category/events-programme/

The Friends of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is an independent voluntary charity which works to protect, conserve and enhance the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for all who live in, work or visit it.

The Friends hold a wide range of events, including talks and guided walks for members, throughout the year which, where possible, are also open to the public.

They also organise weekly work parties, carrying out conservation projects with the National Park Authority, National Trust and other local groups.