Sir,

Bosherston Lily Pools are situate within the National Trust Stackpole Estate and constitute part of a site designated as being of Special Scientific Interest. This SSSI was defined and categorised by the Countryside Council for Wales (a Government body now absorbed into Natural Resources Wales) initially in 1954 and re-defined in 1959, 1977 and 1993. There is a detailed citation schedule running to 28 itemised points attaching to the SSSI which defines precisely what is and/or is not permitted as an operation on site. Furthermore, the Countryside Council for Wales - or presumably now National Resources Wales - is legally contracted with the Trust and charged in company with the National Trust to manage the site as a National Nature Reserve under a Nature Reserve Agreement.

A reasonable assumption might be that Bosherston Lily Pools, given this apparently fully protected position, are being properly managed for the benefit of the nation. This assumption could not be more wrong, despite the stated purpose in life of the National Trust as defined within its statute as being to hold lands in trust for the nation.

In its Spring 2009 Stackpole Estate Newsletter, National Trust proudly stated'Did You Know that the National Nature Reserve here at Stackpole is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary. A partnership between the National Trust and the CCW has proved to be a hugely beneficial and enjoyable collaboration allowing us to jointly protect the conservation aspect of the site and maintain a favourable designation status'. It goes on to boast 'It is not just the National Nature Reserve that makes Stackpole special. Other designations include... three special areas of Conservation' - one of which is stated as being 'Bosherston Lakes'.

Four years would appear to be a long time in the National Trust's grand scheme of things since local management has now stated that it has ceased all maintenance of the Lily Pools with the exception only of small areas of weed removal above the Hidden Bridge and within the new pool area recently created (using a grant rather than its own monies) immediately to the north of and below Bosherston Church.

An immediate result is that one is able to watch on an almost daily basis the relentless march of weed growth outwards from the perimeters of all water areas and more particularly the advance of weed over the full pool width from the weed edge below Stackpole Court site southwards towards the Eight Arch Bridge. At the observed rate of weed spread, it is likely that the pool above the Eight Arch Bridge will cease to exist in about five years time and that at the same time the advancing edge of the weed area northwards from the outfall onto Broadhaven Beach will be very close to, if not actually abutting, the Grassy Bridge.

During the hundreds of years that there was a 'Lord of the Manor' - a succession of Earls Cawdor - the Estate was properly managed. National Trust which happily accepted the estate as a free-from-any-encumbrance gift in 1974 is now acting the part of an autocratic feudal Lord of the Manor and has decided to walk away from its management responsibilities in regard to Bosherston Lily Pools.

Representation to the National Trust Welsh Regional Office in regard to other similar matters elicited the response that local matters are normally within the the National Trust Pembrokeshire Office remit whilst similar cries-de coeur to National Trust National Office referred the matter to the Welsh Regional Office - a system of ever-decreasing circles. What ever can be done to reverse the position? Who should be approached to require that National Trust properly and fully discharges its obligations under both the SSSI and the Nature Reserve Agreement?

John Jukes, for and on behalf of the village

of Bosherston,

Bosherston,

Pembroke.