Visit responsibly and help protect nature this bank holiday

Visitors to some of Wales’ most popular natural sites are being asked to protect and respect the environment ahead of one of the busiest weekends of the year.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is gearing up to welcome members of the public to its sites, including Newborough National Nature Reserve and Forest on Anglesey.

With a high number of visitors expected over the August Bank Holiday weekend, NRW is reminding people to follow the Countryside Code.

As well as being a popular place to visit, Newborough is still a working forest and home to a wide range of protected wildlife.

John Taylor, Team Leader for recreation sites in North West Wales, said:

“The special places we look after are ideal destinations for people to relax and recharge their batteries. But we must maintain a balance between the wishes of individuals to enjoy the outdoors and our responsibilities to protect nature and to respect local communities.

“By following the Countryside Code people can safely visit our wonderful sites in North West Wales including Newborough, Coed y Brenin Forest Park and Gwydir Forest Park.

“We are expecting a high number of visitors this weekend and this can lead to congestion and limited availability of parking.

“Therefore, we are encouraging people to make a plan B in case a destination is too busy on arrival or consider visiting one of our quieter locations.

“It is also important to take litter home, keep dogs under control to protect nesting birds and other wildlife, and not to light fires.

“We also want to remind visitors that overnight stays are not allowed on our sites.

“The vast majority of people visiting our places behave responsibly and we would like to thank them for doing their bit. We hope that will continue as we head into the bank holiday weekend.”

Wardens will be patrolling at Newborough over the weekend to answer any questions, provide advice and guidance and to ensure visitors have the best experience.

You can view the Countryside Code and Newborough National Nature Reserve and Forest websites for more information.