The Environmental Charter

Beacons Outdoor Instructor Association And The Environmental Charter

Well, it's there isn't it and we should do our best to protect it, the environment that we share, that is. 

Perhaps as long ago as 1997, or at least thereabouts, Andy Lamb, the Wales Outdoors owner, was thinking sustainable use of the environment by adventure activity providers working in the Brecon Beacons National Park. At this time there was no policy, no group, no protocols and even no advice by the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority. 

In 1999 Andy undertook a survey of all communities by mailing the parish councils (snail mail as the internet was in its infancy) and asking a series of questions about the impact of group working on the community and the landscape. Andy also asked the same question of the larger bodies such as the BBNP, Forest Enterprise, The Countryside Council For Wales etc. This survey he then collated and came up with a list of sites being used by activity providers and a list of suggestions to improve the use at these sites. 

Andy used these survey results as a basis to develop an outdoor instructors association for individual instructors and commercial providers (the Local Education Authority centres have their own group that heads of centres attend). Andy chatted to peers and had several who were on board and so, with the assistance of the BBNP Wardens Service he called a meeting which was held at Danywenallt, Talybont on Usk, which a the time was owned by the National Park. 

Unknown to Andy the NP Wardens Service had invited not just the commercial providers and individual instructors but also the heads of the LEA's and officers from government agencies with little connection to environmental issues such as the Adventure Activity Licensing Authority. 

Despite this full meeting of the great and the good in the Welsh Outdoors Andy went ahead with his plan and laid out his vision for an environmental best practice code that would underpin the work of signed-up commercial providers and instructors working within the Brecon Beacons National Park. Andy also floated the idea of a minimum day rate for sessional staff, co-working and creating a 'brand' for promotion of excellence in outdoor activities in the area. The working group name was The Beacons Outdoors Instructor Association, a bit clunky but it was open to be changed to something more poetic. 

Andy was given a hard time by all in the room, with the heads of centres saying they had environmental policies in place, with others being worried that if we became visible we would have access to activity locations removed from us, that who was he to suggest a minimum rate of pay, that we didn't need more paperwork and policies... Worst of all the peers that had agreed with him at meetings in cafes and were in support of the plan faded into the background offering no words of support.

The thing is, this was to be a voluntary code of practice that encouraged peer working and knowledge sharing. Andy wasn't asking for a compulsory code and he wasn't asking for LEA's to be members. 

This meeting raised Andy's profile in Outdoor Education in Wales but for the wrong reasons. He had begun the process a few years too soon. The people that populated the industry were not ready to positively look at a collective approach to working through problems or enhancing provision and perhaps compromise their provision at some activity locations. And they certainly didn't want to look at what they were paying some of their junior staff. 

And so the BOIA never amounted to much. Andy was left as the sole member as the original group of on-board providers slipped away into the mist, unwilling to face the collective strength of, in the main, the heads of centres, who it seems wanted to monopolise their misguided sense of delivering the very best in adventure activity provision. 

However... This bold move by Andy did lead to something positive. It eventually led to the main aim of Andy's BOIA being encoded and adopted by all adventure activity providers working in the Brecon Beacons National Park and the wider South Wales area. More about The Brecon Beacons National Park Environmental Charter next Monday... The following is the current wording for the charter:

A commitment from activity and education centres to the sustainable use of the National Park.

What is the Environmental Charter?

The charter is a commitment from activity and education centres for the sustainable use of the National Park.  Centres making and observing this commitment become Charter Group members and work with the Park Authority to keep the charter relevant and effective in conserving the National Park.  Charter Group members:

• Recognise that their use of the National Park carries with it a responsibility to encourage those in their care to learn something of the Park’s special qualities and the ways in which it can be looked after.

• Make a commitment to good practice for the sustainable use of the National Park.

• Always carry out activities in a manner which maintains good relationships.

As a member of the Charter Group the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority:

• Recognises that support, care and enthusiasm for the National Park can be generated by outdoor activities, undertaken within the terms of this Charter.

• Will consent with members of the Charter Group over the management and policy development on all issues, within the framework of this Charter.

The Charter

Conservation

• We recognise the great potential to foster a commitment to conservation in our clients.  The intense and memorable nature of the outdoors experience makes it a powerful tool for the appreciation of the Parks special qualities.

• We will encourage our colleagues, clients and students to enjoy and respect the wildlife, landscape and cultural heritage of the Park.

• We know that many sites, plants and animals are protected by law and are fragile or vulnerable to disturbance.  We will manage our groups to avoid disturbance.

• We will not leave any permanent features in the countryside, for example belay stakes or Cairns.  If anything like this is essential, we will first discuss it with the Charter Group, National Park Authority or landholder as appropriate.

• We will place any temporary marks or fixings so as to avoid damage or interference with others.

• We will observe accepted good practice for the collection of geological and biological specimens.

Access

• We understand that all land is owned by someone and if using a site we will follow existing access arrangements, local agreements or byelaws.

• We will secure the agreement of landholders and consult the National Park Authority whenever we wish to extend activities into new sites or areas where existing permissions do not exist.

• We will respect the guidance of the Charter Group for vulnerable or sensitive sites where there are specific issues or problems.

Consideration for others

·         We will show consideration to landowners, residents and others when driving, parking and setting up equipment, for example keeping lanes, paths and gateways clear.

·         We will ensure that our activities do not spoil other people’s enjoyment, in particular avoiding unreasonable noise and overcrowding.

·         We will encourage our colleagues, students and clients to understand and respect the needs of the resident community. In particular peoples’ safety, property, work and livelihoods.

Safety issues are outside the scope of the Environmental Charter.  Participants are advised to satisfy themselves that their activity provider is trained and qualified to appropriate standards.

Development

• We are committed to this Charter and will actively encourage our colleagues and other groups to follow these standards.

• We will review and renew our commitment to this Charter every year.

• We will participate in the Charter Group to keep it relevant, effective and active in promoting the conservation of the National Parks.