CONGRATULATIONS to the Black Mountain Land Use Partnership Mountain and Moorland Ambassadors, who were awarded highly commended by the judges in the Sustainable education or training category at the Sustainable Academy Awards.

The chair, project representatives and ambassadors attended the awards ceremony at the Principality Stadium Cardiff.

‘The Sustainable Academy Awards celebrate sustainability excellence, innovation and leadership from across Wales. The Awards recognise the brilliant people, projects and initiatives that are contributing towards the seven National Well-being Goals and the five Ways of Working described in the Well-being Future Generations Act.’

Phil Stocker, BMLUP chair, said: “to have the Partnership nationally recognised for its role in leading the way on innovation in sustainability and in delivering sustainable education and training, is an outstanding achievement and one to be celebrated!

"The aim of the Mountain and Moorland Ambassador scheme is to engage and train people from local tourism businesses, helping them to relay sustainability messages to their customers, so that they might in turn visit and enjoy the Black Mountains area responsibly. This is an innovative initiative which for the first time brings together local businesses, graziers, landowners and regulatory bodies to understand sustainability issues and work together towards future-proofing the sustainability of the Black Mountains.

"So far the project has made brilliant progress and is exceeding many of the key targets originally set, including training activities and the contribution to health and wellbeing. A total of 56 Ambassadors have been trained, coming from a wide range of local businesses, and giving a huge opportunity for wider engagement and awareness of this iconic area."

The Black Mountains Land Use Partnership is currently delivering a £1m Sustainable Management Scheme (SMS) project. This project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.

About BMLUP

  • The Black Mountains Land Use Partnership is a cross-border partnership that brings together all those involved in managing the land in the Black Mountains, including local land owners, graziers, The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Water and Natural England.
  • The Black Mountains are found in the east of the Brecon Beacons National Park, covering Talgarth, Hay-on-Wye, Crickhowell, Abergavenny and across the Wales-England border into Herefordshire
  • The Black Mountains are a living and working landscape
  • The Black Mountains Land Use Partnership is currently delivering a £1m, three-year Sustainable Management Scheme (SMS) project. This project has received funding through the Welsh Government’s Rural Communities-Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
  • The BMLUP project addresses grazing, access, ecology and biodiversity, tourism and community interests by trialling new countryside management techniques and sharing best practice with partners.
  • The project helps educate communities on the unique characteristic of the Black Mountains region via a bespoke schools programme and BMLUP Ambassador Scheme.
  • The partnership is addressing the rural skills gap in the region through up-skilling programmes including a stipend scheme
  • For more information on the partnership, contact Dr Louise Moon, BMLUP Project Administrator louise.moon@beacons-npa.gov.uk