Legislation
When considering
possible changes to the reserve it is necessary to comply with all
Health and Safety, Public Liability and Disability Discrimination
legislation. This means that any new boardwalk must be suitable for
disabled people. Planning permission must be obtained for any
changes to the parking and toilet facilities.
Access to the
site
The construction of
a new car park would provide safer access and adequate parking for
visitors at peak times. It should include disabled bays and secure
spaces for bikes. Level pathways should provide easy access from
the car park to the reserve. It may be possible to liaise with
local bus companies to persuade them to stop on request at the car
park. The completion of the Ystwyth Trail will extend and upgrade
the old railway track, greatly improving access by bike and on foot
from nearby villages.
Access within the
site
The most pressing
need is to provide better access to the bog. This would be achieved
by the construction of a new boardwalk, preferably a loop that
would give visitors a chance to see the different vegetation
communities on the bog. The boardwalk must be suitable for disabled
access, with frequent turning and passing places for wheelchairs.
It should also provide seating for people who are not able to
undertake a long walk without stopping to rest.
The riverside walk
should be improved and the permit system should be removed, making
it open access for all visitors, with just occasional closures for
management requirements.
Seasonal
constraints
The site has
attractions for visitors at all times of the year and the new
boardwalk would make it accessible in all weathers.
Public
awareness
Improvements in
access would increase the appeal of the site to a wider range of
visitors. It is important that more people are aware of what the
site has to offer. Publicity could be improved by providing good
information for internet users and by ensuring that leaflets are
available in some of the more mainstream places likely to be
visited by tourists. This may help to attract visitors with more
general interests as well as the high proportion of specialists
that currently use the site.
Excessive
demand
In such a remote
site, excessive demand is not envisaged, but the size of the car
park should be such that it docs not allow for overuse of the
site.
Visitor
infrastructure
Many visitors would
welcome better facilities at the car park, and the provision of
toilets, some limited shelter and a picnic area would greatly
improve people's experience of the reserve. A well-designed
observation shelter that blends into the landscape, as part of the
boardwalk loop out onto the bog, would make it easier for
less-active visitors to enjoy the exposed and wild nature of the
site.
The tower hide must
be demolished for safety reasons. This should be replaced by
another hide in the same location. The new hide should be on a
raised bank to give an elevated view over the bog.
Information
The car park should
be clearly signposted at the site and on local roads. Leaflets
should be available both at the car park and locally. On arrival,
visitors should find a clear and welcoming information panel that
will help them to plan their visit. It should set out the options
available and, particularly for wheelchair users ami less mobile
visitors, it should give a clear indication of the distances
between turning and resting places.
Interpretation
With the prospect of
increased visitor numbers, a separate interpretation plan will be
necessary. Interpretation should be relatively low-key. but it
should include a well-produced booklet describing the wildlife,
history and importance of the reserve, and information panels along
the paths and boardwalk highlighting the main areas of interest
without being intrusive,
Education
Given the remoteness
of the site there is unlikely to be a high demand for educational
facilities. The main focus should be directed towards local
schools. Ideally, every child attending a local primary school
should be given the opportunity to visit the reserve and take part
in a guided walk during their final year. Other schools should be
accommodated as far as possible.
Educational packs
should be available, consisting of a number of separate inserts so
that they could be tailored to the requirements of the curriculum
and the age of the recipients. These would be suitable for primary
schools, high schools and universities
