The Future of Kite Country

In the previous pages of my History of Kite Country I have summarised some of the momentous events that have taken place since Man first settled here some 7000 years ago. Given this huge timescale, is it possible to predict what will happen in the next Millennium? The answer, of course, is no. Even our hugely increased capacity to control our environment will not necessarily keep pace with the speed of change and a rapidly increasing population. Feudal rights over property inherited from Norman times are now under threat from Government - led initiatives to vastly increase the "right to roam" across private land, keenly supported by powerful lobbies such as the Ramblers Association. This could mean that those of us prepared to pay fair rates for the pleasure of fishing without disturbance may now have to put up with crowds of people claiming their "right" to access along river banks. A reasonable balance must be drawn here.

The ancient practice of hill-farming, descended from the Cistercians in the early Middle Ages, is under severe attack from the hard-nosed accountants and eurocrats of Brussels, who can only think in terms of balance sheets and fiscal policy. The habits of millions and the livelihoods of countless Welsh farmers are now largely in the hands of multinational supermarket chains. Every year many farmers give up against impossible odds. I look at this subject in more detail on my Farming page. What will happen to their lands when they are gone?

The Brecon Beacons National Park was created in the 1950s, along with many others throughout England and Wales. However, it is small, measuring some 520 square miles, and it is very close to some increasingly large centres of population and industry. Pollution from traffic and effluents is a constant danger and commercial afforestation has created large tracts of land that are incapable of sustaining most wildlife and which leach acid into the rivers. Practically all the ancient, indigenous forest has been lost, despite its special status as a National Park.

Increased leisure time and wealth means that all manner of conflicting interests now come together - canoeists on the rivers during salmon spawning time and four-wheeled drive enthusiasts ploughing up ancient byways and Roman roads. The delicate balance of the countryside will not withstand uncontrolled mechanised attack.

The recent campaign against foxhunting was widely regarded as an attack against country life in general and there is a perception that the idealists and policymakers of the large cities, especially London, have little time or understanding for the realities of rural life. Whatever your feelings on foxhunting, there is no doubt that a great deal of thinking in Westminster has little in common with the interests of country people.

One momentous historic event has happened, in that a freely elected National Assembly for Wales was formally established on the 1st July 1999. Significantly, amongst other matters the Assembly has the power to develop and implement policy with regard to agriculture, ancient monuments, culture, the environment, sport and leisure, tourism, the Welsh language and town and country planning. Although time will tell, as it always does, the Assembly is not toothless and perhaps it will really represent the interests of local people. You've got the address - let the members know what you think.

The history of Kite Country is characterised by invasion and turmoil with occasional periods of calm in between. The threat of invasion now is different from past events, but it is possibly more insidious and must be resisted.

Go to History Introduction