Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 2:00 pm on 17 January 2018.
I welcome the Chair of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee's further political and personal interest in this key area, and following up from the debate that we had just last month. Welsh Government are aware that the woodland estate is an important social asset. We know that it brings great health and well-being benefits from being able to access it, and a sense of identity and place at the local level as well. We're currently analysing the responses to our consultation, 'Taking forward Wales’ sustainable management of natural resources', which contains proposals to update the legislative framework for public access to the outdoors, and we will publish a summary of that and the Government response in due course.
I also note that, during the debate, there were some very good examples cited by colleagues in terms of community woodland. I wish to reiterate my commitment then that if Members would like to invite us to see that, so that we can see best practice at first-hand, that could then hopefully influence us further down the line.