Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:30 pm on 10 December 2019.
Thank you, First Minister. With my region home to one of the last remaining colonies of the fen raft spider, and as the species champion for this rarest of British spiders, I take a keen interest in preserving the biodiversity of South Wales West. My region is also home to one of the greatest example of sand-dune habitat in Europe—the Kenfig national nature reserve, as you've just mentioned. First Minister, in just a few short months, these 1,300 acres of managed coastal sand-dunes and wetlands will be potentially left without any management. Bridgend council walks away from running the nature reserve on New Year's Eve and a lease for its future management is yet to be signed. It is vital that the Kenfig national nature reserve is properly managed going forward in order to protect this vital part of our natural heritage and an important part of the nation's biodiversity. First Minister, please can you update us on progress being made by Natural Resources Wales to take on the long-term lease for the nature reserve and the steps they will take to protect the many rare species of plants and animals that call it home?