Every morning, I walk my dog along a very short part of the Offa's Dyke path, and today I want to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Offa's Dyke path. It is a 177-mile long walking trail, opened in the summer of 1971. It links Sedbury cliffs near Chepstow with the coastal town of Prestatyn. In addition to being hugely important for our history and culture, it represents one of the UK's largest nature corridors.

Offa's Dyke is protected by statute law. Despite this, it is under threat. I welcome the fact that Cadw, working with English Heritage and the Offa's Dyke Association, have created a rescue fund to try to buy parts of the dyke that are under threat, and to pay for remedial work such as clearing scrub from it.

With many of us having reacquainted ourselves with nature over lockdown, more must be done to protect our natural environment and landmarks such as the Offa's Dyke path for future generations. I'd like to thank the association and wish them all the best for their work, and I encourage you to use the path—with or without a dog. Diolch yn fawr iawn.