4. What plans does the Welsh Government have to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the launch of the Wales coast path? OQ57994

Llywydd, in 2012, Wales became the first nation in the world to create a dedicated path around an entire coastline. A year-long programme of events and activities will now celebrate that achievement. I thank the Member for leading the independent review of the Wales coast path, and look forward to publication of his report tomorrow. 

I thank the First Minister very much. Can I take this opportunity to thank the members of that review group, who've done sterling work over the last couple of months, looking at not only the successes and the remarkable undoubted achievements over the last 10 years—words such as 'iconic', 'inspirational', 'emblematic' have been used to describe this landmark achievement from 10 years ago—but looking at the future and how we can use the Wales coast path to help us tackle the climate and the nature emergencies, to promote health and well-being, the physical and mental well-being of the population of Wales, and to look outwardly as a country, both in how we use the great outdoors in Wales, the blue and green outdoors, but also portray ourselves to the world? So, I'm going to be cheeky, and at the risk, First Minister, of repeating an incident that I understand has gone viral from last week between the Swansea and Cardiff football teams and the politics of that, could I ask you, First Minister, what is your favourite part of the Wales coast path?

Oh dear. Oh dear. You know a hospital pass when it comes your way in Wales, don't you? [Laughter.] Well, first of all, let me say, Llywydd, I've had the advantage of seeing an advance copy of the group's report, so I know some of the things that it will be recommending: how we can build on the path, how we can extend its reach by making sure that there are circular paths that go inland. I was able to answer a question from John Griffiths recently on the floor of the Senedd, Llywydd—and of course John was the Minister responsible for the coastal path—in which we looked at the way in which Newport council is linking the coastal path with inland paths, for example through the Sirhowy valley, and I know that the report draws on that experience to suggest other ways, and particularly the way in which children and young people can be involved in the path, to promote its health and well-being potential.

Llywydd, to choose a part of a path that goes all the way around Wales is guaranteed to offend far more people than it will ever please, so I thank the Member for that opportunity. As it happens, I have been asked this question recently by journalists writing copy for the tenth anniversary, so I'll just repeat what I said there—the safest thing. So, I was on the coastal path at the weekend. I was walking between Pendine in sir Gâr to Amroth in Pembrokeshire. It's probably not one of the best known parts of the path, but it's absolutely beautiful. You can imagine, with the weather at the weekend, it was stunningly beautiful. It's challenging in parts, as the path often is. It has some very steep inclines, up Marros mountain for example, and it has hidden parts of the coast, which, unless you take the coastal path, you'll never see for yourself. If I had to choose just one tiny part of that wonderful achievement for this afternoon, I'd recommend that walk to anybody.

I have no hesitation in saying that my favourite part of the coast path is Pwllderi, where I grew up, where there is a carreg goffa to the poet Dewi Emrys, with the lines:

'And these are the thoughts that come to you / When you sit above Pwllderi.'

My favourite part. But, as someone who grew up with a farm that sees the Pembrokeshire coast path pass through its land, I fully appreciate the importance of developing a good relationship between the landowner and the walkers. And while the Wales coast path celebrates its tenth anniversary, the Pembrokeshire coast national park celebrates its seventieth anniversary, and it's in a position as the nation's only purely coastal national park and has led the way in developing a cohesive and successful relationship between users and those who own the land on the coast path. So, what actions are being taken by the Welsh Government to ensure that similar positive relationships are developed and maintained along the rest of the Wales coast path? Diolch.

It's an important point that the Member makes, Llywydd, and, when the path was in development, there were some challenging small parts of the path where those relationships had to be built up, and sometimes agreements reached. The Welsh Government recognises, of course, that the upkeep of the path is something that has to be constantly attended to. The work of wardens and volunteers in the Pembrokeshire coastal path and in other places is pivotal to that, because, by keeping the path in good order and making sure that, where there are necessary things like fences and protections so that crops or wildlife don't inadvertently find themselves at risk from walkers who stray off the path, all of that, I think, is well understood. We rely on the people who are closest to the path itself to make that happen, and I think one of the strengths of the path over its 10-year history has been the way in which those relationships have developed, and where there are difficulties that have to be attended to, there are well-known ways in which those issues can be brought to attention and a resolution to them found.