Pembrokeshire Outdoor Charter Group Full Group Meeting 11/03/13 Stackpole Centre Minutes Present: Tom Luddington - Pembrokeshire Outdoor Charter Alec Williams - Sealyham (Chair) Steve Quinton - Pembrokeshire College Michael Davies - Pembrokeshire Outdoor Charter Mark Wilkinson Freelance Ack Moore National Trust Paul Culyer CCW Charles Mathieson PCNPA Gareth Clinton Celtic Quest Guide Cleopatra Brown Celtic Quest Coasteering Dave Ansell Bush Farm Camping & Diving Chris Elliott Buzzzard Chris Bushcraft Libby Taylor PCNPA James Parkin PCNPA Matt O Brien Freelancer David Jones Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum Andrew Tuddenham National Trust Joe Sutherland Pembrokeshire Cycle Tours Ant Goddard Kayak king Ian Meopham PCNPA Brett Ffitch Rock up Climbing John Haylock TYF Adventure Chis Jex Pembs Adv. Centre Mark Horner PCC Tourism Jet Moore Adventure Beyond Apologies: Barry Scott, Rob Eglestaff, Oli Tuggey, Sophie Hurst, Ana Green, Alun Lewis, Paul Bramble, Pablo Thorne, Tom Iggleden, Lynne Houlston, Nige Robinson
Minutes of last full group meeting These were accepted as a true record Matters arising No matters arising Introduction (Tom Luddington) TL reminded group of the aims and purpose of the group together with membership criteria. Centre Updates Ack Moore (Stackpole) bookings look ok but some schools struggling with transport costs which have risen this year, centre now has 137 beds. Chris Jex (PAC) Centre is busy including lots of bookings with MoD. Apprenticeship scheme for trainee instructors starting Nov. 2013 working with Pembs College. Alec Williams (Sealyham) Bookings slightly down but centre made a profit in 2012 Jon Haylock (TYF) seasonal staff about to start work. Bookings looking ok for 2013. TYF concentrating on specific end of the market. Trying to push the sustainability agenda into outdoor activities. Mark Horner (Pembs. Tourism) Mark is leaving his current post, thanks very much for his input over the last few years. The tourism dept. are still looking for more news stories to help promote the county and outdoor recreation please send to Claire Rees claire.rees@pembrokeshire.gov.uk or contact the Tourism Marketing & Development Team by calling 01437 775629 or emailing tourism@pembrokeshire.gov.uk. Budget for leaflets etc. has been cut so more emphasis on digital marketing. PCC Facebook is Visit Pembrokeshire Cleo Brown You can also Email Pembrokeshire Tourism who will cascade stories on to all their contacts: admin@pembrokeshire-tourism.net 01646 622228 You can also make use of their Face Book Page Love Pembrokeshire to post stories / news etc about your businesses. Ian Meopham (PCNPA) Informed group of otter project please contact Sue Burton via Oriel y Parc (St. David's) to report otter sightings including historical sightings.
Cleo Browne (Celtic Quest) Has won lots of awards incl. Woman in Tourism Award. Congratulations extended to Cleo from group. Dave Ansell Running PADI dive courses, mainly from Stackpole Quay or Martinshaven. Jethro Moore (Adv. Beyond) Continuing at similar booking levels to last year. Jethro raised this point about payment at Abereiddy it is important to remember that payment is for parking, not coasteering. Paul Culyer (CCW) Soon to become part of Natural Resources Wales (NRW) following merger with Env. Agency and Forestry Commission. Chris Elliott (Buzzard Chris Bushcraft) Running bushcraft courses mainly from woods at Cresswell Quay. Courses from ½ day to 2 days. Hoping to expand to specialist courses such as include flint knapping etc. James Parkin (PCNPA) Restructuring completed with many job changes. E.g. Charles Mathieson now has new role with responsibility for delivery. Brett Ffitch (Rock up Climbing) Has just set up business coaching climbing, mainly small groups/individuals concentrating on more advanced skills. Ant Goddard (Kayak king) Has recently started up a Kayak tours business in North Pembs. Andrew Tuddenham (National Trust) Has been involved in access meetings re coasteering at Abereiddy and Ceibwr Bay. Also working to help find alternative paragliding sites in N. Pembs. in light of Preseli ban. Confirmed Red Bull cliff diving will return to Aberieddy in Sept. 2013. There has been an increase in trail running on the coast path including. St. David s events in early March lack of consultation from organisers. Action: Email TL with details and agreements at each site. Steve Quinton (Pembs. College) Students continue to take part in climbing, orienteering, sailing, surfing and kayaking (watersports with PAC) also several groups now involved in regular conservation projects with National Park and National Trust.
David Jones (Pembs. Coastal Forum) Has met with Cornwall Outdoor Charter Group to advise, also active with Neptune s Army of Rubbish Cleaners (NARC) and in process of making video about under sea rubbish. Joe Sutherland Pembs. Cycle Tours Involved with promoting cycle travel through European Cycle Logistics Federation which allows cyclists to hire and drop off bikes in various parts of Europe. Matt O Brien (Environment Agency) Has recently returned to Pembs. EA is soon to become part of NRW. Working on various projects incl. Bathing water quality. Rachel (Aberieddy) (Reported via text) new website is www.abereiddy.net will be live at end of March to handle bookings, enquiries and links to outdoor activity businesses. Centres can send logos to her via Cleo (Celtic Quest) to enhance marketing opportunities. Recreation Valuation (DJ) David Jones would like help from outdoor activity providers in providing information on numbers of visitors, profits, visitor spend etc. This information is gathered through a 10-20 min. telephone interview. It is important in that it informs the Welsh Government for Marine Planning and decisions on Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) etc. Aim is to attach monetary value to outdoor recreation to show the importance of the sector. Progress Report (Tom) TL reported on progress this year including events such as Wildlife Sightings and developments with WATO. Tom also previewed the Kayaking best practise DVD which was well received. It is hoped that the DVD could be launched at a Kayak event this year, possibly Kayak event at Pwll Caerog in July? There is a coasteering workshop organised for 17 th 18 th April which includes input from many local experts and the coastguard. There was a short discussion on pricing AW suggested that the cost would prevent him sending all his coasteering instructors although it might be possible to send 2-3 so that they could feedback to remaining staff. TL emphasised the good value provided. The event is a workshop for sharing best practise, not a training event and attendees should be competent coasteering leaders / aspirant guides. TL asked for comments about the idea of producing business cards with the POCG website on for handing out at events. It was suggested that this could be a double sided card with organisation/company details on one side and POCG details on the other. TL also asked if company websites included the link to the outdoor charter website. Membership there have been enquiries from some other businesses (fishing and horseriding) about joining the group and there was a short discussion on whether this was
practicable or not. General consensus was that more diversity would lead to an inability to make meetings relevant for all members. AoB TL thanked members of the group for support over the last 7 years and introduced the new Officer (Michael Davies) who will take over at the end of March. Michael is a keen paddler and cyclist with lots of experience in outdoor recreation management from Cardiff Bay. The group congratulated TL on his efforts while in post and wished him good luck with his forthcoming travels. Jethro gave interested members an update on Kayak/Canoe coaching qualifications in Wales. These are in the review process and a new scheme is likely to come into being in the near future. The main changes will be a reduction in paperwork and time and money required to become qualified. Training courses will be optional, assessments will be shorter. Please feedback comments/ideas to Jethro. Date of Next Meeting: 15 th Oct. 6pm, venue tbc. TL Thanked Ack Moore and his staff at Stackpole Centre for hosting & preparing food for everyone.