29/06/2026

Former BBC Radio Wales Country Focus presenter Mel Doel OBE begins her journey by travelling through our three existing National Parks — Pembrokeshire Coast, Bannau Brycheiniog and Eryri — to understand how they were created and what they have meant for Wales over the decades.

Moving between coast, upland and mountain, she listens to the people who live and work within these protected landscapes.

Mel hears from those who celebrate the Parks as guardians of nature, culture and identity — and from those who feel constrained by planning powers, tourism pressures or decisions made by park authorities. Their experiences reveal the complexity of living inside a designation that is both protective and demanding.

Alongside this, Mel begins to explore the growing debate in North East Wales, where a public consultation is underway on whether Glyndwr should become Wales' fourth National Park. She meets early voices in the discussion who outline hopes, fears and unanswered questions about what designation might mean for their communities, their landscapes and their livelihoods.

What can North East Wales learn from the three Parks that came before, and who would a new designation truly serve?

Presented by Mel Doel
Produced by Ashley Byrne
An MIM Production for BBC Radio Wales