Senedd hopefuls set for second Welshpool hustings next week

Voters in Montgomeryshire will have the opportunity to question Senedd election candidates on environmental issues at a public event next week in Welshpool.

Following the disappointing initial hustings at the Town Hall last month, when only 27 people showed up, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust is organising a second hustings at the Royal Oak Hotel on Wednesday, April 22, from 7pm-9pm.

The event will focus on nature and climate, giving candidates a platform to outline their parties’ plans ahead of the next Senedd term, which will run from 2026 to 2030. Candidates from seven political parties, along with three independents, are expected to attend.

The discussion will be chaired by Colin Preston MBE, a former chief executive of Shropshire Wildlife Trust who also held interim leadership roles with Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust and South and West Wales Wildlife Trust.

Organisers say decisions made by Members of the Senedd influence land use, air and water quality, and the protection of wildlife across Wales.

Recent data highlights the scale of the challenge. Welsh wildlife has declined by an average of 20% between 1994 and 2023. The State of Natural Resources Report 2025 found that one in five species is now at risk of extinction, compared to one in six in 2020. Species such as the curlew, hazel dormouse and hedgehog are among those under threat.

The event is open to the public and free to attend, although capacity is limited to 100 people. While no booking is required, organisers advise arriving early. A live stream will also be available via Facebook and YouTube for those unable to attend in person.

Clive Faulkner, Chief Executive of Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, said: “Nature is in trouble everywhere on Earth. We have very little control over what happens to polar bears or the Amazon rainforest, but we can vote for nature’s recovery here in Wales at these elections.”

Further details, including links to the live stream, are available on the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust website.