A WALK near St Davids Head to celebrate the life of one of the early champions of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park will take place today (Saturday).

Dr Marion Herbert was a botanist and a keen conservationist and a prominent figure in the history of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

For much of her life she lived with her family near Carmarthen, where her husband, Dr John Herbert (deceased), was a medical doctor.

She was a Secretary of States appointed member on the National Park Committee of Dyfed County Council, which was formed in early 1974.

As a botanist, she excelled on committee visits and tours when she would regale members with the names of all the plants in Latin. She was universally liked and respected for her quiet calm and sunny disposition and contributed significantly to the development of the National Park in the new semi-independent era.

She regularly represented the committee at events and on conferences and left a lasting reminder of her time on the committee in the form of a fine traditional antique Victorian print of a Razorbill, still on display at Llanion Park.

For many years Marion was also a member of the Friends of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

She died in August 2016, aged 88. In her will she left a legacy to the friends with the wish that part of it should be used to erect a memorial to her within the national park.

With the agreement of the park authority, the friends have sponsored a gate, marked with a plaque, on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path at Dar y Cadno, a spectacular location approximately a mile North East of St Davids Head.

Today (Saturday) the friends will be holding a walk around St Davids Head which will include a visit to the Marion Herbert gate. Members of the public are invited to come along.

This stunning walk incorporates a mixture of dramatic shore and coastline stretching away for miles in each direction, a wonderful sense of remoteness, towering rocky outcrops and a mass of colourful, coastal flowers. The walk leader will pause along the route recount the history and the natural history of the landscape.

The figure of eight walk will start from Whitesands Bay and follow the coastal path, gently climbing onto St Davids Head.

At a point the group may split to complete either shorter walk of 3.5 miles (assessed as 'easy/moderate in places') or a longer walk of about 8.5 miles (assessed as 'moderate').

Bring sturdy footwear, waterproofs, drinks and a packed lunch to eat en-route. Full information on this walk and other future events can be found on www.fpcnp.org.uk/category/events-programme/ .