Alison Moore-Gwyn, chair of the National Playing Fields Association, is to take over as director of the organisation.

Moore-Gwyn, who has been chair for the past four years, is to succeed Elsa Davies who is retiring after 13 years in the role.

“I plan to continue Elsa’s work, fostering our relationship with the government where we can, but standing by our principles about the protection of recreational space,” said Moore-Gwyn.

“Any community which has no green place for its children to play is fundamentally impoverished and we must never lose sight of that fact.”