Language campaigners have reacted to the appointment of Huw Francis, the new director of the National Botanic Garden of Wales, who is not yet fluent in Welsh, asking when he will work in Welsh.  

Manon Elin, chair of Cymdeithas' language rights group, said: 

"We understand that Huw Francis has at least some Welsh. It is encouraging to see that he has worked in a venture with the Gaelic language at its heart in the Hebrides - so hopefully he understands the importance of Welsh as a community language and the language of work. We will write to him, asking for a meeting to dis discuss his vision for the Welsh language.  

"It is vitally important that the director of a body that is meant to be a national institution, and one situated in an area where Welsh is alive but fragile as a community language, uses the language with conviction in his work. So we would like to know - when will the director be fluent in Welsh and use it as his language of work?  

As head of the Garden, being able to speak Welsh would mean that there could be strong leadership on the Welsh language in the Garden. With only one of the garden's heads of department who can speak Welsh, there is an urgent need to act, even before the Garden comes under Welsh Language Standards in a few months - leadership and vision can achieve more than regulation alone. Here then is a challenge for Huw Francis - we're hopeful that things can change for the benefit of Welsh in the Garden."