A man who lives in a cabin and keeps mongooses, porcupines, a wallaby, parrots and other rare birds on a rural Carmarthenshire site has been told he must move and stop using the land for non-agricultural animals. James Wale moved two years ago to the site near Llannon, having previously run a rare bird business in neighbouring Pembrokeshire. Carmarthenshire Council issued an enforcement notice alleging breaches of planning control, which has now been upheld following an appeal, although Mr Wale has been given more time to relocate the animals.
Appeal against enforcement notice
Planning agents representing Mr Wale said his former business in the grounds of Picton Castle, Pembrokeshire, ended because the lease was not renewed. Mr Wale moved the birds to his farm in the north of the county, which he then sold before moving to the 17-acre woodland and marshy grassland site near Llannon. His agents said he had initially hoped to set up a “major tourism” venture – an owl garden centre – but had scaled back his plans to comprise a private bird welfare home along with some forestry and farming activities.
The enforcement appeal submitted by the agents said he was living onsite in a log cabin which had been transported from Pembrokeshire and had erected animal and bird enclosures. As well as the more unusual animals, Mr Wale kept horses, goats, chickens and ducks and was in the process of buying some sheep. The appeal document said the initial scheme to establish a tourism facility included improvements to the vehicular access, a car park, and reception, office/staff, toilet and vets centre buildings, together with reptile, mongoose and serval animal enclosures.
Objections from neighbours
The document said a planning application was instead being prepared for a smaller-scale venture, which would include around 30 bird and animal enclosures and a potential veterinary-type building, and that further ecology reports were required. It added that Mr Wale did not intend to keep living onsite. Council enforcement officers issued two enforcement notices in 2025 – one later withdrawn – and then another in January 2026 requiring him to cease residential use of the land, remove the cabin and stop keeping non-agricultural birds and animals.
During the subsequent appeal, seven objectors expressed concerns about changes at the land, sanitation, stray animals and unusual noises. One objector’s email said: “I am not aware of what livestock he keeps but the noises I hear daily are not those of native species.” Another claimed the noise “often sounds like a tropical jungle” which, along with the sound of generators and dog-barking, was “particularly troublesome late at night”. Another objector submitted a photo of goats and a Labrador they said had strayed onto their land, alleging that “what was once a beautiful forest now looks like a fly-tipping incident”. Llannon councillor Llinos Mai Davies claimed the site adversely affected neighbouring properties and had a negative impact on the character of the area.
Inspector's decision
Photos of the land were submitted by the planning agents showing the cabin and various enclosures, and by the council showing boggy conditions and the woodland access track off the A476. The council’s photos also showed the cabin’s interior. A planning inspector appointed by Welsh ministers has now dismissed the appeal subject to some wording amendments of the enforcement notice. The inspector described seeing the cabin during a visit and noted the variety of animals kept, including eagles, falcons, parrots, hornbills, mongooses, skunks, porcupine and wallaby, housed in around 25 aviaries and large wooden shed structures.
The inspector said there was potentially a minor element of forestry and agricultural activity but that the main operation was of a “fundamentally different character” and unauthorised. Mr Wale has been given 12 months, rather than six, to stop using the land to keep non-agricultural animals, remove the enclosures and restore the site, matching the 12-month deadline to stop living on the land and remove the cabin. “Given the unusual type and mix of the animals, it may well take more time to find a suitable alternative location,” said the decision report. Mr Wale’s agents told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that a planning application would be drawn up in a bid to keep the birds on site.
