Welsh Charity Secures 405 Hectares for Landmark Rewilding Project in Mid-Wales
A Welsh charity has acquired more than 405 hectares (1,000 acres) in Ceredigion to establish what is being hailed as Cymru's flagship rewilding project. This initiative aims to help Wales catch up with large-scale nature recovery efforts already underway elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
Funding and Vision for the Cwm Doethie Site
Tir Natur (Nature's Land), founded in 2022, announced the purchase of the site at Cwm Doethie in the Elenydd region, part of the Cambrian mountains. The acquisition was made possible after a fundraising drive raised 50% of the £2.2 million purchase price, with a philanthropic bridging loan facilitating the sale. Fundraising continues to support early restoration work and community activities on what will become Wales's largest rewilding site.
Naturalist and broadcaster Iolo Williams, an ambassador for the charity, expressed his enthusiasm: "I am hugely excited by their efforts to purchase land and showcase the benefits of rewilding, not only to wildlife and the physical environment, but to farming, Welsh communities and culture. Nature needs this."
Chair Tash Reilly added in a statement: "This site will demonstrate what's possible when we allow nature to take the lead and work for people again. It's a hopeful, practical vision anyone can contribute to."
Ecological Goals and Community Engagement
Tir Natur plans to restore Cwm Doethie's natural landscape, which includes rivers, peat bogs, and ancient woodland. The project will act as a carbon sink and reduce downstream flooding risks. Key objectives include encouraging the return of species such as red squirrels, pine martens, polecats, curlews, and hen harriers, while creating new nature corridors and habitats for beavers and butterflies.
The charity also intends to implement a wild grazing system using traditional cattle, pony, and pig breeds to act as "ecosystem architects" that kickstart natural regeneration by turning over soil.
Previously, the site was considered poor for grazing and unsuitable for commercial forestry due to its location in a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). However, Ian Rickman, president of the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW), raised concerns about "the scale and transparency of this project." He noted: "While it is positive that the role of livestock has been acknowledged, questions remain over how such a large area of land will be managed and funded in practice." The FUW has pledged to work with the charity to ensure local farmers and rural communities are heard.
Tir Natur has emphasized its commitment to supporting Welsh communities and culture, aiming to avoid displacing productive farming.
Context and Comparisons with Other UK Rewilding Projects
The valley in the Cambrian mountains is set to become Wales's largest rewilding site by a significant margin. For comparison, some of the biggest rewilding projects in the UK include:
- Cairngorms Connect in Scotland, covering 60,703 hectares (150,000 acres).
- Rewilding Affric Highlands in Scotland, currently at 8,094 hectares (20,000 acres).
- Wild Ennerdale in the Lake District, spanning 4,452 hectares (11,000 acres).
According to the Natural History Museum's Biodiversity Intactness Index, the UK ranks 229th out of 240 nations, with an averaged score of 50%, far below the 90% threshold deemed safe for ecosystem function.
This project follows another major rewilding effort in Wales, Summit to Sea, which aimed to establish a protection area from the Pumlumon massif to Cardigan Bay in 2017. It faced local criticism and was re-established as Tir Canol (Middle Ground) in 2020, now focused on a smaller area of Elenydd.
