Wales’ largest rewilding site has been unveiled, with 1,195 acres of landscape in the Cumbrian mountains set to be managed for restoration.
The site, near Tregaron in Ceredigion, extends into part of the Dowethy Valley within Elenydd, a highland area where land use and environmental management are increasingly debated.
The announcement follows significant progress in fundraising, with organizers confirming they have already raised more than half of the £2.2 million needed to purchase the land.
A bridging charity loan has also been secured, allowing the company to purchase the premises while it continues to raise funds.
The project is being led by Tir Natur, a registered charity aiming to create a “wilder Wales, where nature and people thrive together and provide hope for future generations”.
The charity says the site has the potential to support large-scale habitat restoration, while keeping Welsh communities and culture at the heart of the project.
The 1,195-acre site (equivalent to 121 Principality Stadiums) is intended to be a long-term example of how nature restoration can work alongside rural life, rather than completely removing people from the landscape.
The plan includes the use of hardy herbivores, which play a role in vegetation management and natural habitat formation, allowing wildlife to thrive while maintaining an active approach to land management.
However, large-scale rewilding projects remain debated within the agricultural sector. Some farmers and rural stakeholders have expressed concern that land will be taken away from potential food production, especially as pressures continue on farm profitability and domestic supply.
Mr Tir Natur said the site would become a “bold living example of rewilding” designed to inform and inspire further nature-led projects across Wales at a time of “unprecedented biodiversity loss”.
The project is likely to gain attention as farmers across Wales consider their future options as rewilding becomes a bigger part of the rural land use debate, changing support systems and an increased focus on environmental considerations.
A public crowdfunding campaign is currently underway, with nearly £20,000 so far raised towards the original £500,000 target. The first donation of £31,250 will be funded by founding members of the community and will double the impact.
The charity said it was “incredibly grateful” to its supporters who had helped it achieve what it described as a key milestone and ensured essential rewilding and community engagement work could begin without delay.
If fully funded, the land will be held in perpetuity for nature, Til Natur said. The plans are expected to add momentum to the ongoing debate over the future of upland land management in Wales.
