THE owners of three holiday cottages located near Bala have been giving nature a helping hand by rewilding.
Gail and Jerry Cole run the Tygwair Wen, Llaethdy Wen and Tylluan Wen cottages in the Arenig mountains just to the North of Bala.
Since moving to North Wales from Henley on Thames to their idyllic hideaway – the couple have been rewilding – or returning to nature – seven acres of land which surrounds their home and holiday cottages.
Gail said: “You can’t live in countryside like this without it becoming a fundamental part of who you are. It has a way of finding its way into your soul.”
The couple’s project has seen a transformation of land that had been eroded by years of sheep grazing – something which can, over time, have a significant impact on a landscape’s natural biodiversity.
Motivated by the desire to restore and re-establish native wild plants and creatures that had been lost, Gail and Jerry set about seeding wildflower meadows and planting copses of trees. They also excavated a 1300m2 lake, and installed bird and bug boxes to encourage new visitors.
Gail added: “For any re-wilding project to be successful, it has to be self-sustaining. That means we have to make sure we are encouraging creatures on every level of the food chain.”
What had been relatively barren scrubland is now home to beautiful wildflower meadows, copses of young trees and a hilltop ‘llyn’ which teams with all sorts of life.
As well as delighting guests at their luxury holiday cottages, the rewilded land is also now home to two young tawny owls – Bill and Ben (pictured below) – rehomed from The Owls Trust in Llandudno.
The spring is marked by the return of house martins and swallows from Africa, and in the summer, the lake comes alive with damsel flies, dragon flies and water beetles.
Gail said: “All we wanted to do is to give nature a helping hand. Looking out across these magnificent hills, watching the wildlife that now flies above and walks below, seeing the ebb and flow of life as the seasons change, it is life affirming, reassuring, and completely uplifting. It simply just makes you feel exceptionally content and happy.”
Rewilding projects, also known as natural capital projects, can bring a host of benefits to the environmen, including flood protection, enhanced biodiversity and carbon capture
Guests staying at Tygwair Wen, Llaethdy Wen and Tylluan Wen can enjoy rewilded meadows and landscapes by walking in the beautiful environment during their stay.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here