Part of the Top Rewilding Projects UK Series
Wilder Wales
Our Top Five Rewilding Sites
Hello, we're Tom & Chloe, the team behind the Grange Project and the Wilder Podcast. Ever since we began rewilding our own 80-acre farm in Monmouthshire, we've been on a mission to share the stories of rewilding projects across the UK. This article forms part of our "Top Rewilding Projects UK" series, highlighting places where nature is recovering and communities are reconnecting with the land.
Rewilding is about more than tree planting or species reintroduction – it's about trusting natural processes to shape landscapes once again. Across Britain you'll find inspiring initiatives, from Knepp's wild herds in Sussex to the Carrifran Wildwood in the Scottish Borders. Closer to home we've discovered five extraordinary projects in Wales that epitomise the principles of rewilding and have influenced our own approach.
Each site showcases what happens when scale, connectivity, community involvement and nature-led management come together.
© Daniel Oates / Radnorshire Wildlife TrustGilfach Nature Reserve
Gilfach Nature Reserve is a place that's been calling to us for years. What draws us to this 117-hectare patchwork of heath, meadows and wetlands is the story of transformation – from upland sheep farm to thriving nature reserve. The Radnorshire Wildlife Trust began reducing sheep numbers here in 1988 and replaced them with hardy Welsh White and Galloway cattle. Over thirty years later, natural regeneration, tree planting and pond creation have produced a diverse mosaic of habitats that inspires our own approach.
Highlights
- Over 70 bird species breed on the reserve
- River Marteg provides spawning habitat for Atlantic salmon
- Visitor centre, trails and on-site cottage available
Key Species
Resources & Media
Welcome to Gilfach Nature Reserve
Iolo Williams introduces the reserve's history and transformation
© Radnorshire Wildlife TrustWilder Pentwyn Farm
A short drive from our own farm lies Wilder Pentwyn, a 30-year experiment in integrating rewilding with low-input agriculture. Radnorshire Wildlife Trust's vision is to let natural processes shape meadows, ffridd (scrub) and river corridors while still producing food. They've introduced cattle, ponies and pigs to create a patchwork of habitats and are working on wetland creation, wildflower seeding and tree planting. They also plan to restore the banks of the River Lugg, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Highlights
- 30-year vision to restore natural processes
- Extensive grazing with cattle, ponies and pigs
- Wetland creation and wildflower seeding
- River Lugg restoration planned
Resources & Media
Wilder Pentwyn Animation
Animation outlining the 30-year vision for the farm
What have the Wildlife Trusts ever done for us?
Wilder Podcast Episode 26 with James Hitchcock, CEO of Radnorshire Wildlife Trust
View full episode
© Coetir Anian / Cambrian WildwoodBwlch Corog, Cambrian Wildwood
We've followed Cambrian Wildwood's journey at Bwlch Corog with keen interest – their approach to upland restoration has deeply influenced our own thinking. Set in the northern Cambrian Mountains, this 140-hectare site is dominated by purple moor-grass moorland with pockets of ancient woodland. Since 2017 the team at Coetir Anian has planted 8,000 native trees and blocked 12 km of drainage grips to restore blanket bog and heather moorland. It's exactly the kind of patient, process-led rewilding we aspire to.
Highlights
- 8,000 native trees planted
- 12 km of drainage grips blocked
- Summer grazing by Highland and Welsh White cattle
- Improved visitor paths
Key Species
Resources & Media
All About Cambrian Wildwood
Coetir Anian's film brings the project to life
Challenges with 'Rewilding' w/ Kara Moses
The Rewilding Podcast Episode 36 with Kara, chair of Cambrian Wildwood
© Gwynn Jones / North Wales Wildlife TrustBryn Ifan: Celtic Rainforest Revival
The vision of reviving Celtic rainforest captivates us. Though we haven't yet explored Bryn Ifan's 450 acres on the slopes of Bwlch Mawr, the North Wales Wildlife Trust's ambition to restore these temperate rainforests – once cloaking Wales's western hills – speaks directly to our own dreams for the land. Their plans to plant native woodland on upland ffridd, enhance internationally important wetlands and adopt regenerative farming practices offer a template we hope to learn from.
Highlights
- Reviving Celtic rainforest habitat
- Over £93,000 raised via Aviva and public donations
- Native woodland planting on upland ffridd
- Collaboration with neighbouring Henbant Permaculture farm
Key Species
Resources & Media
Bryn Ifan Project Overview
North Wales Wildlife Trust's vision for Bryn Ifan
© Sam Rose / Tir NaturTir Natur: Wales' Largest Proposed Rewilding Project
Tir Natur (Nature's Land) is a project we're watching with excitement. Their grassroots crowdfunding approach resonates deeply with us – ordinary people coming together to purchase over 1,000 acres for Wales's largest rewilding reserve. What inspires us most is their philosophy of cynefin, a Welsh sense of belonging to land and culture. Their vision of free-roaming Welsh Black and White Park cattle, Carneddau ponies and Iron Age pigs shaping peatbogs, rivers and woodland feels authentically Welsh in a way that moves us.
Highlights
- Over £90,000 raised through crowdfunding by early 2025
- Vision to create Wales's largest rewilding reserve
- Planned beaver reintroduction
- Peatland and forest restoration
Key Species
Resources & Media
Tir Natur: Rewilding Wales
An introduction to Tir Natur's vision for Welsh rewilding
Why Wales's Rewilding Matters
Rewilding in the UK is gathering momentum, yet Wales's diverse geology, strong community ties and national language give its projects a unique flavour. Our experience at Gilfach, Pentwyn, Cambrian Wildwood, Bryn Ifan and Tir Natur demonstrates that rewilding can heal degraded landscapes, boost biodiversity and support rural economies all at once.
Many of the lessons we've learned here – such as the importance of community buy-in and grazing with hardy livestock – are informing projects across England and Scotland too.
Together, we can help nature lead the way to a wilder, healthier future.
The Grange Project
Right here in Monmouthshire, we're rewilding 80 acres of Welsh countryside. From wildflower meadows to native woodland, wetland creation to wildlife corridors, we're demonstrating how land can be transformed for nature, people, and planet.
Visit us for corporate away days, stay in our off-grid cabins, or join one of our events to experience rewilding in action.
Get Involved in Welsh Rewilding
Connect with organisations leading the rewilding movement in Wales