Coed Lleol/Small Woods Wales has been running nature-based wellbeing programmes across Wales since 2010. We support people to improve their mental and physical health through outdoor activities like woodland walks, bushcraft and nature crafts.
As part of the Lost Peatlands Partnership, Coed Lleol has brought its expertise to a unique blend of environmental restoration and community wellbeing—one that’s proving transformative for both people and place.
The Lost Peatlands Project is a long-term initiative that has restored 240 hectares of upland peatland in neath Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taf. But its impact goes far beyond ecology. With a strong focus on heritage and community engagement, the project has become a model for how conservation can also nurture connection, confidence and healing.
The project began during the pandemic, a time when many people were feeling isolated and anxious. Our sessions offered a safe, welcoming space to get outdoors, meet others, and take part in meaningful activities rooted in the local landscape.
Katie, our Health and Wellbeing Officer, said: “When people came at the start, anxiety was so rife. Seeing that increasing confidence and feeling more comfortable socially and connecting to other people and the landscape again was heartwarming. I’ve cried so many happy tears in this project.”
What makes this project different is its focus on heritage—not just the natural environment, but the stories, skills and traditions that are part of the local identity. We’ve run sessions on traditional crafts like willow weaving, shared local history, and explored how people have lived and worked on the land for generations.
“We had a lovely programme up in Cwmparc,” Katie shared. “A lot of the group were ladies who said they used to learn how to willow weave at school but that’s been lost, and their daughters still have the baskets they made. So, we went back and did a willow weaving programme so they could pass it on to the next generation.”
As well as Health and Wellbeing sessions, the Lost Peatlands Project includes education in local schools, habitat management and an app that encourages visitors to explore the landscape along nice walking routes.
Tam, one of our participants, described how the sessions helped her through a time of deep personal grief:
“I have been a Lost Peatlands & Coed Lleol participant for over three years—a lifeline after a really difficult time, losing my partner… being outdoors felt like a safe space. Every week my confidence grew. Drinking tea, eating cake and meeting new people was the care package I needed to heal.”
Susan, a volunteer, also found support through the project after being widowed in 2019.
“After my husband died, I was put on medication for anxiety and depression but also referred to Coed Lleol through the social prescriber. It’s been a really valuable part of my life for the last five years.”
Susan shared how the sessions gave her a sense of belonging and purpose:
“I was going along to a few things as a participant and I was starting to feel that I wanted to be useful and volunteer with a forest school, but I was feeling doubtful, and I didn’t know if I could do it. I spoke to Katie, and she said, ‘I was waiting for you to say you wanted to volunteer!’ and signed me up. That was the big thing—it’s a safe place.”
“What I valued most was feeling welcome. No matter how it’s gone, I’ve never come away feeling like I’ve failed. Even when my dog steals people’s pizzas!”
As the project moves into its next phase of funding from Heritage Fund, we’re reflecting on what’s made it work so well. Long-term funding has been crucial—it’s allowed us to build trust in small communities and respond to what people really want. And combining nature with heritage has added a powerful layer of meaning to our wellbeing work.
“That mix of conservation and wellbeing is really important,” Katie said. “Care for the landscape, care for yourself, care for your community.”
This project has shown that when people are given time, space and support to connect—whether through crafts, stories, or simply a walk in the woods—amazing things can happen. We’re proud to have been part of this journey, and we’re excited to keep supporting communities to thrive through nature and heritage.
To find out how to get involved click here
You might also like...
Finding flow to boost your mood and make life meaningful
The many faces of volunteering
