Dolydd Gobaith Planning for Sustainability

Why? / Pam?

Dolydd Gobaith is a recently acquired 30 acre community forest farm run for the benefit of the local community and the environment. We have been successful in raising over £200,000 from the local community and from grant giving agencies to purchase this land and to make significant improvements in terms of public access, increasing biodiversity and in providing volunteer opportunities and training.

We have identified a need to be more sustainable in our operations by raising external income and reducing our need on public grants. We wished to engage the services of a suitably qualified specialist to work with us in producing a long term sustainable plan which will focus on business opportunities as well as increasing our reach within our local community.

What? / Beth?

We have already identified a need for the CIC to be more financially sustainable whilst providing the maximum benefit to the environment and to the local community. In addition to this, our volunteer feedback surveys and evaluations have identified the need for more heritage based courses, workshops and activities in our locality. These surveys have been formal in nature and are ongoing. Surveys have been completed by all demographic groups including young families, single parents, young people, older people and people experiencing mental or physical challenges.

Through our Planning for Sustainability Report, the local community will benefit from more opportunities to connect with nature through a wide range of heritage based paid courses, workshops and activities. These could include hedge laying, plant and animal ID, woodworking, environmental art, nature based photography courses, dark sky events, family based courses, bee keeping, growing organic veg, orchard management etc. Participants will be able to learn new skills and take an enhanced role in our ongoing sustainable development. We are hoping that the Report will also identify areas in which we can partner with local business and entrepreneurs in providing local employment and opportunities for them to expand in to environmental services too (for example tree nursery, wild camping, yoga retreats etc).

Where? / Ble?

Our project is taking place at our small community farm - Dolydd Gobaith (Fferm Goedwig Gymunedol Dyffryn Tanat Valley Community Forest Farm) Hafotty Ganol, Pen-Y-Garnedd, Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant, Oswestry, Powys, SY10 0AW

Who? / Pwy?

Our website is https://dolydd-gobaith.cymru/about/ and our facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/dolyddgobaith