Winter 2025/26 at Tir Coed
Written by Tir Coed / Wednesday 29 April 2026
In Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, we celebrated the completion of our 12-week Woodland Carpentry courses, accredited by Agored Cymru. Participants gained practical green woodworking skills, built confidence and experienced the wellbeing benefits of spending time in nature alongside like-minded people. In Carmarthenshire, the group crafted a beautiful dragon bench alongside their own personal projects, while in Pembrokeshire trainees worked together to build a roundhouse in a community garden in St Davids helping make the space more accessible for everyone. These courses were funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.
In Ceredigion, we launched an exciting new partnership with veterans’ charity Woody’s Lodge at their Penlan Farm site near Llandysul. This project aims to enhance the site while welcoming new people to connect with nature, learn new skills and meet others. Over the winter, we delivered bespoke group sessions, established a volunteer group that will continue under Woody’s Lodge and built a roundwood timber frame shelter to improve access so more groups can benefit from the space. This work was funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. We also supported the community by creating play equipment at Penparcau Community Hub in Aberystwyth.
In Powys, we introduced our new Tree to Bench courses in Llandrindod Wells and Newtown. Trainees used materials from their local woodland to create stunning, rustic benches to improve the woodland for all. Elsewhere, participants helped develop local green spaces through improving access and tree planting, working alongside Open Newtown, volunteers and a local school group. We also delivered a nature connection wellbeing programme in partnership with Natur am Byth.
This winter also marked an exciting first for Tir Coed as we trialled a paid weekend course. Delivered by Rob Smith, the two-day Woodland Management for Conservation course took place at our Pembrokeshire site, Scolton South Woods. Set in a beautiful roundhouse and surrounded by diverse woodland habitats, the course brought together participants with a shared interest in conservation. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive and we’re excited to build on this in the future.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, supported us and helped make this winter such a success. We’re looking forward to all that spring will bring.
