Project

A regenerating landscape. A regenerated you.

Throughout history people have intuitively recognised the benefits of being outdoors. Now the science is catching up too, as evidence mounts that being surrounded by nature benefits our brains and our bodies, reducing stress hormones, calming the nervous system and rekindling creativity. Looking after the land means looking after ourselves.

Some of this evidence lies beneath our feet, with many of the wildflowers at Lofftwen ending in the suffix wort, such as lousewort and milkwort, which in the old days denoted a plant, root, or herb with health giving properties. It’s also above our heads in the many mosses, lichens and ferns dripping from the trees. These species are highly sensitive to pollutants, so their presence in such diversity and numbers tells you all you need to know about the quality of air you will be breathing and the spring-born water you will be drinking and bathing in during your stay. It’s no surprise that the local town’s Victorian tourist boom was driven by the health giving properties of “taking the waters”, and the suffix “Wells” eventually added to its name. Today, the life growing on these trees has been identified as a potentially rich source of new lifesaving antibiotics.

The first few years of this project have been a rollercoaster of an adventure and exceeded our wildest dreams. We've been humbled by the generosity of people living locally, both in their warm welcome and the time and knowledge they’ve given to the project, and astounded by how quickly the trees have grown and the way the land and wildlife have responded. We’ve learnt a huge amount too, gaining new skills and finding the occasional new muscle along the way, all the time surrounded by some of the healthiest air and purest water in the UK. We hope that during your stay you’ll experience a glimpse into this world while relaxing and recharging your batteries ready for whatever your next adventure might be.