At Coed Talylan, we are nurturing a vision of sustainability, community, and biodiversity that we eagerly want to share with the wider community through restoration, land-based production and education.
Our 30 acre fungal nature reserve, known as the “Refungium”, aims to restore the woodland into a healthy diverse habitat while also serving as a model for innovative techniques to enhance the diversity of fungal species. These activities will represent ongoing opportunities for member-led volunteer engagement.
We envision a thriving community on the land, living in low-impact dwellings, producing their own food and generating their own energy while being united by a shared commitment to steward the land in ways that actively restore and enhance the woodland.
Simultaneously, we strive to contribute to the economic and social well-being of the region by producing food and goods, and offering educational opportunities. We are dedicated to forging connections between people and the land, inspiring similar initiatives in the process.
Our horticultural practices, designed to provide sustenance for residents and visitors alike, will serve as living examples of minimal soil disturbance techniques, growing methods which are highly integrated and nurtures mycorrhizal hyphae. We are also committed to developing localised strains of vegetables through a comprehensive seed-saving strategy.
Coed Talylan’s mission is not confined to its physical boundaries. We aspire to share our land and the knowledge gained from this project with a broader community of like-minded individuals. We firmly believe that common ownership and cooperative models of organisation are the most equitable means to redistribute land and resources. To this end, we have established the Coed Talylan Land Trust (CTLT) as a multi-stakeholder cooperative, committed to facilitating these objectives. Furthermore, we are dedicated to promoting the adaptation of our cooperative structure, making all relevant documentation open source within the cooperative network.
As we move forward, we have plans to create a Wild Campsite, welcoming CTLT members and exploring the development of secluded “eco-cabins” nestled within the woodland to offer additional accommodation options. Our facilities will undergo expansion, enabling the production of a wide array of gourmet and medicinal mushrooms, with added-value products that contribute to the diverse income streams for our residents.
We hope that Coed Talylan will stand as a beacon of land stewardship, sustainable living and community collaboration, nestled within the natural beauty of the Bannau Brycheiniog. Our commitment to shared ownership, agroecological practices, and innovative education programs embodies our vision for a harmonious coexistence with the land.
Our Objectives
1. Establishing the Refungium: The CTLT is committed to supporting the development of the Refungium project, an innovative fungal approach to habitat and biodiversity management. We are actively building a passionate membership base to champion and drive this concept forward, embodying our dedication to a biodiverse and sustainable environment.
2. Facilitate the Construction of Affordable, Innovative, Low-Impact Houses: With existing permission granted for one household under the One Planet Development (OPD) policy framework, we aim to assist in securing approvals for additional households. These new homes will showcase innovative designs that prioritise local materials and employ “zero carbon” construction methods.
3. Expand Workshop Facilities: With planning permission already secured, we will build an extension to our existing mushroom laboratory and a processing barn. This expansion will encompass food processing facilities for drying, fermentation and preservation, adding value to produce from the land. These resources will be made available for use by resident Home Members, further enhancing our capacity for sustainable land-based livelihoods.
4. Implement Micro Hydro Energy Generation: As part of our localised energy supply strategy, we plan to install a seasonal micro-hydro system powered by a 300-metre pipeline on the Nant Celynog stream. This initiative contributes to our commitment to renewable energy sources and sustainable power generation.
5. Develop a Wild-Campsite and Construct “Eco-Cabins”: We want to offer an immersive wild camping experience while building four “eco-cabins” that exemplify zero-carbon construction methods harmonious with the natural landscape. Initially, these facilities will be available to CTLT members, long term volunteers and research students, offering a unique opportunity to connect with nature.
6. Establish Roundwood Roundhouse Field Shelters: We would like to construct two roundwood roundhouse field shelters. These installations serve multiple purposes, providing shelter and creating a welcoming environment within our woodland. Volunteers will play an active role in their construction.
7. Develop a Children’s Woodland Playground: We are building climbing frames and treehouses as part of a woodland children’s playground to create an engaging and safe space for children to connect with nature. Collaboration with volunteer members, especially families, will be integral to this endeavour.
8. Establish an Outdoor Woodland Kitchen and Pizza Oven: In collaboration with member volunteers, we will build a simple wood-fired outdoor kitchen space. This communal area will be used for preparing meals for visiting members for community and skill sharing events. The addition of a rocket stove hob, food preparation area, and cob oven will provide unique skill-sharing opportunities.
9. Develop an Open Source Legal, Governance, and Financial Model: We believe the model we have created will serve as a template for similar initiatives, facilitating the growth of cooperative networks for the purposes of assessing and developing land for low-impact housing and agroecological food and farming systems. We are committed to sharing our experiences, tools, and documentation throughout the cooperative network, including the Equity Share Lease agreement created in collaboration with Anthony Collins Solicitors, the Cwmpass, and the Confederation of Co-operative Housing.