What the Project is about:
The Felin Uchaf Project grew out of a vision to create a place where people and the land on which they worked could nourish each other in body, soul and spirit and to found a Community Enterprise Centre based on a holistic approach to environmental and cultural education.
At Michaelmas 2004 a small group of friends launched an appeal to purchase a neglected parcel of land in the heart of the Llyn Peninsula on Wales's westernmost shores bordering the Irish Sea, and set about manifesting that vision. They began to transform the landscape through planting thousands of trees, reinstating hedgerows and wetland habitats and sculpting new eco buildings out of stone, earth, thatch and timber harvested locally. On what used to be a bare, windswept site there are now a patchwork of small gardens and flowered meadows, a low green haze of young trees and the fruits of many people's labours: paths that lead to secluded roundhouses, to a subterranean hall where stories and songs and the arts are celebrated , to workspaces for the sharing of fine craftsmanship and a community garden for people to cooperatively grow herbs and vegetables in a sustainable, life enhancing way.
The Centre has become a valued resource for schools, community groups and volunteers, a place to reconnect with our land, ourselves and each other.
There is a great deal of practical work still to do and people of all ages and backgrounds, both local and from all parts of the world come to volunteer, lend a helping hand and participate in the craft and building courses. We hope that when you have looked through our website and seen what a tremendous opportunity this initiative represents for not only the people and land of the peninsula but for Wales and far beyond her borders, that you too will want to get involved.
The Setting...
The Llyn is North Wales' westernmost peninsula, a place of pilgrimage since Celtic Christian times and a coastline of breathtaking natural beauty. From the bouldered, heathered iron age hillforts above the Centre you can compass the whole sweep of the Welsh coastline from Pembrokeshire to the south, northward to Anglesey , eastward to the peaks of Snowdonia and westward across the Irish Sea to the Wicklow Hills. Welsh is the first spoken language amongst most of its small seafaring and agricultural communities and older traditions and wisdoms are reverantly celebrated. It is a fitting setting for such a spirited initiative.
Funding the Initiative....
We are funded through gifts and donations from supportive, forward thinking individuals, trusts and grant giving organisations and generate our own income from running courses, skills workshops, hosting cultural events and through selling our crafted produce & delicious organic-biodynamic produce through a community veg box scheme and the farm shop.
Please see our courses and news pages for details of what's currently on offer and the contribute page for how you can support the project and get involved.
As well as offering a wide range of skills training and volunteering opportunities the centre provides:
- an architectural design consultation service for clients wishing to explore eco & traditional building construction & design
- accepts commissions for public works of art, oak gates, benches and outdoor structures.
Please contact Dafydd Davies-Hughes for further details.
one of our oak gates to grace a footpath or woodland or garden entrance
trainees on an accredited NVQ level Heritage Skills Course
volunteers on the Duke Edinburgh Gold Award Scheme
Menter Y Felin Uchaf is a not for profit, cooperative llimited company and a registered charity. Charity Registration No. 1120510
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