The Rewilding Plan - Take Two

Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome back to another chapter in the ongoing story of the Pont-Y-Pandy Rewilding. Before we go any further, I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported this journey so far and especially to those who helped shape our very first steps in the rewilding venture. At this point in time, very little was known about our small and emerging organisation. What began as a passion project was starting to root itself within the woodlands landscape. As the initial planning phase drew to a close, a new and essential chapter was about to begin our first field trial under the banner of Research & Rewilding. But before the plan could be set in motion, one major challenge stood in the way: removing the waste that still littered the site. Only by clearing the area could we enter a proper phase of ecological observation. This wasn’t just about aesthetics it was about understanding the hidden hazards, monitoring the land's natural response, and preparing for the steps that would follow. To revisit these early moments, I’ve included a short video below. It documents the start of the cleansing process and the first actions we took to log hazards for future digital risk assessments. What may appear simple at first glance became a pivotal learning experience one that began shaping how we approached long-term land management across the woodlands.

A Look into The Begining

To better understand the reality of these early actions, I’ve included a video recorded during one of the first days back in the woodlands after the flooding. It shows, in no uncertain terms, the state of the land and the visible signs of embedded waste. What this video doesn’t capture is the full weight of the work that went into the final planning for rewilding. It does, however, give an honest look at why this rewilding project matters, and why it had to start with direct action. There’s no excuse for the amount of mess. In those early moments, there was no backup crew, no corporate team, no local council to help. It was just me, a few supporters, and the camera. It wasn’t glamorous, and it wasn’t easy but it was necessary. Looking back at this footage now, it really paints a picture of a repeat pattern unfolding in the area especially when reflecting on the situation today.

A Plan Forms Together

After everything that had unfolded up to this point a clearer picture of the landscape began to emerge. We had mapped the terrain not just in physical terms, but in lived experience. We’d taken note of its vulnerabilities, its risks, and its potential to recover. Every hazard logged, every discarded item removed, and every footstep through the mud brought us closer to understanding what this land truly needed and what it could still become. But this was never just about rewilding for the sake of it. It was also about raising awareness, showing others what was here, and why it mattered. Through these early actions, a new kind of plan formed not just one written on paper, but one that invited others to see the land with new eyes. A plan that asked people to take pride in their surroundings, to stand with their local spaces, and to remember that healing a place begins with noticing it again and standing together for our community. so Ladies and Gentlemen, As Part 4 draws to a close, what stays with me is not just the image of the waste removed, but the effort it took to get to that point the quiet hours, the soaked boots, the feeling of being the only one standing between damage and restoration. This stage was never about grand gestures. It was about practical action, small steps, and the willingness to face the hard truth of what had been left behind. The land needed that from me. And truthfully, I needed it too to see, through every piece of rubbish cleared, a purpose growing stronger. This wasn’t the end of the work it was the beginning of a deeper responsibility.

Until the next time… Take care.
Michael “Druid” Thomas
Lunacare Cymru | Media – Blog