The Days Of Change Begin:

Introduction

Ladies and Gentlemen, today’s journey brings us to the quiet canopy of the Pont-Y-Pandy Woodlands a place filled with both beauty and memory. It’s here, walking among trees and turning leaves, that our story of research and rewilding truly began. But before this path was clear, life as it often does took a sharp turn. You see, Pont-Y-Pandy wasn't just a woodland. It became a turning point. At one time, my world looked much like anyone else's steady work, a loving family, and dreams waiting patiently to unfold. Like many parents, all I wanted was to give my children the best I could: knowledge, kindness, and an education shaped by the natural world around us. I wanted to show them the richness of our land, to share pride in being Welsh, and to lend a helping hand to our communities. Then, everything changed. Shortly after one of the most cherished photos was taken, tragedy struck. My world turned upside down. A family breakdown followed by silence from support services left me grappling with chaos. What began as an ordinary life spiraled into a decade-long fight for healing, accountability, and purpose. So how does a moment like that spark a passion for environmental research and rewilding? Well, the roots were there all along just waiting to grow.

Woodland Research With Luna!

Exploring nature with my children was always a joy. But there was something truly magical about those moments with Luna. She had a knack for spotting the smallest wonders wriggling insects, twisting leaves, patterns only visible to a child’s eye. And through her eyes, I saw the world anew. Luna’s innocent curiosity reminded me of something I’d forgotten: how to slow down and breathe. How to notice the little things. Her laughter echoed through the woods like birdsong, bright and free. And in those moments searching for bugs, collecting leaves I began to heal. I began to dream again. Children have a way of teaching us what truly matters. With every walk through those woods, I learned more from Luna than I ever expected. Not just about nature but about rediscovering my own heart. These walks planted a seed that would later bloom into something bigger: a mission to understand, protect, and restore the natural world. But we weren’t quite there yet.

Through Her Lense!

As the sun dipped beneath the trees, we stopped to take a few photos. Luna, camera in hand, captured the colors and shapes that caught her eye branches dancing in the wind, mushrooms hiding beneath leaves, the glow of evening light through moss-covered trunks. That day became a memory carved deep in my soul. What began as a simple walk transformed into something much more. Luna unknowingly opened a door in my heart. Her joy, her wonder, her love for nature reignited something within me. In that moment, the seed of environmental passion truly took root. It wasn’t just about rewilding the land. It became about rewilding the spirit.

Closing Thoughts:

Looking back on those first days first cameras, first hikes, first whispers of purpose it’s staggering how much change was quietly unfolding. So many of the details blur with time, but the journals I kept, the photographs, and most importantly, the emotions they remain vivid. That day out with Luna wasn’t just a day in nature. It was the beginning of a new chapter. One that would grow into field research, community action, and rewilding projects stretching across Pont-Y-Pandy and beyond. So I share this with you not as a polished story, but as a lived truth. A reminder that in the quietest walks and smallest hands, great journeys can begin.

Michael “Druid” Thomas
Lunacare Cymru | Media - Blog