A Welsh conservation centre is on a mission to help people connect with nature and inspire wildlife conservation, hosting visits and practical workshops on their 40-acre nature reserve.
The Shared Earth Trust, which manages Denmark Farm Conservation Centre in Ceredigion near Lampeter, welcomes visitors, volunteers, families and nature enthusiasts to explore the woodland trails around its reserve and learn how they can support nature in their own gardens and communities through rewilding projects and ‘Green Skills’ workshops.
Their workshops and dedicated events help people to discover ways to live more sustainably through small actions designed to help people save money, support wildlife, and reduce waste. These include traditional countryside crafts, conservation skills, wildlife identification, nature-based wellbeing activities and creative courses that encourage people to spend time outdoors and engage with the environment.
Tigs Smith, Engagement Manager for Shared Earth Trust, says: “Our mission is to reconnect people with nature. We want people to experience the wellbeing benefits of spending time outdoors, learn about the wildlife around them and discover the small actions they can take to support nature that make a real difference.”
Over the last four decades, Denmark Farm has been transformed into a thriving nature reserve that now supports more than 1,400 recorded species of plants, fungi and animals. Visitors can explore woodland, meadows, ponds and wildlife trails, gaining inspiration and practical ideas that can be applied in gardens, community spaces and local neighbourhoods.
Tigs says the centre has undergone a complete transformation and used to be very different to the sanctuary it is today.
“It was old farmland 40 years ago and barren of wildlife, with no birds or brambles in the hedgerows. The ethos of our project is to create diverse habitats that allow nature to return, so we minimally intervene and let nature do what it wants around the woodland.
“People come and see what we’ve done here in terms of working with biodiversity and they take some ideas back to their own garden. We hope to just inspire them with a few ideas that might make a difference to nature where they are.”
“Simple changes can have a huge impact,” says Tigs.
“Whether it’s creating a small barrel pond, planting a few flowers for pollinators, putting up a bird box or leaving part of a garden a little wilder, everybody can do something. If lots of people take small steps, together they create a huge ripple effect for wildlife.”
In a bid to raise vital funds and rally more supporters, Shared Earth Trust applied for easyfundraising’’s 2026 Impact Fund. The charity was delighted to be named one of 20 winners, and received a £500 grant, which will go towards funding their workshop classes.
Tig says: “We have a training venue on site, and we run a lot of conservation and heritage craft skills courses that help teach people hedge laying, coppicing, or natural craft skills like basketry. We’re also hoping to run creative courses such as expressive drawing and a watercolour painting course.
“We want to give people different ways to connect with nature,” says Tigs. “Not everyone wants to learn practical conservation skills. These new art-based courses will encourage people to slow down, observe the natural world and find creative inspiration in the landscapes and wildlife around them.”
“As a small charity, every grant makes a real difference. This support will help us offer more opportunities for people to experience the benefits of spending time in and connecting with nature while exploring their creativity.”
