When Storm Darragh hit last December, it left a lasting impact on Craig y Nos Country Park, a beloved 40-acre site known for its Victorian heritage and rich natural beauty.

The storm uprooted nearly 200 mature trees, and many more are now being removed due to their unstable condition.

The park, located near Abercrave and part of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, is home to diverse landscapes, including mixed woodlands, ponds, and a hay meadow, all of which have been affected by the increasingly unpredictable weather patterns in the region.

The storm’s devastation prompted a collaboration between the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) and the park’s management team. This partnership, which has a long history of environmental projects at the site, focused on assessing the storm damage and exploring future adaptive strategies. The University’s team, including students and staff from various disciplines, conducted surveys and collected environmental data to help guide decisions on how to restore and adapt the park.

Professor Rhian Jenkins, UWTSD’s academic director for the School of Architecture, noted the growing impact of climate change on local landscapes.

“The site is prone to flooding and the almost continuous rainfall over the last few years is having a detrimental impact on local soils,” she said.

“As a result, many of the trees in the area are not adapting to the changing conditions.

“While the storm was an extraordinary event, many trees were already displaying signs of stress and decline.”

Professor Jenkins emphasised the debate about what should be replanted — whether to honor the park's historic Adelina Patti legacy by replanting like-for-like species or to choose more climate-resilient options better suited to future conditions.

A group of students, including those studying Environment, Sustainability, and Climate Change, surveyed the park’s habitat and conducted soil sample analysis. The data will play a crucial role in updating the park’s management plan to enhance climate resilience.

One student, Robyn Betson, shared her reflections.

“The damage to the park is a sobering reminder of how vulnerable our landscapes are to the effects of climate change,” she said.

“Seeing so much of the canopy lost since our last visit was a stark contrast, making it clear that traditional ornamental gardens are not designed to withstand the increasing extremes of weather we are facing.”

Meanwhile, Architecture students tackled the challenge of designing a portable climate activism hub for a national competition, exploring how temporary structures could encourage climate action and awareness.

Photography students documented the park’s damage, capturing the tension between its historical significance and the environmental changes unfolding. Their work will be featured in an interdisciplinary exhibition at Swansea College of Art’s state-of-the-art gallery, Stiwdio Griffith, highlighting the diverse ways climate change is impacting local communities.

Professor Jenkins added: “It was a fantastic opportunity to get three diverse groups of students working together for a common goal - that of capturing and communicating the changes caused by climate change and the urgent need for mitigation and adaptation of our natural and managed habitats.”