A local non-profit is crowdfunding to create 3000sqm of habitat for wildlife. 

Wilba Conservation is a non-profit based in Llandrindod Wells, with the aim of creating areas of habitat to help nature.

It has now launched a crowdfunding campaign for one of its projects, which will create 3000sqm of habitat near Llanbister.

The organisation is aiming to crowdfund £4000 to turn an area of unproductive farmland into a highly beneficial riparian habitat. 

Currently, Bracken Gorge is a steep sided ravine running between two fields, with a small stream running at the bottom. The steep slopes are dominated by a blanket of bracken. 

“We are working closely with the farmer to turn this difficult and unproductive area of land into somewhere for nature,” explains a spokesperson for Wilba Conservation.

“The first stage will be to fence off the area, this will allow us to plant trees which will be crucial to controlling the bracken and help improve the biodiversity of the area.”

The total area of the project is 0.3 hectares.

Bracken Gorge connects to a mature patch of woodland to the west and upland rhos pasture to the east.

Non-profit, Wilba hopes that this project will pave the way in showing that habitat creation doesn’t need to be overly complicated or expensive.

“We all know that work needs to be done to combat the nature crisis,” the spokesperson added.

“But often people feel overwhelmed by the scale of the problem and that they don’t have the expertise to be able to do anything helpful.

“Our projects, including Bracken Gorge, aim to connect people with nature and show that creating small pockets of habitat is good for nature and farming.”

The biodiversity benefits of the project will include protecting land for wildlife, improving soil health; reducing surface run-off and erosion and increasing tree cover. 

Wilba’s goal is to raise £4,000 - this will cover the cost of the fencing and the tree saplings, including guards and stakes.

Wilba was set up in 2022 in Radnorshire with the aim of working alongside landowners to help and encourage wildlife.