The Farm
ANCIENT TREES and
UNTOUCHED LAND
A WORKING FARM, MANAGED
for and with NATURE
The land that surrounds Allt y bela created the wealth to build the farmhouse. Separated for many years, the farmhouse and its cottages and landscape were reunited by William and Arne in 2020. The 165 acres are now managed by William in close partnership with Natural Resources Wales as a conservation landscape. Ancient hay meadows cut in the traditional way, woodland managed for diversity, rare historic-breed cattle grazing lightly to encourage the wildflowers that give this land its SSSI designation and make it the single largest such block in South Wales.
BRITISH WHITE CATTLE
The land is grazed by rare historic-breed cattle with the right numbers and at the right time, allowing the meadows to recover and the wildflowers to flourish. Conservation grazing at its most considered.
THE WOODLANDS
Ancient woodland carpeted with bluebells and wild anemones in spring, managed in partnership with Natural Resources Wales. Walking routes through the woods are marked on the estate map provided to all guests.
HOLLOWAYS CARVED by the
PASSING of TIME
PLACES of INTEREST
House Gardens
The gardens are both a place of beauty and of continual experimentation. They evolve with the seasons, bringing together structure, abundance and a deep understanding of the surrounding landscape.
Meadows and Anthills
The species-rich meadows form part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), supporting a remarkable diversity of grasses, wildflowers and insects. The ancient anthills that rise through the grassland create valuable habitats of their own, providing food for green woodpeckers and contributing to the ecological richness of the landscape.
Woodlands
The ancient woodlands surrounding the estate are being carefully managed through traditional and sustainable coppicing practices, supporting biodiversity while maintaining a long-standing relationship between people and woodland. These quiet places provide habitat, shelter and seasonal beauty throughout the year.
Trees
The estate is home to many magnificent mature and veteran trees, each supporting a rich ecosystem of birds, insects, fungi and lichens. They also provide vital shade and shelter for grazing livestock, standing as enduring markers within the landscape.
Droveways
Ancient droveways thread their way through the estate, following routes that have connected people, animals and landscape for centuries. Along these historic pathways, former hedgerows have matured into beautiful lines of trees, quietly recording the passage of time.
Hilltops and views
From the higher ground, the estate opens out into a landscape of rolling hills, ancient woodland and far-reaching views across Monmouthshire and beyond. These elevated places possess a particular sense of wonder, changing constantly with the light and the seasons.”
VAST SWEEPS of WILD ORCHIDS
Ancient hay meadows that have never been ploughed are rich in wildflowers – including, in early summer, vast sweeps of wild orchids among the grasses. Hay is still cut in the traditional way. The richness of these meadows is centuries in the making.
