A major programme of work is underway across Wales to restore and protect hedgerows and ancient trees, as Keep Wales Tidy delivers the Urban Long Forest Project with support from a £777,628 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The project
Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the project will run from April 2026 to June 2029 and will focus on raising awareness of the importance of hedgerows, while involving urban communities in their care, restoration and long-term protection.
Work will take place across Cardiff, Caerphilly, Neath Port Talbot and Wrexham, supporting local action to restore hedgerows that form a vital part of Wales’ natural heritage. Hedgerows are a defining feature of the Welsh landscape, supporting an enormous variety of wildlife and acting as living corridors that connect fragmented green spaces. However, they are increasingly under pressure, particularly in urban areas, due to inappropriate management, neglect and development.
What the numbers are telling us
According to the Welsh Government’s Protection of Hedgerows in Wales report, 78% of hedgerows in Wales are now in ‘unfavourable condition’, highlighting the long-term decline this habitat has faced and the need for continued action.
The Urban Long Forest Project brings together practical conservation, education and community engagement to help reverse this trend, supporting people to better understand, value and care for hedgerows in their local areas.
This funding is a huge step forward for urban nature in Wales. Hedgerows have been overlooked for too long, but they are one of our most powerful tools in responding to the climate and nature emergencies.
Urban Long Forest will help communities rediscover their value and take action to protect them. We’re excited to be working with partners and local people across Cardiff, Caerphilly, Neath Port Talbot and Wrexham to make this vision a reality.
Owen Derbyshire Owen Derbyshire, Keep Wales Tidy Chief Executive
Through this project, Keep Wales Tidy will work in partnership with Coed Cadw, Adult Learning Wales, Llais y Goedwig, and local authorities to deliver a programme of education, training, and hands-on conservation activities.
Urban Long Forest puts communities at the heart of caring for Wales’s urban natural heritage. Thanks to National Lottery players, the project will help protect hedgerows and ancient trees while creating new opportunities for people to connect with these important features of our landscape.
Andrew White Director for Wales, The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Coed Cadw, the Woodland Trust in Wales is proud to support Keep Wales Tidy’s Urban Long Forest Project, which strengthens our call for tree equity and the recognition of ancient and veteran trees in urban neighbourhoods.
Its strong focus on community engagement empowers people to connect with nature and advocate for fair and equitable access to the multiple health, wellbeing and environmental benefits that trees provide.
Kylie Jones Mattock Coed Cadw Director
Adult Learning Wales is delighted to be part of the new Urban Long Forest Project. We will be delivering a series of accredited courses in Traditional and Heritage Crafts, focusing on sustainable textile and paper techniques, including weaving, patchwork, and bookbinding. These courses, shaped by learner voice and feedback, have been inspired by nature, hedgerows and the green spaces in the urban areas of Wrexham, Cardiff, Caerphilly and Neath Port Talbot.
Learners across Wales will have the opportunity to learn new skills, explore green spaces and use these experiences as inspiration for their final projects with the option of progressing onto further Urban Long Forest activities.
Karina Scott Adult Learning Wales Contracts Manager
Llais y Goedwig is excited to be part of such a welcome initiative - linking existing woodlands and communities with hedgerows and involving people in urban areas in their creation and care will pay a vital role in creating and maintaining our connections with the natural world and ensure their lasting stewardship.
Maria Wilding Llais y Goedwig
Want to get involved?
More information about the Urban Long Forest Project and opportunities to get involved will be available at: www.keepwalestidy.cymru/urban-long-forest/
