Our Purpose
“The actions we take in the next ten years, to stop ecosystems collapse, to recover and regenerate nature and to restore people’s health and wellbeing are
now critical.”
Food, Farming and Countryside Commission
Bryn Cynefin is a small-scale regeneration project, with BIG ambitions. We are responding to the ecological crises by establishing a productive, financially viable off-grid, small-scale, zero-carbon regenerative farm.
We are growing a resilient network of micro-enterprises that support sustainable livelihoods while restoring soil health, increasing biodiversity, and strengthening community connections.
the view across to Y Mynydd Du from the orchard field
Why Bryn Cynefin?
We are situated on a Monmouthshire hillside, or "Bryn" overlooking Y Mynydd Du (The Black Mountains).
The Welsh word Cynefin—often translated as “habitat”—speaks to a sense of belonging. It describes the relationship between people and place; how our surroundings shape identity, wellbeing, and culture. Cynefin acknowledges the interdependence between the physical, social, cultural, spiritual, and economic dimensions of a place and its people.
This sense of 'Cynefin' is the guiding principle behind everything we do.
Mission
We believe that the wellbeing of the future is tended by our actions today. Bryn Cynefin is dedicated to creating a thriving local ecosystem that can continue to feed bellies and heads and hearts for the next 7 generations.
Our mission is to grow ecological, economic and community resilience through food-growing, skill sharing and land stewardship.
We aim to to create a living example of what is possible within a one planet threshold, building resilience through nurturing connections to ourselves, each other and the living world.
At this time of climate uncertainty, we believe farms can be places of possibility. We seek to create a living model of regeneration to inspire, inform and initiate solutions-based responses to the climate emergency.
Vision
Bryn Cynefin is not a self-sufficiency project, it is an interdependency project. We are designing a resilient web of inputs and outputs, weaving together a thriving ecosystem of local people, local economy and local ecology.
Bryn Cynefin aims to be a living example of how a sustainable approach to land, food, housing, and livelihood can meet present needs without compromising those of future generations.
We envision Bryn Cynefin bursting with biodiversity above and below ground. A perennial and foraging landscape providing abundant food and medicinal plants, where water flows with ease through a biodiverse network of ponds and swales. The air is clean and alive with vibrant insect and pollinator life. The woodlands and fields are dense and diverse, and home to a small number of grazing sheep, cows and chickens.
Bryn Cynefin is not only a productive food landscape, it is also a nourishing place to spend time, allowing people to experience a sense of belonging within themselves, with each other, and with the living world.
Values
Rooted in Cynefin, guided by permaculture and driven by the principles underlined in The Well Being of Future Generations Act 2015, Bryn Cynefin is a response to the converging crises of our time. We are committed to long-term solutions-based thinking, collaboration, and consideration for future generations.
Bryn Cynefin is designed around around 6 pillars:
Healthy Body/
Small batch, hand-crafted edibles and wellbeing products - including wild-foraged teas, tonics, balms, woodland mushrooms, fermented foods and winter salads
Healthy Community/
A welcoming place for learning and creativity - including traditional crafts, practical land skills, and meaningful social connection.
Healthy Economy/
A regenerative, stacked enterprise model that feeds into and strengthens the local economy through diverse, resilient revenue streams. This stacked enterprise model has been designed to use multiple distribution channels and a cross-seasonal schedule to build resilience within the system.
Healthy Home/
Low-impact housing and thoughtful land stewardship, designed in harmony with the earth and in accordance with Welsh Government One Planet Guidance.*
Healthy Land/
Regenerative land management practices across pasture, woodland and wild spaces - combining horticulture, a heritage orchard, agroforestry, rotational grazing and wild tending —focusing on restoring soil health, increasing biodiversity.
Healthy Mind/
Accessibility to nature connection, human contact and land-based learning to nurture people's wellbeing, resilience, and sense belonging.
These pillars stand on a foundation of the three ethics of Permaculture:
Earth care/People care/Fair shares
* Requiring an ecological footprint of 2.4 gha per person or less, with a goal to move towards 1.88 gha
