Nestled against the stunning backdrop of Cardigan Bay lies Esgair Arth, which loosely translates to Bear Ridge. This 300-acre coastal farm sits just four miles from the picturesque seaside town of Aberaeron. A wonderfully unique town home to a charming…
Cardigan Bay
A coastal landscape being reconnected—where ancient Oak woodland, river and pasture are coming back to life.
Set along the dramatic coastline of West Wales, Esgair Arth is a 300-acre estate overlooking Cardigan Bay—one of the UK’s most important marine environments.
Centred around a rare ancient Oak woodland Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the winding Afon Arth, the Estate sits at the intersection of land and sea—playing a vital role in supporting biodiversity, improving water quality, and restoring natural processes across the wider landscape.
Once shaped by generations of intensive grazing, Esgair Arth is now undergoing a profound transformation—reconnecting fragmented habitats, expanding woodland, and creating a more resilient and biodiverse landscape.
Invasive Non-Native Species Management
Restoring the health of the Afon Arth is central to the long-term recovery of Esgair Arth.
Find out more
Woodland Creation
Woodland creation sits at the heart of Esgair Arth’s transformation.
Find out more
Built Property Development
The built environment at Esgair Arth plays a vital role in connecting people with the landscape.
Find out more
A Landscape Told in Two Halves
Esgair Arth is defined by contrast.
On one side, the protected oak woodland of Coed Allt Craig Arth SSSI—home to rare species such as wild service tree and small-leaved lime—represents one of the most ecologically significant habitats in the region.
On the other, historically grazed pasture—once productive farmland, but over time shaped into a simplified, species-poor landscape.
Our vision is to bring these two halves back together.
By allowing woodland to regenerate naturally and expanding it through targeted planting, we are creating a bigger, more connected space for nature—where habitats can recover, species can return, and ecological processes can function as they should.
Invasive Non-Native Species Management
Flowing through the Estate and into the Cardigan Bay, the river plays a critical role in supporting both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Our approach focuses on removing invasive non-native species at a catchment scale—allowing native vegetation to recover and strengthening the ecological resilience of the river corridor.
Through innovative, chemical-free methods and partnerships across the catchment, we are improving water quality, stabilising riverbanks, and creating the conditions for native species to return. This work extends far beyond the Estate boundary. By working collaboratively up and downstream, we are delivering coordinated, catchment-scale action—ensuring that restoration efforts are not isolated, but contribute to the long-term health and resilience of the entire river system.
Woodland Creation
By expanding and reconnecting the existing SSSI woodland, we are creating a larger, more resilient habitat that supports biodiversity, captures carbon, and restores ecological balance across the landscape.
Over 90,000 native broadleaf trees have been planted across the Estate—one of the most significant woodland creation efforts in Wales—helping to reconnect fragmented habitats and enable natural regeneration to take hold.
As these woodlands mature, they will support a rich diversity of species, improve soil and water systems, and create a long-term natural carbon store—forming the backbone of a thriving, nature-rich landscape.
Built Property Development
Existing residential properties provide homes for local communities, while the Estate’s traditional agricultural buildings offer a unique opportunity to create a new model of sustainable, nature-based development.
Our vision is to sensitively repurpose these buildings into high-quality ecotourism accommodation and a conservation hub—creating spaces where people can stay, learn, and engage directly with the restoration of the landscape.
By integrating heritage, environment, and community, built property at Esgair Arth will support long-term economic sustainability while deepening the connection between people and nature.
Explore our interactive landscape vision map for the Estate.
At Esgair Arth, we're restoring a landscape of national importance.
Esgair Arth plays a critical role within the Cardigan Bay catchment—linking woodland, river, and coastal ecosystems.
As woodland expands across formerly grazed pasture, habitats are becoming more connected, enabling species to move more freely and supporting a greater diversity of wildlife. The restoration of rare species and ancient Oak woodland habitats is strengthening the ecological significance of the Estate at both a local and national level.
The removal of intensive grazing and the recovery of natural habitats are allowing ecological processes to return. From soil regeneration to improved river health, the Estate is moving towards a system where nature can sustain itself—supported by ongoing management of invasive species and long-term monitoring of environmental change.
The figures to the right represent the long-term impact we aim to deliver through restoration—measured over the lifetime of the Estate.
28,000 tonnes of CO2
to be removed or avoided
4 km
of watercourses improved
1.5 Jobs
supported across the estate
Articles from across the Estate
-
Every business talks about culture but far too often it is no more than a set of corporate buzzwords retrospectively pieced together in the board rooms and corner offices of senior people, so far away from the actual realities of…
Meet your Estate Manager
Rowan is our Esgair Arth Estate Manager with a huge passion for conservation and the outdoors. Born and raised in Wales, she feels incredibly lucky to work in the landscapes she grew up exploring. With a First-Class Honours degree in Biology and a PhD in butterfly vision and behaviour, she brings strong scientific expertise to her work.
Email Rowan