Nature & Community 16 November 2025 By Katherine Saxby

Having researched Ecovillages, Eco-Projects and Communities, and Project Managing the Rhwydwaith Pentref Eco Cymru - Ecovillage Network Cymru since 2011, Katherine set out this year to find what is happening now as Ecovillages in Europe expand in number more and more.

Projects Katherine, Calon and/or Brian have visited and learned from in the past 10 years

Lammas, Pembrokeshire

Group study visit to Lammas
Photo: Group study visit to Lammas

Lammas has been a great support to many fledgling groups, pioneers of ecovillage living in Cymru - and very willing to lend a hand to make more projects like this happen. They also provide many resources - videos, documents and consultancy to groups.

Iona Community

Calon and Katie's trip with Wrexham Community Choir to Iona
Photo: Calon and Katie's trip with Wrexham Community Choir to stay with and learn from the Iona Community

Iona Community are a spiritual community, coming together with this shared purpose. Based on Iona, they also have connections and community in other parts of the world - and can even be found as a temporary community at Glastonbury Festival.

Brithdir Mawr

Group study trip to Brithdir Mawr
Photo: Group study trip to Brithdir Mawr

Brithdir Mawr was a long standing community - bought by a couple, who later split - one half of the couple lives next door, and the other half rented the buildings out to these community members.

Embercoombe

Embercoombe is a very special place - with opportunities to learn leadership and other wellbeing skills to assist us live in the world in a way mindful for the next seven generations.

Karuna

Janta from Karuna demonstrating fruit tree grafting
Photo: Janta from Karuna demonstrating fruit tree grafting techniques at the project

Karuna is made up of an amazing couple who live close to nature, enhanced by great permaculture skills, and the building of a wonderful roundhouse. Karuna is a very special place.

Cae Mabon

Cae Mabon is a stalwart of eco-projects. With natural buildings forming a retreat centre that a small community looks after and serves, Cae Mabon is in an exquisite, natural, magical location. Really special.

Centre of Alternative Technology, Machynlleth

Legendary in Cymru, this project has been going over 50 years - since 1973 - a key educational resource and research centre. So many projects owe a lot to this centre.

Garth Organic Garden

A beautiful garden on the slopes of Garth, working with Permaculture methods - supporting wellbeing through organic practices.

Ty Mawr

CLAS training at Ty Mawr
Photo: CLAS training at Ty Mawr

A community natural space that holds community events, including the Community Land Advisory Service training that taught us about co-creating community projects in Cymru.

LILAC (Low Impact Living and Community) - Bramley, Leeds

Welhealth, near Corwen

Tamera Peace Research Centre and Ecovillage, Portugal

Sieben Linden, Germany

ZEGG (Ecovillage), Germany

Cloughjordan (Ecovillage), Ireland

Felin Uchaf, Llyn Peninsula

Calon on top of the Community Earthhouse, Felin Uchaf
Photo: Calon on top of the amazing Community Earthhouse, Felin Uchaf

Landmatters, Devon

Steward Wood, Devon

Douceur et Harmonie, France

Calon and Bart at Douceur et Harmonie
Photo: Calon and Bart celebrating making and hanging a door at Douceur et Harmonie

Wilderness Farm

Bill giving a tour of Wilderness Farm
Photo: Bill giving a tour to the group and sharing his experiences of conservation and wildlife rehabilitation work with Wilderness Farm

Inglenook Farm

Lavender growing commercially at Inglenook Farm
Photo: Lavender growing commercially at Inglenook Farm

Auroville, India

Findhorn, Scotland

Findhorn is a legend in the ecovillage world. Established in 1962, this ecovillage has gently grown. United by spiritual principles - this is now a well sought out area to live in general by people from so many walks of life.

Ravenwood, Italy

Based on the Anastasia books, this project includes domes and living close to nature - it aims to cultivate the way of kin - of family - with each other and nature.

Damanhur, Italy

Damanhur is another long-standing community - established in 1975, from tens of people it has grown to hundreds, spread over the area's lands.

More recent adventures

In 2025, Katherine journeyed to find more ecovillage projects in Europe, some very new indeed and achieving so much. More information and videos to be added to this post soon!

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