Search success as National Trust Cymru welcomes new tenants Glasbren, champions of locally grown food, to Welsh coastal farm

The search for future custodians for the 134-acre clifftop farm received a great deal of attention due to its spectacular views and enviable location. At Lords Park, the Trust were looking for a tenant with a passion for conservation and people, who wanted to develop an innovative and diverse farming business in harmony with nature.

Now, new tenant farmers, Abel Pearson and Luisa Neumann from Glasbren, which means ‘sapling’ in Welsh, have moved into the traditional whitewashed farmhouse and are taking over the care of the site which includes pasture, flowering hay meadows, woodland and rich SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) coastal scrub.

Expanding on what they already do at their original site, Bronhaul Farm in Bancyfelin, where they have been growing their successful local veg box scheme and a supportive community of supporters and volunteers, offering workshops, community events and mentorship to community food projects, Glasbren are keen to get started at their new Carmarthenshire home.

They have exciting plans for the farm, to create a vibrant, local, social enterprise with a mission to regenerate land, people and community and harness the power of community farming and food growing.

Abel Pearson, founder of Glasbren says: “We are thrilled and honoured to become tenants of National Trust Cymru’s Lords Park Farm. I’m from nearby Bancyfelin and it’s a dream to be able to stay in the area and expand our social enterprise Glasbren. We’ve lots of plans to welcome more volunteers, grow more nutritious, sustainable food to feed more people, as well as start running ‘Little Stewards’ nature-based programmes for children. We also plan to host immersive residential land-based retreats and courses, develop heritage Welsh oat and wheat cultivation and regenerative grazing with heritage cattle.

Our hope is to create a hub of community food: a peaceful meeting place for the community, a place for learning, growing and taking positive action for the future. A truly regenerative place - for nature, people and planet.”

In addition to this there are plans to also run volunteer programmes and deliver an annual programme of courses and workshops around positive and practical climate action, empowerment and self-reliance. These could include food growing, permaculture design, foraging and preserving, cooking and nutrition, nature connection and regenerative land skills.

Climate conscious Glasbren will be developing a holistic, whole farm design and plan, working with nature at the centre of their future aspirations, in line with the conservation charity’s commitment to reversing the national decline of nature across the places in their care.

Meg Anthony, General Manager for National Trust Cymru’s Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion adds: “We are excited to welcome the new tenants of Lords Park farm at the stunning location of Llansteffan. The vision and ethos expressed by Abel and Luisa and shown in the pioneering regenerative community farm work of Glasbren chimes closely with the values and strategy of National Trust Cymru.

Our hope was to find a tenant who would put nature and people at the heart of all they do in running a diverse and resilient farming business and ensure Lords Park Farm thrives long into future decades.

Abel and Luisa demonstrated that they have the energy, vision and boots firmly set on the ground to ensure that this inspiring vision becomes a reality for the farm and the local community. We look forward to seeing the farm and food hub grow and biodiversity flourish on the site.”

To hear more about Glasbren’s vision and follow them on their journey at Lords Park Farm head to www.glasbren.org.uk.

To find out more about the National Trust Cymru’s conservation work supporting nature-friendly farming visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/farming-in-wales