Living Landscape & Animals
Woodland, wetland and meadow habitats continue to evolve gradually across the hillsides at Lofftwen, shaped by grazing animals, natural regeneration and the changing seasons.
Weather, grazing animals, natural regeneration and recovering habitats continue to shape the landscape year by year, with each season revealing something slightly different across the farm.
Living Landscape
Lofftwen is a gradually evolving upland landscape of woodland, wetland, rough pasture and wildflower meadows. Ancient hedgerows, natural regeneration and newer planting now sit alongside quieter hillsides where habitats continue to change year by year.
Walking across the farm, young oak, willow, hazel and hawthorn now appear naturally throughout the hillsides, while wetter ground has begun slowly returning in areas once drained for agriculture. Each season brings subtle changes, from new growth in spring to shifting birdlife, insects and grasses later in the year.
The higher ground opens gradually towards the Cambrian Mountains, the Epynt and the Brecon Beacons beyond. Some guests head for the summit, while others spend entire afternoons wandering the quieter edges of the landscape itself.
Animals
Hardy Hereford cattle and rare breed Eriskay ponies live outdoors throughout the year, with careful grazing helping shape meadows, grassland and recovering wetland habitats across the farm.
The animals are often encountered quietly across the hillsides in small family groups, moving between pasture, wetter ground and shelter along the woodland edges as the seasons change. Spring calves and foals have gradually become part of the rhythm of life at Lofftwen itself.
The birth of Lofftwen Loveday, the first Eriskay foal born at Lofftwen, has since led to the farm becoming an official Eriskay stud. With the breed now exceptionally rare, successful pairings remain uncommon and carefully managed.
Depending on the season and activity across the farm, guests may have the opportunity to meet the cattle and ponies alongside the people who care for them. While never guaranteed, these informal encounters can offer another perspective on the landscape and its changing seasons. If this is something you are interested in, feel free to get in touch.