Exploring Hafod y Bwch

The Commemorative Woodland at Erddig, featuring a pink bench in the foreground. In the background, a few people stroll along a pathway surrounded by greenery. | © Paul Harris

The Hafod y Bwch Commemorative Woodland, offers a space for reflection to remember those lost to COVID-19 while also creating a green space for all to enjoy.

The Hafod y Bwch Commemorative Woodland, part of the Welsh Government’s National Forest Programme, offers a space for reflection to remember those lost to COVID-19 while also creating a green space for all to enjoy. Spanning nine hectares on the southern edge of the Erddig estate, this safe and accessible woodland invites visitors to honour loved ones and connect with nature in a peaceful environment.

A woodland to remember

The woodland stands as a space for remembrance, reflection and ongoing connection with the natural world. With its theme of ‘resilience’- a tribute to the strength shown by the people of Wales it serves not only as a memorial but also as a symbol of hope and renewal. The woodland will play a vital role in supporting nature’s recovery and combating the climate crisis. Now open to the public, it invites everyone to come together, enjoy its beauty, and witness its growth for generations to come.

Creating the woodland

The design of the woodland was shaped by community input, with the goal of creating a space for both people and nature. Following community engagement sessions and input from stakeholders, several key requirements emerged, which guided the creation of distinct zones, each with its own specific focus.

A place for people

Commemorative Woodland is a welcoming space where visitors can connect with nature, reflect, and explore. At its heart, a wide grassland meadow offers a peaceful spot for picnics and events, with mown paths weaving through wildflowers in summer. A natural play area encourages adventure, while a nearby orchard bursts into blossom in spring and provides fruit to pick in autumn. For those seeking solitude, a quiet zone with a calming water feature offers space to pause and reflect. Accessible paths link different areas, leading to scenic countryside trails. Thoughtfully placed benches, inspired by local plant life, invite visitors to sit and take in the surroundings, while bike racks at the entrance make it easy to arrive on two wheels.

A group of people walking around a pond in the Commemorative Woodland at Erddig. — A Commemorative Woodland for reflection, Erddig, Wales | © Paul Harris

A place for nature

Commemorative Woodland is a peaceful haven where nature can flourish. Densely planted trees provide shelter for birds and mammals, while also softening noise from the nearby road. Native broadleaf species, chosen for their resilience and deep-rooted history in the landscape, create a rich and varied woodland. A wildflower meadow hums with pollinators in summer, preserving the patterns of an ancient ridge and furrow field system. Scattered ponds, hedgerows, and glades provide further sanctuary, supporting a diverse range of wildlife throughout the seasons.

Planted saplings scattered around the Commemorative Woodland at Erddig. — Saplings in the Commemorative Woodland at Erddig. | © Paul Harris

How it has inspired creativity

To help share the story of the local community, the woodland and its surroundings with visitors, we collaborated with poet Hanan Issa, design studio STUCO design and visual artist Rachael Jones to create unique artworks within the woodland. Studio Response, a Cardiff-based creative practice, curated and commissioned the project, working closely with the artists throughout the process to bring their creations to life in the natural setting.

The Trees Treasure What We Have Lost

Words by Hanan Issa, translation by Iestyn Tyne, Artwork designed by SOUP.

Hanan Issa, National Poet of Wales (2022-2025) was invited to help us share the story of the woodland and the voices of our communities as we collectively remember those lost during the Covid-19 pandemic. Imagining the echoes of history within the woodland’s soil, the poem references the cyclical nature of time, land and grief and how solace can be found in gathering, remembering and spending time in nature.

SOUP worked with Hanan and Iestyn to identify a way of building the words of the poem into the woodland. The work is intended as a journey, a way of travelling whilst reading and remembering. To reflect the heritage of the area, they’ve taken direct inspiration from the former Johnstown Brick Works which overlooks the site.

Two individuals placing engraved bricks on the grass in the Commemorative Woodland, Erddig. — Poetry bricks in Erddig's Commemorative Woodland | © Paul Harris

Colours of Memory By Rachael Jones

One of the most prominent features within the woodland is the collection of 20 colourful benches you’ll find throughout. Each colour represents a different plant found on site. The benches are intended to create colourful moments of joy, meditation and social connection whilst acknowledging the cyclical nature of the seasons. Colours of Memory plays upon the notion of what a ‘commemorative bench’ can be, creating positive spaces for remembering and being reminded of loved ones throughout the different seasons of the year. 

The plants represented are: Grey Willow, Hornbeam, Rowan, Dogwood, Hazelnut, Dog Rose, Knapweed, Ox-eye Daisy, Yarrow, Field Maple, St John’s Wort, Birdfoot Trefoil, Beech, Red Campion, Primrose, Elder and Scabious.