Nature Keepers

The Nature Keepers project is led by the Bridgend County Borough Council in collaboration with local community groups. This initiative aims to enhance our beautiful areas and engage younger visitors by intertwining poetry and mythology into the sites.

The project's goal is to ignite an emotional connection to our green spaces, encouraging people to visit and take care of them. It creates a challenge to raise awareness of and celebrate the county's countryside and green areas.

The project began with four interactive statues hidden around Bryngarw Country Park, a local nature reserve. These commissioned sculptures, standing at 7 feet tall, were carved by local sculptor Dai Edwards from centuries-old oak trees that once grew in Bryngarw Park, adding authenticity to the project. The statues serve as a way for children to locate the other statues and become 'keepers' themselves.

Due to the project's popularity, ten more statues have been created and distributed throughout the county, which I will explore here. Each statue provides information about local wildlife that visitors can look out for during their explorations.

The Nature Keepers are viewed as guardians of the landscape's story, a narrative written in the natural environment of the county's countryside. The keepers showcase Bridgend's diverse landscape, which ranges from mountainous uplands to expansive, untouched beaches.

The tales contained within each Keeper were available in both Welsh and English.

1. The Keeper of the Wood.

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Wood

THE KEEPER OF THE WOOD:

 

I am a calendar, watch the seasons grow,

Warmed by summer sun, blanketed in snow.

I am a wardrobe full of things to wear,

Woven mossy blankets, woolly underwear.

I am a market full of tasty grub,

Caterpillar sandwiches, desiccated slug.

I am a mansion, fit for popstar folk,

Bunches of ash keys, wall to wall oak.

I am a classroom, open to the skies.

History surrounds me, imagination flies,

Woodland interface, nature’s open book,

Ancient hub of knowledge, welcome to the wood.”

 

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Wood

The Keeper of the Wood can be found in Tremains Wood Nature Reserve, located in Brackla. The Brackla housing estate expanded significantly in the latter half of the last century and now constitutes nearly a quarter of Bridgend, with a population of 11,749 as recorded in the 2011 Census.

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Wood

Tremains Wood is a lowland mixed broadleaf woodland situated in the middle of the Brackla estate. It is an easily accessible, leafy sanctuary away from urban life, and the meandering paths through the woods provide a perfect place for children to explore.

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Wood

This area of ancient, semi-natural woodland is listed in the provisional ‘Glamorgan Inventory of Ancient Woodland.’

2. The Keeper of the Beach

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Beach

THE KEEPER OF THE BEACH:

“I am the beach, its story I have kept

for I am the Keeper but long have I slept.

Here there are footsteps printed in sand,

Here is a dimple scooped out of the land,

Here all is one,

I am the beach.

I am a photograph, snap shot of time,

Poetry on paper without any rhyme.

I am your childhood, barefoot once again,

Sunburnt in summer, soaked through in the rain.

I am a playground cradled by the land,

Backdrop of open sea, carpet of sand.

I am a kingdom where castles are built,

Battling the tides and their armies of silt.

I am a pit stop where waves change tack,

Jelly fish terminus, lost bladderwrack.

I am a seascape where white horses play,

The ripple of sand which is washed every day.

I am a treasure trove, shells and stones,

A mystery landscape of mobile homes.

I am a pocket studded with rocks.

Roll up your trousers, take off your socks.

I am a souvenir trapped between your toes,

Winds from far away tugging at your clothes,

Message in a bottle, just out of reach,

A wave of words calling, I am the beach.”

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Beach

The Keeper of the Beach sculpture, while located in a park, is very close to the beach and depicts a child by a sandcastle, holding a seashell. It is situated in a small park within one of the largest caravan parks in the UK, Trecco Bay. This and its smaller, now-empty sister park, Sandy Bay, were once highly popular as budget holiday getaways for local residents. During the last week of July and the first week of August, an era known as "The Miners' Fortnight" — now simply summer holiday — these places were primarily used by miners and their families from the valleys. Sandy Bay catered more to smaller mobile caravans, while the larger, more permanent units were found in Trecco Bay.

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Beach

Today, Trecco Bay is managed by a large holiday company that has modernized the site, but the cost of holidays and mobile home siting has increased significantly, with new mobile homes at a cost not much lower than the value of the valley houses that were once rented or owned by miners.

3. The Keeper of the Valley

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Valley

THE KEEPER OF THE VALLEY:

“I am the valley, its story I have kept

For I am the Keeper but long have I slept.

Look around you now, as I wake.

Look at my world as it passes.

Here there is a present, a gift from the past

From those who have died to those who will marry.

Here all is connected, here all is one,

Boundaries cannot split us up where I am the valley.

I am a hollow cradled out of earth,

Hills for my head, green for my girth.

I am a landscape busy with life,

Winking windows, dumb witnesses to strife.

I am the embers glowing in a grate,

An emerald jewel, in a necklace of slate.

I am a baize with rabbit hole pockets.

I am a landing pad for alien rockets.

I am a disco for wasps and bees,

Glitter balls of berries spinning in trees,

A drive thru for swallows, scooping up flies,

Buttercup glory, children’s mud pies.

I am a racing track for slugs and snails,

A land speed record for leaves in gales

A dragonfly’s sweet shop, drizzled in sun.

I am a moment to sit, walk or run.

I am a comma, in the river’s story,

Polished diamond raindrops, water glory.

I am the gift of people who survived

For I am the valley, and I will thrive.”

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Valley

The Keeper of the Valley sculpture resides in Maesteg Welfare Park, which spans approximately 9.4 hectares of formal parkland.

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Valley

Owned by Bridgend County Borough Council, the park includes rugby pitches, bowling greens, tennis courts, formal flowerbeds, and tree-lined paths. A local festival is held in the park each summer.

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Valley

New features in the park include wildlife ponds, runoff channels, paths, and a footbridge, all developed in collaboration with the Friends of Maesteg Welfare Park. Originally developed for local miners' families in the 1930s, the park has seen efforts by the friends group to enhance biodiversity through the Eco Llynfi project.

4. The Keeper of the Fields

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Fields

THE KEEPER OF THE FIELDS:

“I am the fields, their story I have kept,

For I am the Keeper but long have I slept.

Look around you now, as I wake.

Look at my world as it works and plays.

Here there is the end of the sky and the start of the land.

Here all is connected,

From the cold of the winter to the warmth of your hand.

Here, all is one, I am the fields.

I am a dessert for wandering souls,

A litter of rabbits burrowing holes.

I am a footpath for brothers in arms,

Lungs full of fresh air, arias and psalms.

I am a cornet, call of the valley,

Echoes of names, Tom, Dick and Parry.

I am a fledgling ready to fly,

I am the Planker, beneath my own sky.”

(Note : The field where this sculpture is placed is known locally as "The Planker")

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Fields

Next, we have the Keeper of the Fields sculpture, located in Aber Fields, a well-known area comprising playing fields in an old Welsh mining valley. The Ogmore Valley was primarily an agricultural community until coal mining became prevalent in South Wales during the mid-19th century. The last coal mine, Wyndham/Western Colliery, closed in 1983, leading to high unemployment rates.

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Fields

Much reclamation work has occurred since, leaving little evidence of its mining past. In response to climate change and to enhance woodland and habitat connectivity in the upper Ogmore Valley, the council plans to plant over 10,000 trees and implement a habitat mosaic scheme for Aber Fields, also known as ‘Planka.’

5. The Keeper of The Lake

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Lake

THE KEEPER OF THE LAKE:

“I am this Wilderness, its story I have kept,

For I am the Keeper, but long have I slept.

Look around you now as I wake.

Here, ringed by houses and the roads of Porthcawl,

A green and silver island waits to be found.

Here in quiet seclusion, ancient rhythms still play out,

In the lives of bat and bird and fish

As they rise and fall on the seasons’ tides...

I am the Wilderness.

I am this island of water and willow,

Where wild coots call and raindrops echo.

I am the ripples that circle the depths...

A lake’s changing mood; a wind’s whispered breaths.

I am the nests, the wood-wombs of spring,

Where mallard and moorhen and white swan begin.

And I am the stone, which ancient man raised

To honour this landscape in far distant days

I am the scales of the roach, tench and bream,

Like stars in the dark of a watery dream.

I am maples and hawthorns with fingers of leaves,

That stroke at the sunbeams, snatch at the breeze.

Here wild nature lives by its own will.

Here deeper currents are circling still.

I am a beacon, a green flame, a sound...

I am wilderness calling

From the heart of a town.”

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Lake

The Keeper of the Lake is another oak sculpture located at Wilderness Lake in Porthcawl. It is visible during walks around the lake. Porthcawl Wilderness Lake, often referred to simply as "The Wilderness," is a cherished green space in Bridgend County with significant history and rich natural features. The Porthcawl Wilderness Lake is listed as one of the key green spaces in Bridgend County Borough for improving health and well-being.

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Lake

Although situated in the center of a busy seaside town, the area offers a tranquil experience, making visitors feel as if they have been transported into the heart of the countryside. The site has received the Green Flag Award, a mark of quality for parks and green spaces. Despite appearing relatively new and man-made, this wetland area has existed for thousands of years, with a history dating back to pre-Roman and Viking times.

6. The Keeper of the Song

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Song

THE KEEPER OF THE SONG:

“I am the song, its story I have kept

For I am the Keeper but long have I slept.

Look around you now, as I wake.

Listen to my world and what it has to say.

Here there is a language waiting to be heard.

Here all is connected,

From the snuffle of a dog to the whistle of a bird.

Here, all is one. I am the song.

I am a pearl in the shell of your heart,

Growing affection when we are apart.

I am the words yet to be spoken,

Valley of promises, memories woken.

I am the echoes of metal on rock,

The whistle of steam, the tick of the clock.

I am a welcome, a place you belong,

something familiar, for I am the song.”

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Song

The Keeper of the Song has been installed in the Darren Fawr Forestry in Blaengarw. Blaengarw is a peaceful village at the top of the Garw Valley, known for its strong mining history and a revitalized community spirit centered around the Blaengarw Workmen's Hall and a local time bank.

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Song

Located in the hills above Parc Calon Lan—a park named after the popular Welsh hymn "Calon Lân," written by former local resident Daniel James (Gwyrosydd)—the area is identified as a significant green space that has been transformed from former coal works into a community woodland park with walking trails and a lake.

7. The Keeper of the Dunes

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Dunes

THE KEEPER OF THE DUNES:

I am a place that is always in between,

Half a life barren land, half a life green.

I am a skin that grows beneath your feet,

A hidden spot where newts lurk and sand flies meet.

I am a mirage on the maps of men,

Labelled on parchment, recorded in pen,

A shape-shifting landscape breaking all the rules,

A bracelet of sand, flowering with jewels.

I am more than all my parts, notes upon the breeze,

A symphony of marram grass, a warbler’s sneeze.

I am an orchestra in a sea of tunes.

Listen to the melody, for I am the dunes.”

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Song

The Keeper of the Dunes is located in Kenfig Nature Reserve. The dunes are home to a variety of rare and endangered species of plants and animals, including a high concentration of fen orchids. The area is part of the largest active sand dune system in Europe.

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Song

The body of water seen in the background is Kenfig Pool. Legend has it that a city lies beneath the water, and on quiet evenings, the bell of the church can sometimes be heard tolling sadly from beneath the lake. Many myths and legends are associated with this place.

8. The Keeper of the Past

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Past

THE KEEPER OF THE PAST:

I am the past, its story I have kept

For I am the Keeper but long have I slept.

Look around you now, as I wake.

Look at my world as it changes.

Here there are journeys to share,

From first steps to hidden tracks,

All is connected here,

All is one. I am the past.

I am an anvil resistant to change,

An outdoor kitchen, a home with a range.

I am an idea which grows brick by brick,

A nest of a blue tit, made stick by stick.

I am a greenhouse, busy with growing,

Ripening seed heads ready for sewing.

I am the spring, a daffodil fest,

a robin in song, in his Sunday best.

I am the end of a long summer day,

Poured into autumn, fading to grey.

I am the quiet, the whisper of breeze,

The cough of a dormouse, the talking of trees.

I am a footprint frozen in mud,

A daisy chain keepsake, initials in wood.

I am the echo of wheels on the rail,

A first footstep forward, flash of a tail.

I am a ticket, which dreamers can share,

A journey adventure for all those who dare.

I am an era that travelled too fast

Keep me protected, for I am the past.”

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Past

The Keeper of the Past is situated in what is now known as Bedford Park. This park encompasses about 18 hectares of green space and the ruins of the 18th-century Cefn Cribwr Ironworks. The Site of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC) contains a mixture of habitats, mainly broadleaved woodland, rush pastures, purple moor grass, scrub, bracken, rivers, and ponds. 

A part of the SINC, ‘Waun Cimla,’ is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its marshy habitats, rare plants, and marsh fritillary butterflies. Dormice have also been recorded here, making it one of the few sites in Bridgend County Borough that is home to this European protected species. 

The park was named Bedford Park because of the ruins of the ironworks built nearby by John Bedford. John Bedford, the ironmaster, was born around 1725 in Birmingham. In 1770, he purchased land at Cefn Cribwr with the intention of establishing an ironworks, complete with a blast furnace, forge, mines, and collieries. Although known as an ironmaster, John was more of a dreamer than an industrialist, and his venture was never commercially successful, likely due to the poor raw materials available in the area. 

He retired to Birmingham in 1791 to live with his brother Thomas, where he died later that same year. Today, the ironworks at Cefn Cribwr lie in ruins. 

The remains of his ironworks are the best example of a small ironworks in Europe, preserving remnants of every building associated with ironmaking. 

Local historians and green stewards from Y Cefn Gwyrdd, a volunteer community group dedicated to the conservation of the ironworks for over forty years, have been heavily involved in the preservation effort. “Without the total commitment of Y Cefn Gwyrdd over the decades, this project may never have taken shape. The group’s passion has ensured that Bedford’s industrial legacy has not only been preserved but reimagined."

9. The keeper of The Ogmore

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Ogmore

THE KEEPER OF THE OGMORE: 

I am this river, its story I have kept,

For I am the Keeper but long have I slept.

Look around you now, as I wake.

Look at the world I carve out.

Here there are boulders marking the way.

Here all is movement, changing each day.

Here all is connected, mapped out by me.

I am the Ogmore and I must be free.

I am a thief dislodging golden sand.

A skyful of diamonds pass through my hands

.

I am a black vein running clean with rain,

Dynamic vassal, never twice the same.

I am a chapter in the story told,

Youthful as dawn dew, millennia old,

Between the bread of landscape, I am the jam.

I am the Ogmore, catch me if you can!”

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Ogmore

The Keeper of the Ogmore was the most challenging nature keeper sculpture for me to find. I visited the nature park where this sculpture is located three times, only to discover how overgrown the area has become. Unlike the other sculptures, this one seems to have been carved from a tree that was already in place, leading to the surrounding woods becoming thick with growth. In the above image, I include a screenshot from the Council website showing what the sculpture originally looked like. On all three visits to this park, I asked regular walkers if they knew about this sculpture, but not a single person was aware of it.

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Ogmore

It appears quite neglected now, but in some ways, it perfectly illustrates how nature will reclaim spaces over time. Since the sculptures are wooden, they will eventually be recycled by nature.

10. The Keeper of the Pond.

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Pond

THE KEEPER OF THE POND:

“I am this Pond, its story I have kept,

For I am the Keeper but long have I slept.

Look around you now as I wake.

Here, in the shadow of factories and fences, a hidden world likes waiting . . .

Here, there is magic...here everything is connected;

From the water which rises through the roots of the willows

To the call of a kingfisher perched on a branch,

Here, all is one...

I am this Pond, secluded and stilled,

The land’s cupped hand with water-filled,

And I am the life, cradled within

As it flows and grows and sinks and swims.

I am silver skin pierced by Spears of green

Irises thrust from depths unseen.

I am a leap in the legs of a frog,

A newt’s winter sleep in the shade of a log.

I am hope and life when creatures thirst.

I am unborn clouds and a rainstorm’s burst.

I am a jewel in woodland’s protection.

Heavens are held within my reflection...

Here the song of the Land is sung,

Where dragons fly and foxes run...

And I am this place; pond, frog, sky and tree,

Staring straight back within all that you see.”

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Pond

The Keeper of the Pond is located in an area called "Frog Pond Wood." This wood has a fascinating connection to our industrial past. The long, straight path along the reserve’s eastern edge was once a horse-drawn tramway. Known as the Dyffryn Llynfi and Porthcawl Railway, this tramway opened in 1828 and facilitated the transport of iron and coal from the Llynfi Valley to the coast. The new dock that opened simultaneously in Porthcawl was a crucial part of this transport system. While examining the restored bridge in the area, I discovered that some of the stone used in the restoration came from the original sleepers of the rail track. The holes in the stone, which held the fixings for the rails, were clearly visible. In the 1860s, a steam-powered railway replaced the tram system. Today, you can follow the old tram road, which has been redeveloped and extended into the wood, creating a picturesque, family-friendly trail.

Nature Keepers : The Keeper of the Pond

This trail circles a pond known locally as the Frog Pond, giving rise to the name Frog Pond Wood.

Note: The Nature Keeper trail was installed in 2014. The images you see here were taken in 2020 and 2021. Some of the statues show significant wear, while others are in better condition. Originally, they would have appeared much brighter and more defined. However, I believe that the way they look in the images I captured reflects their surroundings more authentically. Since then, I have visited some of these sculptures again, and unfortunately, some are now barely recognizable compared to their original appearance.

Footer:

Visit Information: -

Google Reference: -

The Keeper of the Woods : 51.50934096569768, -3.555171568380785

The Keeper of the Beach : 51.482430050096035, -3.6811126461115853

The Keeper of the Valley : 51.61039532246901, -3.6669831689286405

The Keeper of the fields: 51.61634540812008, -3.5390786838369808

The Keeper of the lake: 51.48524372787087, -3.6955553852461493

The Keeper of the Song : 51.62480269097133, -3.594033475419663 (Approx)

The Keeper of the Dunes: 51.5155835281025, -3.7288614521970507

The Keeper of the Past: 51.53818814787437, -3.6541926188696614

The Keeper of the Ogmore: 51.50311832720225, -3.5872850674972385 (Approx)

The Keeper of the Pond: 51.52543997447087, -3.6736330545353595 (Approx)

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