Round the world yacht race to fundraise for Coed Lleol (Small Woods Wales)

2 Gorff 2021

Ceredigion woodland owner Dafydd Hughes is going to the end of the world and back to fundraise for Coed Lleol (Small Woods Wales).

In September 2023, Dafydd will be taking part in the Global Solo Challenge, a single-handed without assistance around the world competitive sailing event. He plans to raise funds during the race through sponsorship and donations, with the goal of supporting our woodland activities across Wales. He's just announced his first sponsor, Curious Roo Coffee Roasters.

Dafydd's boat, "Bendigedig"

Boosting health and wellbeing through connecting to woodlands is a cause close to Dafydd's heart. "I purchased a woodland north of Talybont in June 2017, then, shortly afterwards and completely unrelated, my mental wellbeing rapidly deteriorated. Simple tasks like going shopping became a major issue for me," Dafydd says. He eventually found that spending time in the woodland was crucial to his health and recovery. "I started going to the woodland most days. Pulling up brambles and clearing small saplings," he says. 

Dafydd working in the woodland

Through a conversation with a friend, Dafydd found out about our Actif Woods Ceredigion group, and decided to offer his woodland as a place to hold woodland wellbeing sessions.  "It's a fabulous, mutually beneficial relationship," he says. "I have attended a few of the groups and it is such a pleasure to me that people enjoy coming, get stuck into the task of the day and leave with a degree of fulfilment and hopefully taking steps to strength their mental health. And the bonus is the woodland gets maintained and flourishes for this attention."

Our Actif Woods Ceredigion group around a campfire in Dafydd's woodland

After the race, Dafydd intends to use his yacht to take people on sailing experiences to help them to connect to the marine environment. This idea is inspired by his experiences of working with Coed Lleol (Small Woods Wales) to help people to connect to woodland environments.  

To follow Dafydd's race journey or contribute to the fundraising efforts, follow him on Facebook or Instagram, or visit his website.