Charlotte Church's forest school set up without permission on pig farm faces closure
Summary
Charlotte Church’s forest school, The Awen Project, set up on a former pig farm in Wales without official permission, faces closure due to environmental and safety concerns. The local council refused the project’s request for permission, citing noise, parking, and impact on residents and wildlife, and the decision is now being appealed.Key Facts
- The Awen Project forest school opened in 2024 in Wenvoe, Vale of Glamorgan, without planning permission.
- Charlotte Church applied for permission in October 2025, but the council refused it.
- The council’s main concerns include noise, impact on nearby residents, safety risks due to lack of parking, and harm to the environment.
- The school is free and relies on donations.
- The project previously operated in woodland areas with permission from the Woodland Trust, but that permission was revoked in 2023 due to safety and rule breaches.
- The project aims to provide a learning environment where children can freely explore their interests in a supportive community.
- Church has appealed the council’s decision to the Welsh government’s Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW).
- A hearing date for the appeal has not yet been scheduled.
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