A COUPLE have been planting bulbs and painting on trees to expand the fairyland in the Gaer Fawr woodland in Guilsfield.

“I know the kids need somewhere to go. It’s just to give them a bit of sunshine in these dark times,” said Andy Lewis-Pryce, who has been working on the fairyland with his partner Yvonne Owen.

There’s been little fairy doors at the bottom of some of the trees for years, but Andy decided to expand the mythical land for the benefit of local children during the coronavirus pandemic; making their one trip outside the house a day for exercise as enjoyable as possible.

Andy said: “I want to give them something to dream about.”

The pair have painted six images in the knots of trees and on fence posts, and have planted 500 flower bulbs, including the likes of gladioli. The bulbs should come into flower in June and July, just after the bluebells have gone, keeping Gaer Fawr full of colour well into the summer months. There’s a big oak tree in the woodland, which is now home to the biggest painting, and soon it will be surrounded by 200 flowers too.

Andy is a veteran and now teaches other veterans how to paint, having taken up the art 10 years ago.

“The kids in the area have been getting to know some of the new paintings,” he said.

Although he wants he creations to be for the children, he’s added a little something for the adults too – with luminescent paint. If there are any walkers or runners out in the woods at dusk, they might notice a set of glowing eyes looking their way.

As well well as paintings and flowers, Andy and Yvonne have also added hedgehog runs, giving the animals somewhere to nest, and little fairy-sized toys to sit alongside the fairy doors.

Woodland Trust - planting exotic species can seriously threaten the natural habitat

Rebecca Good from the Woodland Trust said: "We understand that the couple only have the best of intentions but we would like to remind all our visitors that they should always approach the landowner for permission before putting up any structures or installations on our land. Gaer Fawr is an ancient woodland in a very rural location. It supports a fantastic display of native woodland flora, valued by its visitors for its intrinsic natural beauty. Many people do not realise that the planting of exotic species can seriously threaten this natural habitat. Many garden species can be invasive and displace rare native plants, creating work for woodland managers like the Trust."

The Woodland Trust has asked the couple to remove all of the planted bults and any plastic items as soon as possible in order to protect the natural environment. 

 

Ms Good added: "Planting flowers, painting trees and creating fairy doors are fantastic activities for people to enjoy in their own gardens but we feel Gaer Fawr has plenty of natural beauty and wild spaces for children to explore. If parents need ideas for fun, low-impact activities to enjoy with their children during the coronavirus crisis, there are plenty of ideas on the Trust’s Nature Detectives site. Art can be a great way to engage children with nature, but we want to do it in an appropriate and sustainable way that leaves nothing but footprints behind."