The Report
The focus of this project was sustainability and eco-communities, namely Coed Hills (Coed Hills, 2024). It has encompassed research and visual elements including photography and videography.
Over many years I found myself plodding along in life aimlessly questioning my existence on the Earth plane and not following my heart. Eventually, I found myself visiting alternative communities with their belief systems and styles, which were majorly spiritual and based on the elements. It impacted me so deeply, leaving me with an urge to change my life in a more sustainable way to assist Mother Earth in her longevity to thrive.
Moving to South Wales in 2012, my journey with Coed Hills began by accident, through a beautiful soul, namely Emma Blake-Jones. I connected with her by way of a friend and then partaking in a reiki course which allowed me to look deeper into my spiritual side. After completing this course, Emma invited me to Coed Hills for a retreat, which I accepted. Not knowing what to expect I went with an open mind, although deep down I was filled with anticipation and excitement of a new journey in life. I would spend a few days there on this occasion, with other like-minded souls such as myself on their own journey of exploration. It was so emotional, being away from my creature comforts of what I knew as home but I went with it. Two days in, I felt it was too much for me and packed a bag to come home, Emma sat me down and spoke to me calmly, trying to understand why I felt the way I did. After a long conversation and a huge cry, I decided to stay.
Looking back at that first visit to Coed Hills I am so pleased I did not leave because I would have never understood how this community offers a way out for so many, bringing comfort and a feeling of belonging. From my first experience of Coed Hills, thanks to Emma, I have returned on many occasions and will do so in the future. Each time I return I find some other magic within a community that is trying to achieve so much, from a sustainable way of life to encouraging others to incorporate this into their lives wherever their path takes them.
Coed Hills began as a vision of one person, similar to any other community. In time it grew bringing like-minded souls together, with similar aspirations and a need to help Mother Earth by living a more sustainable way of life. As one person, they would be on their own, together it became a united front, more of a powerhouse. When we look at similar communities, whether it be that of indigenous communities or eco-villages; it is like having a pebble and throwing it into the river, and when it lands in the water it creates a ripple effect, sending a message to others. These in turn encourage and teach the wider communities a different approach to life.
I was working on my other projects for my masters when we were given the brief for this project, my focus initially was Neolithic history and Stonehenge. After discussions with my lecturer, I mentioned Coed Hills and visiting there. Despite my reservations about basing my project on Coed Hills, my lecturer suggested that it may be a good potential project particularly because it was located close to home. While another lecturer felt that the project did not need to be entirely sustainable, I felt that this project needed to be completely sustainable because of its focus.
On the way home back to Wales I made a detour to Coed Hills to speak to the head of the community and asked for permission to do a project on Coed Hills. During this meeting, it was discussed at length what I was hoping to achieve, then addressed in their weekly community meeting, where it was agreed by everyone. The project was to include the dynamics of the day-to-day life of Coed Hills, sustainability in their community and how living off the grid was a better option for them.
After deciding what I would do for my project, I found myself researching worldwide eco-communities, sustainability and as human beings how we could help Mother Earth. It made me think about how I might change the way I did things and what I took for granted in the ‘real’ world, for example; living in a house, having technology and with everything on tap.
Around a year ago I visited Coed Hills on several occasions ranging from different events leading up to staying for a three-day festival, something completely alien to me, wanting to broaden my understanding of life. During my visits, I would take paper and pen to make a diary of my experiences and also my photography equipment to capture images.