Lake Vyrnwy

⚠ Due to significant damage in the storm on 7 December the road on the South side of the lake and Centenary Hide remain closed until further notice. However, teams have been and continue working hard to make the site safe and clear areas for visitor access. All trails (with a diversion on Red Trail) are now accessible and open as usual. The toilets, hotel, village and shops are also still accessible. Please visit the Storm Darragh page on the landowner's website for more information, maps of affected areas and updates: Storm Darragh | Lake Vyrnwy | Our visitor sites | HD Cymru ⚠

Set against the slopes of the Berwyn Mountains and fringed with trees, Lake Vyrnwy may look like a triumph of nature, but it’s actually a man-made reservoir. As well as supplying the people of Liverpool with fresh water since 1891, the surrounding estate, with its moorland, woodland and meadows, is a haven for wildlife. Listen out for the call of Wood Warblers and Willow Tits among the trees, look out for Dippers nesting by the rocky streams and Goosanders bobbing on the water. Scan the skies and you might spot a Peregrine hunting overheard. 

Working in partnership with the landowner, Hafren Dyfrdwy, we directly manage about half of the estate (nearly 5000 hectares) – our aim is to create a mosaic of habitats in which nature is thriving from moorland to meadow.  

Our work involves blanket bog restoration – one of the largest areas of restored blanket bog in Wales – creating conditions which will suit a range of species including upland waders such as Golden Plover. It also involves restoring the condition of our established Oak woodlands to create better habitats for important migrants such as Pied Flycatcher and Redstarts. We are creating new wooded areas across the estate – establishing trees along moorland and pasture edges, valley sides and along rivers to provide more spaces for nature across the whole estate.  

Our farm is the largest organic farm in England and Wales. As well as managing flower rich hay meadows, the farm delivers conservation grazing across the whole landscape maintaining the right conditions for birds such as Red Grouse, Skylark and Wheatears. 

The whole estate is a working and living landscape with farms, residents and businesses and supporting a wide range of leisure and tourism activities which can be included in a visit. We aim to work hand in hand with the community to achieve more for nature across the wider landscape and offer opportunities to get involved in a range of volunteering activities.  

The Vibrant Vyrnwy National Lottery Community Funded (NLCF) project fulfils community aspirations through a range of activities, events, and networks. The focus of this project is to reduce rural isolation, increase and diversify skills in the community, and provide young farmers with skills, training, and expertise to contribute to nature friendly farming through residential training programmes. 

Lake Vyrnwy’s Tree Nursery was established to support the delivery of Vyrnwy’s treescape plan to create 139ha of woodland/rainforest and to also offer a range of consistent wellbeing opportunities for a diverse range of people. With a goal to evoke a sense of empowerment and collaboration for a brighter future for people and nature. Please contact us to find out more about the opportunities we offer.