Down to Earth Project

19/06/2026

Natur a Ni: What do children think about nature?

We've been out and about recently, listening to children under five about the things they love doing outdoors. We've been reading stories, asking questions, watching what they do, and letting them pick their favourite pictures of outdoor spaces.
We're also asking practitioners and caregivers the same kinds of questions — because understanding what children love, and what gets in the way of more of it, is exactly how we want to start building Natur a Ni.
If you work in an early years setting, we'd love to hear from you: https://form.jotform.com/toconsents/practitioners
If you're a parent, grandparent, or carer of an under 5: https://form.jotform.com/toconsents/caregivers
It takes about five minutes and everything you share will help shape what we do next.
This Meithrin Natur development project is supported by The National Lottery Community Fund.

Natur a Ni: Beth mae plant yn ei feddwl am natur?

Rydym wedi bod allan yn ddiweddar, yn gwrando ar blant dan bump oed am y pethau maen nhw'n eu caru yn yr awyr agored. Rydym wedi bod yn darllen straeon, yn gofyn cwestiynau, yn gwylio beth maen nhw'n ei wneud, ac yn gadael iddyn nhw ddewis eu hoff luniau o fannau awyr agored.
Rydym hefyd yn gofyn yr un mathau o gwestiynau i ymarferwyr a gofalwyr — oherwydd deall beth mae plant yn ei garu, a beth sy'n rhwystro mwy ohono, yw union sut rydym am ddechrau adeiladu Natur a Ni.
Os ydych chi'n gweithio mewn lleoliad blynyddoedd cynnar: https://form.jotform.com/toconsents/practitioners
Os ydych chi'n rhiant, nain, taid neu'n ofalwr i blentyn dan bump oed: https://form.jotform.com/toconsents/caregivers
Mae'n cymryd tua phum munud a bydd popeth a rannwch yn helpu i lunio'r hyn rydym yn ei wneud nesaf.
Mae'r prosiect datblygu Meithrin Natur hwn yn cael ei gefnogi gan Gronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaethol.

Please click the link to complete this form.

18/06/2026

Building for the Future: Green Skills and Growth is here!

We're launching a transformational new programme bringing sustainable construction skills, real employment pathways, and life-changing wellbeing support to communities across South Wales.

We believe everyone deserves the chance to build something that matters

Accredited green skills training in carpentry and construction

Real construction experience on live community projects
Wellbeing at the heart of everything we do

Supported pathways into employment

Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, this 2.5-year programme will work with over 400 participants from across South Wales.

Want to know more? Get in touch or keep an eye out for our autumn open day on Gower.

Find out more: [email protected]

Adeiladu ar gyfer y Dyfodol: Sgiliau a Thyfiant Gwyrdd yma!

Rydym yn lansio rhaglen drawiadol newydd sy’n dod â sgiliau adeiladu cynaliadwy, llwybrau cyflogaeth go iawn, a chefnogaeth llesydd sy’n newid bywydau i gymunedau ledled De Cymru.

Rydym yn credu bod pawb yn haeddu’r cyfle i adeiladu rhywbeth sy’n bwysig.

Hyfforddiant sgiliau gwyrdd achrededig mewn carpentry a chontractio

Profiad adeiladu go iawn ar brosiectau cymunedol byw

Lles ar galon pob peth a wnawn

Llwybrau wedi’u cefnogi i gyflogaeth

Cyllidwyd gan Gronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaethol, bydd y rhaglen 2.5 blynedd hon yn gweithio gyda dros 400 o gyfranogwyr o bob rhan o Dde Cymru.

Eisiau gwybod mwy? Cysylltwch â ni neu cadwch lygad am ein dydd agored hydrefol ar Gŵyr.

Dysgwch mwy: [email protected]

The National Lottery Community Fund/ Cronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaethol GCS TrainingYMCA Swansea YMCA Neath Swansea Council for Voluntary ServiceNPT Youth ServiceThe King's Trust

29/05/2026

Natur a Ni secures The National Lottery Community Fund/ Cronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaethol funding to reimagine early years learning through nature across Wales through the Meithrin Natur programme.

A pioneering partnership led by Down to Earth has secured development funding from the The National Lottery Community Fund Wales / Cronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaethol Cymru to explore a new approach to early years learning across Wales, placing children’s voices, creativity, and wellbeing at the centre of how they experience the natural world.

The Natur a Ni partnership brings together Down to Earth, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, City and County of Swansea, Swansea Bay NHS (SBUHB), Swansea Universityand Meithrin, alongside a wider network of early years practitioners and communities.

At its heart, the project is built around a simple idea: that young children should help shape the spaces they learn and play in, and that connection with nature should be a natural part of everyday early childhood.
Over the next three months, the partnership will engage with children under five, their caregivers, and early years practitioners across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, and Carmarthenshire. This development phase will focus on listening, learning, and understanding what is needed to make this approach work in practice, particularly in communities facing the greatest challenges.
This is the first step towards a wider five-year programme. The learning from this phase will help shape a long-term, Wales-wide approach supporting early years settings to develop more nature-centred, child-led environments.

Mark McKenna CEO for Down to Earth said, “This has come from years of working alongside children and families and seeing what’s possible when you give people the time, space and trust to shape things themselves. We’re not starting from scratch — we’re building on what we already know works, and working with partners to take it further.”

Around 200 people will be directly involved in this first phase, with learning shared openly to help shape future practice.
This marks the beginning of a longer journey to develop a five-year, Wales-wide programme connecting early years learning and nature in meaningful, practical ways.

Get in touch with us if you'd like to know more and for how you can get involved.
Contact: Chris Dow – Project Manager Down to Earth Project
Email: [email protected]

22/04/2026

Join the Team: if you’re a brilliant builder and want to work with our groups, this could be the job for you!

Down to Earth, established 2006, is an award winning social enterprise with a proven track record in supporting people to bring about positive change in their lives through meaningful outdoor activity.

24/02/2026

Working with young people?
Or adults from diverse backgrounds?
Or maybe you'd like to a do a team away day?
We have some amazing programmes available at Down to Earth - you can find all our programmes here:
https://downtoearthproject.org.uk/programmes-experiences/
ACT Training GCS Training YMCA Swansea Ethnic Minorities & Youth Support Team - EYST Wales Welcome To Our Woods Black Mountains College Swansea Bay NHS Swansea Council for Voluntary Service

Down to Earth, established 2006, is an award winning social enterprise with a proven track record in supporting people to bring about positive change in their lives through meaningful outdoor activity.

24/02/2026

There are many positives from our work in Treherbert with Welcome To Our Woods and Black Mountains College - this article in The Guardian shares just how radical the vision has been with Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales

The National Lottery Community Fund/ Cronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaethol The National Lottery Community Fund

In an edited extract from her latest book, Hazel Sheffield sets out a new blueprint for community stewardship

24/02/2026

We've been working with young people from ACT Training for many years so it was lovely to have this recognised at their Annual Awards recently, as a "Valued Partner".

We hugely value all of our participants, and behind them always stands the referral agency and partners who enable those participants to access our programmes.

We're looking forward to working more with ACT Training in 2026

What a night at the Success Through Skills Awards, where we celebrated the incredible talent driving work-based learning in Wales!

From individuals to organisations, we honoured those shaping the future through skills, development, and real impact. 💪

Congratulations to all the winners.

Gold Winners:
JGW+ Engagement Learner of the Year: Courtney Ali
JGW+ Advancement Learner of the Year: Logan Langmead
Foundation Apprentice of the Year: Olivia Ampleford
Apprentice of the Year: Maddy Groves
Higher Apprentice of the Year: Jess Poole
Essential Skills Learner of the Year: Ifeoluwa Anipupo
Small Employer: MS Group
Small Employer: Atkins Accountants Ltd - Accountants, Business & Tax Advisors Swansea
Medium Employer: Midway Transitional Solutions Ltd
Medium Employer: The Welsh Rugby Union
Large Employer: Innovate trust
Large Employer: Legal & General
Professional Development Employer of the Year: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Professional Development Employer of the Year: The Royal Mint
JGW+ Employer of the Year: Bron Afon Community Housing
JGW+ Employer of the Year: Little Inspirations Day Nursery
Valued Partners: Jenna Murphy
Valued Partners: Down to Earth Project
New Employer of the Year: Sacyr
New Employer of the Year: Eden Nursery - Aberbeeg
New Employer of the Year: Admiral

Silver Winners:
JGW+ Engagement Learner of the Year: Logan Harrison
JGW+ Advancement Learner of the Year: Jessica Waite
Foundation Apprentice of the Year: Lisa Isgrove
Apprentice of the Year: Poppy Wright
Higher Apprentice of the Year: Darren Sweeney
Essential Skills Learner of the Year: Lowri Evans


Bronze Winners:
JGW+ Engagement Learner of the Year: Jack Jones
JGW+ Advancement Learner of the Year: Kia Richards
Foundation Apprentice of the Year: Millie Evans
Apprentice of the Year: Michelle McLachlan
Higher Apprentice of the Year: Kelly Beaumont
Essential Skills Learner of the Year: Christine Beale

Highly Commended:
JGW+ Engagement Learner of the Year: Sean Murphy
JGW+ Advancement Learner of the Year: Tia Montanari & Gwen Jenkins
Foundation Apprentice of the Year: David Boyle
Apprentice of the Year: Lauren Gunning

Da iawn to all the winners, nominees, and supporters who continue to drive excellence in work-based learning. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4bA22Cv

23/01/2026

It’s been an inspiring 2 days delivering our first residential programme on community-led housing. There's so much hope, energy and positivity out there.
We're looking to carry the momentum forwards with another residential next week.
thank you to everyone who took part and to our funder, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, for supporting
If you'd like to find out more about our work in community-led housing, please get in touch via:
[email protected]

16/12/2025

The Two-Day Introduction to Community-Led Housing is now full!

Thanks for all the interest, and we are really excited to meet everyone in January who got a place.

If you have emailed and we haven't got back to you, then you will receive a response in the next few days. The level of interest has been huge, so please bear with us.

Please keep a look out other courses we are running over the coming months!

05/12/2025

Join us for a fully funded two day introduction to the development of community led housing, focusing on how housing can be designed, built and managed by and for communities!

Register interest for more information, by emailing [email protected]!