Mid Wales residents are being invited to discuss a major rewilding project, after it came under fire for not engaging with local communities.

The Summit to Sea project aims to increase biodiversity and restore ecosystems in an area of Mid Wales stretching from Machynlleth to Llanidloes and Aberystwyth and out into Cardigan Bay.

Project officer Siân Stacey, who is based in Taliesin, said the project, which has “transformed over the last 18 months” after being criticised for not taking into consideration local communities in its “early days”, is hoping to work with local people on the design.

Siân is originally from rural Carmarthenshire and spent three years as warden of Ynys Enlli in North Wales: “I know how important it is to listen to and work with those who work the land and sea, and the variety of people form the community, drawing in experts in specific areas from lived experiences as farmers or fishers to experts in particular scientific aspects.”

People are invited to express their views on the project, share their ideas and get more information, by attending drop-in sessions being held in cafés and local businesses across the project area over the summer.

People can also contact the project directly online to organise a discussion in a place that’s convenient, or complete the online questionnaire.

At its outset, the project, which wanted to let a huge swathe of Mid Wales, from Pumlumon to the Dyfi Estuary, go back to nature, came under harsh criticism. In October 2018, Councillor Elwyn Vaughan said there were “genuine concerns” from local people that it would be a “further example of urban values being forced on a rural Welsh area without considering the people, traditions, language and culture”.

In a Powys County Council meeting, in October 2019, Cllr Vaughan labelled the project “privileged middle-class romanticism” and put forward a motion to oppose the project.

During the meeting, Cllr Vaughan said: “There is a need to stop kicking local farmers, this farming is different, it is more natural and seasonal – it does no good to the argument in favour of the environment by lambasting those who are the backbone of so many of our communities.”

Following a furious backlash from farming communities, who feared business constraints would force them to rely on ecological tourism, Rewilding Britain, who initially headed up the project, pulled out in October 2019.

In June 2020, it was announced management of the project would be taken on by RSPB Cymru, who would work alongside a number of local stakeholders.

County councillor Elwyn Vaughan said he was “happy to see the changes” and welcomed the increased community engagement, encouraging people to make the most of the opportunity to contribute to the design stage:

“These drop-in sessions are a chance for local people to contribute ideas for the future and in this way can ensure local ownership of any developments.”

For more information or to give your ideas, contact [email protected]s or [email protected]s, or visit www.summit2sea.wales* This article has been updated. The original article stated that the Summit to Sea project was a £3.4 million programme. In fact the project is currently funded with a development grant of £150,000 over two years. The original project funding of £3.4million has been returned to the funder. Any future funding will be completely dependent on the outcome of this development phase what funding, and from which funder, the project will apply for.