Meet the wonderful team behind Willow Springs Campsite.
Tom, Rob, Mouse, Georgia, and Griff have created a sustainable haven for outdoor lovers. In Tom’s own words, discover what drew them to this place and what their plans are for the future:
“I never dreamed of running a campsite, but it’s actually turned out to be the most amazing experience.
“I’m Tom, and I’m from Llwyn y Ffynnon Farm which is the home of Willow Springs Campsite and Waterfall Saunas, and the Afan Rainforest Alliance.
“Glyncorrwg is at the end of the Afan Valley, and it’s surrounded by sheep farms. It’s such a peaceful place to be, and it’s a Dark Skies area so the night sky is spectacular. We back onto 80sqkm of Afan Forest Park, so we see people coming to visit from all over Europe who want to take to the trails and then relax in our saunas.
“Everyone who comes here absolutely loves it, and the area itself is steeped in history. If you go back a thousand years, this entire area would have been rainforest, and we actually found a little pocket of temperate Atlantic rainforest on the farm, which is a really special habitat.
“I run Willow Springs Campsite alongside four of my close friends: Mouse, Rob, Georgia and Griff. Georgia works closely with Mouse, an ecologist from the village, who both lead on the Afan Rainforest Alliance project. They organise school visits and workshops to learn about our ancient habitat, and frequently work with volunteers to help maintain our community garden.
“Rob is a filmmaker, music producer and multi-instrumentalist, and he runs music workshops from ‘Music Mountain’ – our onsite music space. He also works closely with a range of musicians, granting them access to his incredible range of rare instruments which provide such a unique sound.
“Griff, who also goes by Tom, is a very talented designer who is behind most of the innovative projects onsite, including our sash beds in the Shepherd’s Huts. We’re always trying to add value to Willow Springs and elevate the guest experience, and Griff’s expertise ensures that we can do just that.
“The thing that brought me to Willow Springs was the environment. It still amazes me that you can be mountain biking in the morning and then swimming in a waterfall in the afternoon. It’s such a spectacular place to live.
“I’d never experienced community until we moved to Glyncorrwg, but it’s the friendliest village. Everyone knows everyone’s business, and they say their nosy, but I think they’re absolutely lovely.
“I’ve never felt more at home anywhere.”