About Us

From coal to nature – protecting wildlife, connecting people, celebrating heritage

Vision

A future where coal spoil sites are protected and celebrated as thriving havens for wildlife, heritage, and community well-being.

Mission

Glo i Natur CIC works to protect, restore, and enhance the unique biodiversity of coal spoil sites in the South Wales Valleys, while creating inclusive green spaces that improve community well-being, celebrate industrial heritage, and connect people of all ages with nature.

Founded in 2025 (Company number: 16778185), Glo i Natur is a community interest company dedicated to protecting, restoring, and celebrating the unique biodiversity and heritage of coal spoil sites in the South Wales Valleys.

The CIC is the brainchild of invertebrate ecologist Liam Olds, following more than a decade of pioneering work through his Colliery Spoil Biodiversity Initiative, which uncovered the extraordinary ecological value of these overlooked landscapes. Building on this foundation, Glo i Natur CIC was formally established in partnership with fellow directors to expand the vision, combining expertise in ecology, education, campaigning, and community engagement.

Our vision is simple: a future where coal spoil sites are protected and valued as thriving havens for wildlife, heritage, and community well-being.

At Glo i Natur, we see coal spoil sites not as scars of the past, but as places of hope and renewal. Through practical habitat management, research, education, and community engagement, we aim to ensure these landscapes continue to support threatened wildlife, while also inspiring people to connect with both nature and industrial heritage.

Objectives

At Glo i Natur CIC, our work is guided by five core objectives:

1. Conservation and Land Management

Protect, restore, and enhance habitats on coal spoil sites to safeguard threatened and declining species.
Undertake practical habitat management to maintain resilient ecosystems that deliver long-term biodiversity benefits.
Carry out ecological surveys, monitoring, and research to inform conservation action and expand knowledge of coal spoil biodiversity.

2. Community Engagement and Well-being

Provide inclusive opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to connect with nature and heritage.
Promote health and well-being through access to biodiverse green spaces and outdoor activities.
Celebrate the cultural and industrial heritage of the South Wales Valleys through events, interpretation, and creative engagement.

3. Education and Research

Deliver educational programmes, workshops, guided walks, talks, and citizen science initiatives to raise awareness of coal spoil biodiversity and heritage.
Develop and share educational resources for schools, community groups, and the wider public to inspire people of all ages to value and protect coal spoil sites.
Support academic and citizen science research to increase understanding of coal spoil biodiversity and inform conservation practice.
Provide opportunities for early-career conservationists, students, and those changing careers through volunteering placements, training, and paid internships, helping to develop practical skills and experience in the conservation sector.

4. Sustainability and Partnerships

Identify and pursue opportunities to safeguard coal spoil sites through land acquisition, agreements with landowners, or by providing advice and guidance on land management.
Collaborate with local authorities, government, landowners, conservation organisations, community groups, and other stakeholders to promote sustainable management of spoil sites.
Develop partnerships to secure long-term protection and deliver large-scale conservation of coal spoil habitats in South Wales and beyond.

5. Advocacy and Awareness

Champion the ecological, cultural, and community value of coal spoil sites, ensuring they are recognised, protected, and celebrated.
Publish accessible reports, educational materials, and media content to inform and inspire communities.
Influence policy and planning decisions to prevent the loss of ecologically and culturally significant sites.

Meet the Team

At Glo i Natur CIC, our directors bring together expertise in ecology, education, community engagement, and habitat management.

Each member of the team shares a deep commitment to protecting biodiversity on coal spoil sites, while helping people connect with nature and the unique history of these post-industrial landscapes.

Liam Olds

Director of Science & Research and Founder

Liam is an invertebrate ecologist whose passion for nature began as a teenager exploring coal spoil sites close to his home. He studied Zoology at Cardiff University before completing an entomology apprenticeship at the National Museum of Wales.

In 2015, Liam founded the Colliery Spoil Biodiversity Initiative to champion these overlooked habitats, and for over a decade he has studied their remarkable biodiversity while raising awareness of their ecological value. His work has influenced conservation management, national policy, and site protection.

Liam’s dedication also reaches wider audiences through talks, guided walks, and media appearances, including TV programmes such as Iolo’s Valleys, Wales: Land of the Wild, and The Miners Who Made Us. His achievements have earned both local and national recognition, including a National Biodiversity Network Award.

Carys Romney

Director of Outreach & Engagement

Carys’ fascination with nature began in childhood, exploring the coal tips of South Wales. Since graduating in Environmental Conservation Management in 2015, she has dedicated herself to grassroots conservation and community engagement, using her belief in the wellbeing benefits of connecting with nature to guide her work.

Carys has co-founded groups such as Litter Free Beddau and Tynant and Friends of Cwm Tips, successfully campaigning to protect local wildlife sites and leading activities from habitat management to school nature trips. She has also worked on major conservation projects with Buglife Cymru, the Lost Peatlands Project, and INCC, combining ecological surveys with extensive public engagement.

Alongside this, Carys is a Llantrisant Community Councillor, school governor, and Director of Adfer Natur CIC. She has also contributed to significant wildlife discoveries, including the Pyrenean Semi-slug, new to Britain.

Heather Light

Director of Education & Learning

Heather has dedicated over 25 years to education, working with learners of all ages and abilities, and consistently championing inclusive and supportive learning environments. A self-published author, she weaves her love for nature, community and wellbeing into both her professional work and creative projects, reflecting her belief that connection to the natural world is essential for a balanced, fulfilling life.

Alongside her teaching and writing, Heather is an active environmental campaigner, currently focused on protecting a former coal spoil site near Aberdare. Driven by a desire to safeguard local ecosystems and celebrate the area’s natural and cultural heritage, she advocates for sustainable land use and community involvement in environmental decision-making.

Whether in the classroom, outdoors, or on the page, Heather brings empathy, creativity, and a deep sense of purpose to everything she does.

Christian Owen

Director of Conservation & Land Management

Christian is one of the UK’s leading invertebrate ecologists, with a lifelong passion for natural history and the outdoors. Since leaving school, he has worked and volunteered in the countryside sector, gaining extensive practical experience in land management and conservation. He also ran a successful landscaping business before pursuing his true calling as a professional entomologist.

With a particular fascination for the more obscure and overlooked, Christian has been involved in the discovery of 15 species new to Britain, including three entirely new to science. Among his most celebrated finds are the “Maerdy Monster” and “Beddau Beast” millipedes, and the “Alsatian Semi-slug,” which have captured both scientific and public attention.

Christian’s work reflects a rare blend of ecological expertise and practical skill, revealing the hidden richness of these undervalued habitats and demonstrating their importance for both science and conservation.