Football and Nature: Welsh FA’s Biodiversity Project Connects Sport, Schools, and Sustainability
At the Football Association of Wales (FAW), their commitment to sustainability goes beyond the pitch. Through their new Biodiversity and Nature Trail project developed as part of our wider Cymru Well-being and the World sustainability strategy, they are creating vibrant, wildlife-friendly spaces at our facilities while engaging local schools and communities in hands-on environmental learning.
Working in partnership with Keep Wales Tidy and other conservation organisations, the FAW is installing nature gardens across its three office sites: Hensol, Newport, and Wrexham. These green spaces include wildflower beds, insect hotels, wildlife habitat boxes, CYMRU lettering with integrated insect and bee habitats and vegetable planters, all designed to boost biodiversity and improve the well-being of staff, visitors, and the surrounding communities.
As part of this initiative, the Welsh FA are inviting local primary school Eco-Councils to join them in creating and maintaining these nature gardens. Each school will take part in a biodiversity workshop delivered by Keep Wales Tidy’s education officers, offering pupils a unique opportunity to learn about local ecosystems, climate action, and conservation, all while linking directly to the school curriculum through the Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC) framework. It’s an especially exciting opportunity for schools with an Eco-School Council.
In Hensol, the FA’s headquarters, the project also includes the creation of a Cymru Football Nature & Wellbeing Trail, a signposted route with facts about local wildlife and Welsh international players, combining education, exercise, and national pride. A downloadable trail map and activity pack will allow visitors of all ages to explore and interact with the natural environment on site.
Staff well-being is at the heart of this project too. At the Hensol office, patio vegetable and herb beds are being introduced to encourage employees to grow their own food and connect with nature during the workday.
The gardens will be installed during June 2025 to align with Volunteers’ Week and World Environment Day, allowing staff, players, and pupils to collaborate on planting and building the new biodiversity areas. This initiative not only promotes environmental awareness but also reinforces the FAW’s role as a sustainability leader in sport, showcasing how football can be a powerful force for positive change in communities.