Coed Hills Rural Artspace has reinvented itself more times than Madonna. Last year it was the place…read moreto go for an amazing and intimate mini-festival, and this year it's all about courses and workshops. Have they traded hedonism for mind expansion? Looks like it! But, the actual fact of the matter is that there is one unifying sub-theme to all of their endeavours... the environment and its understanding and, perhaps more importantly, its preservation. Even the mini festivals were a platform for the delivery of information pertaining to eco-concerns, with a programme of workshops scheduled over their weekender events, as well as guided tours of the grounds, including a whistle-stop tour of all of the wind generators, solar tracking array units and biomass burner, as well as a visit to the permaculture garden. As well as being an impressive outdoor art space, and exhibition venue, replete with a woodland art trail, and various workshops where artisans apply their crafts, working in wood and stone, and artists realise their inspirations, often using recycled and sustainable materials, Coed Hills is also a living breathing experiment in sustainable living. There are about ten people living at Coed at the moment. Each of them contributes to the upkeep and running of the centre. Courses held there already this year include a really ambitious Forrest Gardening workshop that has taken place in stages, allowing for seasonal changes, and there's a wind turbine making workshop coming up in a couple of weeks.... Coed Hills is as inspiring as it is unconventional. For more information about what goes on there it's probably best to visit their Facebook page... or you could always try the website...

Situated two miles east of Cowbridge in the pretty village of St Hilary, this place is considered…read moreWales's leading venue for art in the environment - educating visitors about both sustainable living and creative arts within the environment, using a range of traditional woodland skills and crafts. The centre grows food following permaculture principles and is working towards self-sufficiency in energy production, and visitors can learn all about ecological land use and renewable energy sources. Open from 10am until dusk all year round, the entry fee is nominal and visitors can explore the renowned 80-acre woodland sculpture trail. On site there's also some goats and chickens, Rahni's Cafe, Starfish Healthfoods, a Summer Craft Shop, and a disabled access path. The centre doubles up as a unique conference venue with artists' workshops, gallery space, and green woodwork facilities, too. I've never been anywhere else quite like it, and with Cardiff only 20 minutes drive away it's well worth a visit if you live in the city.