It’s a twee title, one I wouldn’t normally choose. It struck me today anyway, and I’ve decided to keep it.
A different kind of fresh air
I’m 36, father of two amazing girls, and this afternoon I turned to them and said, “Come on girls, let’s get some fresh air.” Where I grew up in the Black Country, that phrase came with some caveats:
- It’s probably fresher inside.
- I need some kind of weapon, just in case.
- Playing the “what’s that smell” game.
- Damn, this is depressing.
Proud of where I’m from, prouder of where they’re going
Don’t get me wrong, I’m incredibly proud to have been born and raised in the Black Country. It gave me the skills and the work ethic I needed to make it in the world.
I’m also proud that I worked hard enough to give my kids a different upbringing to mine. They can walk out the door and look into the heart of nature, splash in its streams, or pick fruit straight from its trees, without worrying about bus fare or where the next meal is coming from.
Watching them grow up without carrying what I carried is about as close as I’ve come to feeling like all of it was worth it. It’s made me realise what’s possible once you let yourself dream a little bigger.
Apples, pears, and an ordinary afternoon
This week the apple trees in the orchard started giving us fruit to play with. Jam, cider, pie, or just a snack on a walk. I was picking some with the kids, and when they spotted the pear tree, I saw how excited they got, and I realised I kind of envied them.
I found myself wishing I’d grown up somewhere like this. Now, instead of fighting to get to this point the way I did, they get to start here, and dream even bigger than we did.
The bigger picture
This isn’t only about my own family, though it’s easy to make it sound that way. Across Britain, 2.3 million children under nine, close to a third of that age group, live more than a ten-minute walk from their nearest playground, let alone a valley full of orchards and streams. Something like 6.3 million people across Great Britain live further than a ten-minute walk from any park or green space at all. That gap is bigger than I used to think it was.
Housing co-operatives like Ty Brethyn are still a small slice of UK housing, around 900 of them, providing roughly 196,500 homes across the country. It’s growing on the back of people who want their money doing something other than sitting in a bank account: over £200 million has gone into community shares schemes since 2012, from more than 126,000 people. Small next to the housing market as a whole, and growing steadily.
That’s the company Ty Brethyn is trying to keep.
Why this matters for Ty Brethyn’s future
Ty Brethyn itself is a Grade II listed watermill in the Cyflymen valley, converted into five households’ worth of homes since the co-op was founded in 2007. It’s a real building, with a real roof that needs paying for.
That’s part of why the work around our current loan stock matters so much. Ty Brethyn’s next stage is about making room for the next family who wants what we found here. We’ve already got planning permission on one of the outbuildings, and we’re working out how best to turn it into a home for whoever joins us next.
For now, it’s apples and pears and an ordinary Tuesday afternoon. That’s part of the brighter future too.
Questions people ask about investing in Ty Brethyn
Whenever this comes up in conversation, whether it’s on the school run or over a pint, the same few questions tend to follow. So here they are in one place, in case you’re wondering the same things.
How did Ty Brethyn become a housing co-operative?
Ty Brethyn was founded in 2007, when a group of people bought a derelict Victorian watermill in the Cyflymen valley and converted it into homes for what’s now five households. It’s a fully mutual housing co-operative, which means the people living there own and run it together, rather than a landlord or a housing association doing it for them.
What makes Ty Brethyn different from a normal housing association?
Everything at Ty Brethyn runs on consensus. Decisions about the land, the buildings and the finances get made by the people who live there, in small groups that feed back to the whole co-op every fortnight, rather than by a board or a landlord somewhere else.
What is loan stock, and how does it help Ty Brethyn?
Loan stock is a fixed-term investment. You lend money to the co-op at a set interest rate, and get your capital back at the end of the term. It’s what’s funding Ty Brethyn’s current refinancing. Full details are on the Investor FAQ page.
How can I invest in Ty Brethyn?
Investments start from £1,000, with fixed interest rates depending on the term you choose. The Invest In Us page has the current terms and how to apply.
Where is Ty Brethyn?
Ty Brethyn is a housing co-operative based in a converted Victorian watermill near Llangollen, North Wales, on five acres of woodland, fields and garden.
Can I stay at Ty Brethyn?
Yes. Ty Brethyn has a simple, self-catered retreat space, good for meditation, reflection or a quiet break, from £30 a night. Full details are on the Retreat page.
Is Ty Brethyn only for people who already live there?
Ty Brethyn grows slowly and by consensus, so joining isn’t a fast process. The co-op is open to hearing from people interested in a future place there.
Want to talk it through?
If any of this has struck a chord, or you’ve just got a question before deciding anything, get in touch. We’re happy to talk you through it.
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