Welsh singer Charlotte Church’s forest school initiative may have to shut down following complaints about children behaving inappropriately and hazardous vehicle arrangements.

The Awen Project, which Church characterizes as an unpaid democratic woodland learning centre, has been functioning at a Wenvoe location near the Welsh capital without required authorizations since the beginning of 2024.

The charitable organization, established by Church, submitted a retrospective application to the Vale of Glamorgan Council for a change of use, but officials rejected it, highlighting worries about road safety and excessive noise.

Councilors also determined there was insufficient proof the development would protect and improve green spaces.

The refusal has been challenged through Planning and Environment Decisions Wales by Jonathan Field, whom the Awen Project refers to as a community elder.

Local residents Paul and Samantha Edwards opposed the proposal, stating they observed parents parking vehicles in contravention of traffic regulations and noted that youngsters could be heard making loud vocalizations, accusing them of treating nearby householders with disrespect.

They noted that such conduct harms the comfort and wellbeing of local inhabitants.

Field strongly disputed these claims, stating that children naturally produce noise during educational activities, whether singing and playing instruments or expressing excitement when discovering something that interests them, makes a poor argument for denying them educational opportunities.

He said the allegation of poor neighbourly conduct unfortunately reflects the accusers’ own issues rather than reality, being entirely unsubstantiated with no supporting proof.

Cardiff-born Church, who is now 40, launched her debut record Voice Of An Angel when she was just 12.

She has since produced additional recordings, appeared on television programmes such as her own late-2000s talk show The Charlotte Church Show, and participated in the 2025 series of The Celebrity Traitors.

She explained she created the Awen Project to deliver education that is more connected to nature, more compassionate and more organic.

The facility accepts pupils between 11 and 16 years old who are predominantly educated outside traditional school settings.

The appeal documentation indicates the Wenvoe premises remains largely untouched, containing only small portable structures like a welfare cabin, canvas canopy and compost toilet.

Field stated in the appeal that denying planning permission endangers this educational community with immediate and serious consequences.

He noted that numerous young people attending have previously found conventional schooling challenging and have now achieved stability, self-assurance and direction through the Awen Project, and that removing access would cause considerable emotional and educational damage.

In 2023, the Woodland Trust terminated the Awen Project’s access to an earlier location because of health and safety violations.

Representatives for the Awen Project were approached for a response.