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Lois Roberts and Aron Llwyd, both 29, have recently taken on the role of full-time wardens on Ynys Enlli, commonly known as Bardsey Island. Having grown up in Cardiff, the couple sought a change from city living and yearned for a closer connection to nature and a sustainable lifestyle. Though they initially worked seasonally on the island as assistant wardens, spending several months there each year, moving to live permanently on Bardsey was something they had never anticipated.
Situated in Gwynedd, Bardsey Island holds the distinction of being Europe’s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary, an honor it received in 2023 due to its exceptionally clear night skies. The island’s tiny community currently numbers just four residents throughout the year. Lois and Aron relocated permanently on March 1, increasing the year-round population, and have since been busy maintaining the island’s houses, which are open to visitors during the summer months. Their daily tasks include painting, cleaning, gardening, and preparing accommodations, keeping them fully occupied.
Life on Ynys Enlli is remarkably different from what Lois and Aron were used to. They now engage in growing their own food and harvesting seafood such as crab and lobster. Aron emphasized the importance of installing more solar power to help support sustainable living for the island community. Both acknowledge that this lifestyle has required acquiring new skills, like repairing damages caused by strong winds, which they didn’t encounter in their previous seasonal roles.
Though occasionally the island experience feels like a step back in time, the couple appreciates the opportunity to detach from constant reliance on digital devices, despite having access to Wi-Fi. Lois enjoys the chance to pursue activities like art, knitting, and swimming, all away from screens. Ynys Enlli is not only home to its few human inhabitants, but also to around 200 sheep and vast colonies of Manx shearwater birds. Lois expressed enthusiasm for protecting the island’s unique history and culture for future generations and is committed to staying there as long as possible
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