Menter Iaith Sir y Fflint's Language and Heritage Project

Menter Iaith Sir y Fflint received approval from Flintshire's Rural Partnership and the Welsh Assembly Government to develop a Language and Heritage Project for the Rural Development programme in Flintshire in July 2008. The project is partly funded by the Flintshire Language Forum, the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Menter Iaith Sir y Fflint is delivering the project on behalf of the Flintshire Language Forum.

The project provides a Language and Heritage Officer who develops and supports specific projects, in order to raise awareness and understanding of local Flintshire residents and visitors of the Welsh and Anglo-Welsh Culture.

Some of the projects organised by Menter Iaith Sir y Fflint include: 

·         Community story telling events.

·         Heritage and craft workshops.

·         Visits to local museums and cultural locations.

·         Community workshops including dance and music events.

·         Awareness sessions on the Welsh  language, culture and heritage.

Here are some of the activities organised by Menter Iaith Sir y Fflint as part of their Language and Heritage project:

Buckley Pottery Mural

A group of enthusiastic Welsh learners came together to work with community artist Mari Gwent came to Flintshire to create a mural based on Buckley's famous pottery.
The workshops, held January 30th, February 6th and 13th and organised by Menter Iaith Sir y Fflint, were an opportunity for the county's residents to learn more about one of the area's oldest industries, create a work of art and practise their Welsh in a relaxed atmosphere.
Mari said she had "Enjoyed the project very much; combining the artists' creativity and conversation was a very interesting process."
Rebecca Davies, Language and Heritage Officer for Menter Iaith Sir y Fflint added, "This has been an extremely exciting project. The Welsh learners had the opportunity to practice their Welsh in a relaxed, social atmosphere, learning new vocabulary and a bit of heritage and history of local industry along the way. The art work created entirely from paper, glue and paint is worth seeing. The work is so effective that it tricks the eye into thinking it's real pottery!"

 

 

Storytelling sessions with Cath Aran

On October 20st a'r 21st the nationally-famous storyteller Cath Aran came to Mold to entertain the residents of Flintshire with traditional Welsh stories and fables.

On the 20th Cath went to Bryn Coch and Glanrafon primary schools to relate Welsh stories to pupils and their parents. The following day was the turn of Mold's secondary schools, Maes Garmon and Alun School, to hear Cath's interpretation of one of Wales's oldest legends, that of Blodeuwedd.

The senior classes witnessed Cath's 'darker side' when the lights were dimmed and she related the story of a young girl who lost her head following an encounter with a ghost at a hotel in Rhyl!

Pete Bryon, head of Welsh at Alun School, said "Year 10 enjoyed listening to Blodeuwedd's tale, and I'm sure they enjoyed the ghost story too, even if a few of them will be sleeping with the lights on for a while!"

On the evening of the 20th, a party of brave adults gathered at Nercwys Tower to hear Cath's rendition of various ghost stories from across North Wales. They head the story of the Caerwys Witch, the Black Knight with the Red Plume, the haunting of Bryn yr Ellyllon, Rhyl's haunted hotel; and of course, the history of Rheinallt ap Bleddyn ap Gruffudd who, by all accounts, hung the Mayor of Chester in the same banqueting hall the group were sitting in!

 

 

 

Fun for the Family in Gronant

On September 15th 2009, Gronant Family Centre, Flintshire Menter Iaith and Deeside College held a Fun and Games For The Family afternoon for residents of Gronant, Talacre, Picton, Pen y Ffordd, Ffynnongroyw and Mostyn. Amongst the activities were face painting, nail art, a treasure hunt, Rimbojam karaoke with the Urdd mascots Cadi and Dai, arts and crafts, clay modelling and fun Welsh song and story sessions. All activities were free of charge and there was also an opportunity to sign up for Deeside College's Fun For the Family Welsh course.

In January 2010 Menter Iaith returned to the centre to hold bilingual 'song and craft' sessions for pre-school children and their families.

 

 

Wild Workshops

During the autumn half term holidays 2009 Menter Iaith Sir y Fflint worked with local companies and societies to hold a number of Welsh-language 'wild workshops' to help local children learn more about the natural world. On Thursday October 29th there was a Wild Art session at the Northop Campus of Deeside College. Environmental artist Tim Pugh worked with children to create sculptures and pictures using natural materials found in the landscaped grounds of the college. On Friday October 30th there was a

"Survival in the Wild Workshop" with the Flintshire Forest School.  The workshop was held in the woods of the Northop Campus of Deeside College, gave children the opportunity to cook on a camp fire, build dens and learn survival skills. On Saturday October 31st there was a Wild Woodlands walk through the through Whitford woods with Iwan Roberts of Cymdeithas Edward Llwyd. 

 

 

Oakenholt Mural

Throughout March 2009 the popular artist Cefyn Burgess worked with the pupils of Ysgol Croes Atti and members of the community to produce a textile wall hanging for the school hall that will represent the Flint / Oakenholt area. Cefyn Burgess's work is not only well known in this country but also in the USA where his unique techniques of using textiles to create beautiful murals amaze many people.

 

Puppet workshop

Cwmni Cortyn puppet company visited five primary schools in Flintshire including Ysgol Terrig, Glanrafon, Croes Atti, Gwenffrwd and Mornant to facilitate a puppet making workshop for children under the age of seven. The theme - "Heroes of Wales" gave the children an opportunity to explore their own Welsh identity, history and language. The puppets they created were then displayed at the Gallery at Clwyd Theatr Cymru in December.

 

 

Writing workshops

Throughout the Language and Heritage Project Menter Iaith has offered creative writing workshops with famous Welsh authors and poets, including: Mei Mac, Twm Morys, Sian Northey, Iwan Llwyd and Ifor ap Glyn and an Evening with the Taeogion.

 

 

Environmental Sustainability

Menter Iaith is committed to arranging activites which encourage people to recycle and renew, including the Santes Dwynwen Fashion Show, the 'Hwyl a Hanner' Art Workshops and the Buckley Pottery Mural. The pictures below all show what can be done with old paper, textiles, rubbish and a bit of imagination!

 

 Music

As part of the Language and Heritage Project Menter Iaith Sir y Fflint has organised musical events such as Y Ffin Rock Festival, workshops with Gwibdaith Hen Fran, Bocswn and Plygain Evenings.

 

 

For more information, please contact the Language and Heritage Officer, Rebecca Davies, on 01352 744042 or e-mail rebecca@menteriaithsiryfflint.co.uk

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