Stori Wyllt 2026

Ysgol Llanilar Workshop 5 — Cyanotope covers & ribbon

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:41:33 +0100

Post by Jake Rayson

It was a very chill morning session with not too much to do. Marian showed the students how to create the end covers out of card and patch of cyanotype, then measure up some ribbon and glue it all together.

After the students had finished all their cutting and their gluing and their assembling, we were going to go out for a final cyanotype session, but the summer rain had different ideas.

Ysgol Llanarth Workshop 4 — Painting & clay artefact creation

Fri, 22 May 2026 08:26:44 +0100

Sketch by Jake Rayson

The weather was magnificent but I was feeling under the weather. Fortunately, the students kept me alert with a thousand questions on the walk to Cae Ysgubor, AKA Molly’s Field. I was bringing up the rear and was continually distracted by plants and wildlife.

By the time we reached the quiet country lane, a bountiful harvest of Sticky Willy / Llau’r Offeiriad (Galium aparine) was to be made, which we graciously donated to Molly’s horses. They love the stuff.

Moth & butterfly species and the Oak / Derwen

Thu, 21 May 2026 20:51:12 +0100

For the second set of workshops, artist Pip Lewis prepared a whole set of colour print outs of moths and butterflies that are associated with the Oak tree. Here is the list of their names in Latin, English and Welsh, plus links to Wikipedia pages.

Butterfly and Moth species

Moth species	English name	Welsh name
Comibaena bajularia	Blotched Emerald	Emrallt Blotiog
Lymantria monacha	Black Arches	Siobyn Bwaog
Carterocephalus palaemon	Chequered Skipper	Gwibiwr Y Llennyrch
Catocala sponsa	Dark Crimson Underwing	Ôl-adain Ruddgoch Dywyll
Apoda limacodes	Festoon	Llusgwyfyn Rhuban
Polyploca ridens	Frosted Green	Tant Siriol
Malacosoma neustria	Lackey	Gwaswyfyn
Acleris literana	Lichen Button	-
Cyclophora punctaria	Maiden’s Blush	Moca Gwridog
Griposia aprilina	Merveille du Jour	Gwyfyn Cennog
Watsonalla binaria	Oak Hook-tip	Bachadain Y Deri
Cymatophorina diluta	Oak Lutestring	Tant Y Deri
Biston strataria	Oak Beauty	Rhisglyn Y Derw
Lasiocampa quercus	Oak Eggar	Wylun Deri
Crocallis elinguaria	Scalloped Oak	Carpiog Y Derw
Plagodis dolabraria	Scorched Wing	Adain Ddeifiog

Butterfly species	English name	Welsh name
Apatura iris	Purple Emperor	Mantell Borffor
Pararge aegeria	Speckled Wood	Gweirlöyn Brych

Ysgol Llanilar Workshop 4 — Cyanotype collage strips

Thu, 21 May 2026 20:43:28 +0100

Marian showed the students examples of the cyanotype collage strips that they’ll be creating, and then handed out the students‘ negative acetate prints in envelopes. These will form the textured background on the cyanotype. And then we went outside to gather plant material.

Artist Marian Haf with Ysgol Llanilar students

Positive about the negatives

Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi Workshop 4 — Moths & Butterflies of the Oak

Thu, 21 May 2026 20:04:13 +0100

Guest post by artist Pip Lewis

Group B – Butterflies & Moths!

Patterns in Nature - Introduction

Pip introduced the theme of Butterflies and Moths living in oak Trees and the patterns and shapes they have on their wings and showed an example of the layered artworks of butterflies and moths that live and forage in Oak Trees which the pupils will be making.

The art process involved in making the final image will include tracing, working with colour, black and white and marker pens, patterns shapes and letter stencils as well as incorporating design and layout skills for the final text.

Habitat guidelines — where to put up nest boxes

Wed, 20 May 2026 19:09:54 +0100

We ran a workshop with Harry Smalley from Cardished at Ysgol Llanilar, constructing kit nest boxes. We then walked around the school grounds and village pond, looking for potential sites.

Habitat overview

Mosaic of habitat – pond, river, streams, woodland, marsh, grassland, hedges, gardens, houses, buildings…

Different habitats from satellite photo

Siting habitat

Bat boxes

Bat Conservation Trust

Where bats are known to feed and navigate (close to hedges and tree lines);
Ideally at least 4m above the ground (where safe installation is possible);
Away from artificial light sources (to protect them from predation);
Sheltered from strong winds; and
Exposed to the sun for part of the day (usually south, south-east or south-west).
North Ceredigion Bat Group northceredigionbatgroup@gmail.com & facebook.com/groups/northceredigionbatgroup

Nest boxes

British Trust for Ornithology

Habitat workshop at Llanilar

Wed, 20 May 2026 14:18:54 +0100

Harry Smalley from Cardished ran a fantastic habitat workshop with Year 5 students from Llanilar. He brought two finished Barbastrelle bat boxes, four nest box apartments for House Sparrows and kits for Robin and Starling sizes nest boxes that the students assembled, using a form, a clamp, hammers and nails.

After the workshop, we walked around the grounds to look at possible sites for the nestboxes, and then we had a quick walk around the village pond to talk about habitat and the importance of water and flying insects for bats.

Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron Workshop 4 — Exquisite Corpses

Fri, 15 May 2026 16:34:07 +0100

Rebecca took full charge of the workshop, creating creatures from all the plants, fungi and animals of the wood and countryside surrounding Tŷ Mari.

More information to follow!

Oriel Gallery

Ready to assemble

Assembling two corpses

Cutting a tree

Multiples

Plenty of materials and imaginations

Trefnu / Organise

Thu, 14 May 2026 16:48:34 +0100

People

School	Naturalist	Creative	Teacher
Aberteifi	Yusef Samari	Pip Lewis	Mari Roberts
Aberaeron	Carys May	Rebecca Wyn Kelly	Carys Griffiths-Jones
Llanarth	Jo Dainty	Molly Gilbert	Cally Mason
Llanilar	Sheena Duller	Marian Haf	Jan Jones

Aberteifi organise page: storiwyllt.cymru/organise-aberteifi

Emrys Plant - Creative Custodian
Sheena Duller - Ecology Advisor
Jake Rayson - Facilitator

Celebration event

Mon 29 Jun - 6pm-8pm
Stiwdio 3, Aberteifi
Work on display until Mon 6 Jul
School visits Wed 8, Thu 9, Fri 10 Jul

Alphabetical people

Emrys Plant - Creative Custodian
Cally Mason - Teacher, Llanarth
Carys Griffiths-Jones - Teacher, Aberaeron
Carys May - Ecologist, Aberaeron
Jake Rayson - Facilitator
Jannette Jones - Teacher, Llanilar
Jo Dainty - Forest school practitioner, Llanarth
Marian Haf - Artist, Llanilar
Mari Roberts - Teacher, Aberteifi
Molly Gilbert - Artist, Llanarth
Pip Lewis - Artist, Aberteifi
Rebecca Wyn Kelly - Artist, Aberaeron
Sheena Duller - Ecologist, Llanilar & Ecology Advisor
Yusef Samari - Ecologist, Aberteifi

Summary

Combining wildlife ID with habitat creation and storytelling, culminating in bilingual wild stories celebration in Aberteifi in late June.

Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron Workshop 3 — The magic of Tŷ Mari

Fri, 08 May 2026 16:34:07 +0100

We finally managed to go to the house of Mari Berllan Biter on the Esgair Arth estate.

The minibus arrived filled with students and staff, and we gathered around the entrance to the field, with the song of the Willow Warbler, identified by ecologist Carys May.

We set off across the tussocky pasture, diagonally left toward the corner, where the footpath descends down through the wood. Along the way, we saw voles plenty of spiders, mole hills and evidence of voles.

Ysgol Llanarth Workshop 3 — Flower prints & painting

Fri, 08 May 2026 16:33:30 +0100

Guest post by our forest school practitioner Jo Dainty

On the walk up Joey collected a posey of flowers which was so lovely. There was lots of chatter and excitement. Alfie set the pace and it was a bit of a route march to keep up with him!

We started by introducing Molly’s sister (author of the nature story that has been shared with the class) to the group and enjoyed lots of chat about the characters! We had the circle of mats again – really lovely for everyone to feel like an equal part of the group.

List of plant species at Ysgol Llanilar

Fri, 08 May 2026 16:10:54 +0100

Ecologist Sheena Duller very kindly made a list of plant species that are on the school grounds. The translations are from Y Bwiadur website.

Species	English name	Welsh name	Area
Cerastium	Mouse Ear	Clust-y-Llygoden
Hypochaeris radicata	Cat’s Ear	Melynydd
Achillea millefolium	Yarrow	Milddail
Plantago lanceolata	Ribwort Plantain	Llyriad Yr Ais
Crepis	Hawksbeard	Gwalchlys
Cardamine pratensis	Cuckoo Flower	Blodyn Llefrith
Ranunculus bulbosus	Bulbous Buttercup	Blodyn-Ymenyn Bondew
Ranunculus arvensis	Meadow Buttercup	Blodyn Ymenyn
Ranuculus repens	Creeping Buttercup	Blodyn-Ymenyn Ymlusgol
Sagina	Pearlwort	Corwlyddyn Y Mynydd	Between paving slabs
Plantago major	Greater Plantain	Llydan Y Ffordd
Hypochaeris radicata	Cat’s Ear	Melynydd
-	Moss	Mwsogl
	Lichens	Cennau
Veronica arvensis	Wall Speedwell	Rhwyddlwyn Y Fagwyr
Poa annua	Annual Meadow Grass	Gweunwellt Unflwydd
	Grasses		Car park lawn
Anthoxanthum odoratum	Sweet Vernal	Perwellt Y Gwanwyn
Alopecurus pratensis	Meadow Foxtail	Cynffonwellt Y Maes
Festuca rubra	Red Fescue	Peiswellt Coch
Poa annua	Annual Meadow Grass	Gweunwellt Unflwydd
Dactylis glomerata	Cocksfoot	Troed Y Ceiliog
Luzula campestris	Field Wood Rush	Milfyw
Holcus lanatus	Yorkshire Fog	Maswellt Penwyn
	Flowers
Trifolium repens	White Clover	Meillionen Wen
Trifolium pratense	Red Clover	Meillionen Goch
Trifolium dubium	Lesser Trefoil	Meillionen Hopysaidd Fach
Lotus corniculatus	Birds Foot Trefoil	Pysen-Y-Ceirw
Vicia	Vetch	Llaethwyg
Veronica chamaedrys	Germander Speedwell	Llygad Doli
Veronica serpyllifolia	Thyme-leaved Speedwell	Rhwyddlwyn Dail Teim
Veronica officinalis	Common Speedwell	Rhwyddlwyn Meddygol
Geranium lucidum	Shining Cranesbill	Pig-Yr-Aran Loywddail
Bellis perennis	Daisy	Llygad Y Dydd
Taraxacum officinale	Dandelion	Dant Y Llew

List of species at Esgair Arth

Fri, 08 May 2026 16:10:54 +0100

Ecologist Carys May from WWBIC did an amazing job finding, explaining, photographing and cataloguing a whole load of different species on Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron‘s trip to Tŷ Mari at Esgair Arth.

Swallow landing on a telephone wire, photo by Carys May

Species	English name	Welsh name	Species group
Acer pseudoplatanus	Sycamore	Masarnen	Flowering plant
Circaea lutetiana	Enchanter’s-nightshade	Llysiau Steffan	Flowering plant
Phyllobius pomaceus	Green Nettle Weevil	-	Insect - beetle (Coleoptera)
Hirundo rustica	Swallow	Gwennol	Bird
Alauda arvensis	Skylark	Ehedydd	Bird
Quercus	Oak	Derwen	Flowering plant
Pisaura mirabilis	Tent Spider	-	spider (Araneae)
Rubus fruticosus agg.	Bramble	Llwyn Mwyar Duon	Flowering plant
Allium ursinum	Ramsons	Craf Y Geifr	Flowering plant
Ulex europaeus	Gorse	Eithinen Ffrengig	Flowering plant
Blechnum spicant	Hard-Fern	Gwibredynen	Fern
Andricus foecundatrix f. agamic	Artichoke Gall Causer	-	Insect - hymenopteran
Clytocerus		-	Insect - true fly (Diptera)
Oniscus asellus	Common Shiny Woodlouse	Pryfed Coed (?)	crustacean
Anthoxanthum odoratum	Sweet Vernal-grass	Perwellt Y Gwanwyn	Flowering plant
Holcus lanatus	Yorkshire-fog	Maswellt Penwyn	Flowering plant
Phylloscopus trochilus	Willow Warbler	Telor Yr Helyg	Bird
Polystichum setiferum	Soft Shield-Fern	Gwrychredynen Feddal	Fern
Fraxinus excelsior	Ash	Onnen	Flowering plant
Cynips quercusfolii f. agamic	Cherry Gall Causer	-	Insect - hymenopteran
Turdus merula	BlackBird	Mwyalch	Bird
Dryopteris dilatata	Broad Buckler-Fern	Marchredynen Lydan	Fern
Eupeodes corollae			Insect - true fly (Diptera)
Juncus effusus	Soft-rush	Brwynen Babwyr	Flowering plant
Hedera hibernica	Atlantic Ivy	Iorwg Yr Iwerydd	Flowering plant
Corylus	Hazel	Collen	Flowering plant
Vulpes vulpes	Red Fox	Cadno	terrestrial mammal
Puccinia punctiformis	Thistle Rust	Rhwd Ysgall	Fungus
Melampyrum pratense	Common Cow-wheat	Gliniogai	Flowering plant
Vaccinium myrtillus	Bilberry	Llusen	Flowering plant
Troglodytes troglodytes	Wren	Dryw	Bird
Chrysosplenium oppositifolium	Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage	Eglyn Cyferbynddail	Flowering plant
Fringilla coelebs	Chaffinch	Ji-binc	Bird
Phyllitis scolopendrium	Hart’s-tongue	Tafod Yr Hydd	Fern
Flavoparmelia caperata			Lichen
Cirsium arvense	Creeping Thistle	Ysgallen Y Maes	Flowering plant
Ficedula hypoleuca	Pied Flycatcher	Gwybedog Brith	Bird
Taraxacum officinale agg.	Dandelion	Dant Y Llew	Flowering plant
Calluna vulgaris	Heather	Grug	Flowering plant
Ilex aquifolium	Holly	Celynnen	Flowering plant
Hyacinthoides non-scripta	Bluebell	Clychau’r Gog	Flowering plant
Anemone nemorosa	Wood Anemone	Blodyn Y Gwynt	Flowering plant
Luzula sylvatica	Great Wood-rush	Coedfrwynen Fawr	Flowering plant
Crataegus monogyna	Hawthorn	Draenen Wen	Flowering plant
Cyanistes caeruleus	Blue Tit	Titw Tomos Las	Bird
Fagus sylvatica	Beech	Ffawydden	Flowering plant
Phylloscopus collybita	Chiffchaff	Siff-saff	Bird
Urtica dioica	Common Nettle	Danhadlen Boeth	Flowering plant
Talpa europaea	European Mole	Gwahadden	terrestrial mammal
Parmotrema perlatum			Lichen
Prunus spinosa	Blackthorn	Draenen Ddu	Flowering plant

Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi Workshop 3 — Birds of the Oak

Thu, 07 May 2026 16:30:47 +0100

Guest post by project artist Pip Lewis

Adar y Dderw – birds of the Oak

Pip continued working with Group A, creating layered artworks made with acetate . The process involves overlaying drawing and collage, and adding text, and will be exhibited in the Stori Wyllt Gathering in Stiwdio 3 in Aberteifi on Monday 29th June.

Prior to the workshop Pip selected and printed A3 photos of different birds who live and forage in oak trees. The students drew lots last week to find out which bird they would be focusing on in their final artwork.

Stiwdio3 Café reccie for event

Thu, 07 May 2026 15:15:03 +0100

This gives an overview of the upstairs gallery space.

Gallery Oriel

Mezzanine from upstairs

Down the stairs

Door to studio space

Studio space and first area

First area

First area to second area

Second area partition wall

Bird species and the Oak / Derwen

Thu, 07 May 2026 09:54:20 +0100

This is the list of bird species that have relationship with the Oak / Derwen, that the artist Pip Lewis is working on with the Group A students.

Species	English name	Welsh name
Phoenicurus phoenicurus	Redstart	Tingoch
Ficedula hypoleuca	Pied Flycatcher	Gwybedog Brith
Corvus frugilegus	Rook	Ydfan
Parus major	Great Tit	Titw Mawr
Cyanistes caeruleus	Blue Tit	Titw Tomos Las
Anthus trivialis	Tree Pipit	Corhedydd Y Coed
Phylloscopus sibilatrix	Wood Warbler	Telor Y Coed
Columba palumbus	Wood Pigeon	Colomen Y Goedwig
Sturnus vulgaris	Starling	Drudwy
Athene noctua	Little Owl	Tylluan Fach
Garrulus glandarius	Jay	Sgrech Y Coed
Erithacus rubecula	Robin	Robin Goch
Dendrocopos major	Great Spotted Woodpecker	Cnocell Fraith Fwyaf
Coccothraustes coccothraustes	Hawfinch	Gylfrinbraff
Sitta europaea	Nuthatch	Delor Y Cnau

Collage of Robin Goch, work-in-progress

Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi Workshop 2

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:29:17 +0100

The class was split into two groups (Group A & Group B ) and Pip worked with Group A, with the students initially studying Oak leaves and making observational drawings drawing of them with pencils, identifying the midrib tip, shape and margins of the leaf. The students also worked with white charcoal pencils drawings of Oak leaves on black paper, and black charcoal pencils on white paper, and graphite sticks to create rubbings of the leaves.

Ysgol Llanilar Workshop 3

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:00:52 +0100

A cyanotype is a monochrome print made by placing objects on a pre-prepared light-sensitive surface†

What I have absolutely loved about the Stori Wyllt workshops so far is the range of activities and the different types of engagement (clay making, charcoal baking, bubble blowing, story telling, crayon rubbing & more).

At Ysgol Llanilar, I am entranced by making cyanotypes, the Prussian Blue tinted proto-photographic method of objects on light-sensitive paper, and artist Marian Haf has already helped the students create some truly gorgeous pieces.

Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi workshop outline

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:15:12 +0100

The sessions will provide opportunities to:

Explore and experiment with a range of art techniques including rubbing, observational drawing, stencilling, collage, wax resist, tracing, pattern-making
Learn about the birds, moths and butterflies associated with oak trees
Learn about patterns in nature
Create a set of observational drawings of leaves
Create a set of composite images of birds, moths and butterflies associated with oak trees

Group A - leaves and birds

Time	Session 1 Workshop 2 - Thu 30 Apr AM	Session 2 Workshop 3 - Thu 7 May AM
9.30‑10.30	Leaf rubbing Observational drawing	Collage warm up Collaging bird image
Break
10.45‑11.50	Key birds living in oaks Photo lottery Sketch image Copy onto acetate	Stencilling bird names Welsh and English Sharing circle
	Group B with Jake	Group B with Yusef

Group B - patterns in nature

Time	Session 1 Workshop 4 - Thu 21 May AM	Session 2 Workshop 5 - Thu 4 Jun PM
9.30‑10.30 (12.50‑2.10)	Warm-up mark-making Group excercise Pattern Ink pastel resist	Applying patterns to image Completing image
Break
10.45‑11.50 (2.25‑3.10)	Key moths & butterflies living in oaks Trace image onto tracing paper Stencil name of moth/butterfly Create pattern sheet	Sharing circle
	Group A with Jake	Everyone Yusef Netpool Park AM Group A with Jake PM

Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi Workshop 1

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:09:19 +0100

Underlining the variation in the different schools, settings and people across Stori Wyllt, we didn’t have an ecologist for Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi for the first two workshops, as Yusef Samari has a very full calendar with the Your Wild Patch / Eich Darn Gwyllt project.

This meant I was leading the first session, very ably aided by teacher Mari Roberts (who has a Zoology degree!) I gave a very brief introduction to ecoystems, and talked a bit about the wildlife benefits of the Oak, and the amazing array and number of species it supports. And then out to the seating area under a pair of Oak trees, beyond the playground and playing field, newly garlanded with a shining green fence.

Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron Workshop 2

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:58:06 +0100

We were still waiting for the go-ahead to the house of the witch Mari Berllan Peter in Esgair Arth woodland, so Plan B was put into operation, a trip to Allt y Graig woods, just the other side of Jewsons where the Twr Gwyllt (Wild Tower) is situated, with storyteller and artist Rebecca Wyn Kelly and ecologist Carys May.

The walk up Bro Allt yr Graig is steeply wooded banks, a single track road and swathes of plant life. At the beginning of the track in the woods we found a book. Under a saucepan. The book is called “A Scary Adventure” and it’s discovery was a strange and happenstance.

Ysgol Llanarth Workshop 2

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:32:49 +0100

Jo Dainty is a forest school practitioner and she crammed an incredible amount into the two hours on the Ysgol Llanarth school field, in a very entertaining and high-octane workshop.

First of all, she set up a big circle with carpet mats for all the students, and had them sit down around the fire bowl. This is such a good tip, as it was a damp April day in a damp field. Jo had brought some lengths of willow with her, and there was a large patch of willow (Grey Willow, Salix atrocinerea?) at the bottom of the field as well.

Ysgol Llanilar Workshop 2

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:03:52 +0100

For the second workshop at Ysgol Llanilar, the class of 23 was split into two groups of a dozen. One group went with Sheena the ecologist, and the other with Marian the artist. Sheena was also joined by mycologist and educationalist Louise Tranter

Sheena talked about ecosystems, the tree of life and then took the group outside, showing different habitats around the pond and the river.

The students with Marian were sketching the shapes and outlines of leaves, and then went outside to take photographs of patterns in nature. These photographs will be used alongside plants in the cyanotype printing process, which uses ferric ammonium citrate/oxalate and potassium ferricyanide and water to develop and fix.

Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi and wildlife partnership work in Cardigan

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:30:15 +0100

The Grassland ID workshops, organised by Ceredigion Nature Partnership in 2025 were a great success, and showed a fantastic working partnership between the Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi, Friends of Netpool Park, West Wales Biodiversity Information Centre and the Partnership.

What has inspired Stori Wyllt in addition to the great work at Netpool Park has been the collaboration between the school, Wales & West Housing Assocation and Cardished to create wildlife habitat with residents and students. WWHA received a Small Grant from the Partnership for wildlife enhancements across their Ceredigion properties, and this included the creation of bug hotels with the students from Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi and the residents of Llys Owen, with a workshop run by Harry from Cardished.

Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:39:57 +0100

Carys Griffiths-Jones is a key inspiration for Stori Wyllt, the head of Year 5 and co-lead of The Expressive Arts.

Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:39:57 +0100

Key Stage 2 teacher Mari Roberts has a passion for wildlife and outdoor learning, sharing lessons across classes.

Ysgol Llanarth

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:39:57 +0100

The students have a high attainment in wildlife ID, and teacher Cally Jones has been intrepid in secure in outdoor learning experiences.

Ysgol Llanilar

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:39:57 +0100

Headteacher Jannette Jones has led from the front in developing the school gardens and engaging with Stori Wyllt.

Am Stori Wyllt

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:55:40 +0100

Dod â natur yn fyw. ID bywyd gwyllt, creu cynefinoedd a gweithdai adrodd straeon i greu Stori Wyllt. Bring nature to life. Wildlife ID, habitat creation & storytelling workshops to create a Wild Story.

Mae Stori Wyllt yn brosiect peilot ar gyfer ysgolion cynradd yng Cheredigion sy’n rhedeg o fis Mawrth i fis Mehefin 2026, gyda’r nod o ymgorffori adferiad natur ym mywyd yr ysgol, wedi‘i drefnu gan Bartneriaeth Natur Ceredigion. Stori Wyllt is a pilot project for primary schools in Ceredigion running from March to June 2026, aiming to embed nature recovery into school life, organised by Ceredigion Nature Partnership.

Ysgol Llanarth Workshop 1

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:50:24 +0100

NB: The notes before Easter have been written in retrospect, which means they lack detail. In future, I’ll be writing notes immediately afterwards, and also asking for immediate & short feedback from students and participants.

This workshop was a riot, in the best sense of the word! I made a quick introduction about Stori Wyllt but I was a bit worried about the rain, so we headed off to Molly‘s field Cae Ysgubor. The route is via a public bridleway by the side of the nursery and campsite. However, it was very wet, with some localised flooding! The path also turned muddy going uphill, with some surface water. But everyone seemed very positive.

Image workflow

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 20:22:17 +0000

Take photos, make notes
Choose, edit, crop & upload to Signal group
Download files to PC
Rename with timestamp & description eg 250320-aberaeron-workshop1-toad.jpg
Upload to Cloudinary Stori Wyllt 2026 folder
Copy URL:
Paste into image frontmatter property
Or paste inline into body of document: ![AltText](URL) Which looks like this:

![Toad home pile of stones and wood and moss](https://res.cloudinary.com/naturceredigion/image/upload/v1774433498/260320-lletau-llyffant-root-moss-stone-twr-gwyllt-169.jpg)

Straight image

Figure image

Gallery

Gallery with `figure` & `figcaption`

Rocks and moss and stuff

Both sides

Toad (Bufo bufo)

Holes into the habitat

Resplendent dual accommodation

Ysgol Llanilar Workshop 1

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 20:19:33 +0000

The workshop started with a fantastic session in the classroom with ecologist Sheena Duller, who had brought in a veritable cornucopia of lichens, native plants and tree buds and flowers. The students seemed really enamoured of the lichen on the branches (with a couple of examples on rocks), particularly when using the hand lenses. The sheer diversity of species really hit home.

Mishaps & magic at Esgair Arth

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 20:18:16 +0000

After the first workshop for Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron in the morning, I returned back up to a potential site just north of Aberaeron and inland from Aberarth, on the grounds of a farm called Esgair Arth. It is the old house of a famous local witch called Mari Berllan Peter, about whom our artist Rebecca Wyn Kelly has done so much work already.

Mari Berllan Peter‘s old house by the Afon Arth

Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron Workshop 1

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 20:17:47 +0000

Ecologist Carys started in the classroom with an exercise around food webs and different living things (plants, animals, insects, fungi etc), and was drawing suggestions from the class and discussing the relationships between them.

We walked along the south bank of the Afon Aeron, past the allotments, and to the small garden south-west facing garden at Jewsons where the separate project Tŵr Gwyllt is being built by artist Rebecca Wyn Kelly. When we arrived, Rebecca was at the controls of a mini-digger, prepping the site!

Tŵr Gwyllt at Aberaeron

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:10:28 +0000

Guest post by artist Rebecca Wyn Kelly:

While Jake was visiting the Jewsons yard with Ysgol Aberaeron, we came across this toad tucked beneath a log, a quiet little resident already making use of the space.

I’m really hoping he might take shelter in one of the Lletau Llyffant I’ve created; these are small shelters made with the toads in mind.

A little about Llyffantod

In old Welsh folk belief, toads were linked to wise women and hidden knowledge, and were said to carry carreg y llyffant in their heads, a magical stone with protective powers. Living between water and land, tucked beneath logs and stones, they’re natural threshold keepers, creatures of the in-between, brushing right up against the Otherworld of Annwn.

Aberaeron site reccie

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 20:17:25 +0000

Last year, we ran the Grassland ID workshops at Penmorfa with Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron.

Students from Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron on Grassland ID workshop 2025

This year, we’re hoping for another magical spot, with a witch’s house, but this has yet to be confirmed. I had a chance meeting with my colleague, Tree Officer Norman Birch, and he explained that there is a public foot path in Aberaeron that runs on the south bank of the river Aeron, past the allotments an up to Jewsons.

Ysgol Llanilar site visit

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 20:05:33 +0000

A foundational element of the Stori Wyllt project has been to foster strong relationships between the schools, creatives and naturalists. This is why the initial Stori Wyllt Symposiwm was so important; an opportunity for practitioners to meet each other and ask questions.

On a gloriously sunny Thursday afternoon, I met up with ecologist Sheena Duller, artist Marian Haf and headteacher at Ysgol Llanarth, Jannette Jones.

We walked first past the village pond

Marsh Marigolds in the village pond. I must admit, photo was taken on a cloudier, later day!

Stori Wyllt Symposiwm

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:14:59 +0000

Croeso i’r Stori Wyllt symposiwm!
Welcome to the Stori Wyllt symposium!

The Stori Wyllt Symposiwm was an ideal opportunity for the teachers, naturalists and creatives from the four schools to meet each other in-person and share ideas at a central location in Ceredigion (Moody Meadows at Bargoed Farm ar bwys Llwyncelyn).

The Stori Wyllt schools are, from the south to the north, Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi, Ysgol Llanarth, Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron and Ysgol Llanilar.

Workshops

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 08:01:35 +0300

Sessions

Introduction to Plants and Insects - naturalist
- Objective: Learn basics of plant and animal identification
Food webs, habitat, observation - naturalist & creative
- Objective 1: Gain understanding of food web and ecological roles of plants and insects
- Objective 2: Build on skills of observation and description for plants (visual and written)
Insect id skills and recording - naturalist & creative
- Objective 1: Further ID skills linking recording and habitat
- Objective 2: Skills of observation and description for insects (visual and written)
Creatives

Session 1. Introduction to Plants and Insects

Objective: Learn basics of plant and animal identification

Elements

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Llyfr Natur
Field Studies Council leaflets
Plantlife Cymru
Botanic Garden Wales education resources

Stori Wyllt 2026

Ysgol Llanilar Workshop 5 — Cyanotope covers & ribbon

Ysgol Llanarth Workshop 4 — Painting & clay artefact creation

Moth & butterfly species and the Oak / Derwen

Butterfly and Moth species

Ysgol Llanilar Workshop 4 — Cyanotype collage strips

Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi Workshop 4 — Moths & Butterflies of the Oak

Group B – Butterflies & Moths!

Patterns in Nature - Introduction

Habitat guidelines — where to put up nest boxes

Habitat overview

Siting habitat

Bat boxes

Nest boxes

Habitat workshop at Llanilar

Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron Workshop 4 — Exquisite Corpses

Oriel Gallery

Trefnu / Organise

People

Celebration event

Alphabetical people

Summary

Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron Workshop 3 — The magic of Tŷ Mari

Ysgol Llanarth Workshop 3 — Flower prints & painting

List of plant species at Ysgol Llanilar

List of species at Esgair Arth

Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi Workshop 3 — Birds of the Oak

Adar y Dderw – birds of the Oak

Stiwdio3 Café reccie for event

Gallery Oriel

Bird species and the Oak / Derwen

Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi Workshop 2

Ysgol Llanilar Workshop 3

Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi workshop outline

Group A - leaves and birds

Group B - patterns in nature

Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi Workshop 1

Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron Workshop 2

Ysgol Llanarth Workshop 2

Ysgol Llanilar Workshop 2

Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi and wildlife partnership work in Cardigan

Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron

Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi

Ysgol Llanarth

Ysgol Llanilar

Am Stori Wyllt

Ysgol Llanarth Workshop 1

Image workflow

Straight image

Figure image

Gallery

Gallery with figure & figcaption

Ysgol Llanilar Workshop 1

Mishaps & magic at Esgair Arth

Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron Workshop 1

Tŵr Gwyllt at Aberaeron

A little about Llyffantod

Aberaeron site reccie

Ysgol Llanilar site visit

Stori Wyllt Symposiwm

Croeso i’r Stori Wyllt symposiwm!Welcome to the Stori Wyllt symposium!

Workshops

Sessions

Session 1. Introduction to Plants and Insects

Elements

Gallery with `figure` & `figcaption`

Croeso i’r Stori Wyllt symposiwm!
Welcome to the Stori Wyllt symposium!