Yn y gyfres yma o Straeon y Streic fe glywn ni am y gorau a gwaetha o fywyd yn ystod y flwyddyn a newidiodd fywydau glowyr, eu teuluoedd, yr heddlu a gwleidyddion wrth iddynt hel atgofion am beth oedd bywyd fel rhwng 84-85.

Mae Straeon y Streic yn rhan o arddangosfa Streic 84-85 Strike sydd i'w gweld yn Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Caerdydd tan Ebrill 27 2025.

© Richard Williams

Doedd yr un lofa yn mynd i fod yn rhywbeth oedd yn para am byth. Roedd pawb oedd yn gysylltiedig â’r diwydiant glo yn cydnabod hynny. Ond fel unrhyw berson synhwyrol, roeddwn i eisiau unrhyw newid sy’n cynnwys cau pyllau i gael eu hystyried yn llawn, ei seilio ar ffeithiau, ei gyfiawnhau mewn economeg go iawn a dadansoddiad daearegol gyda sail resymegol i bopeth. Roedd hwnnw’n safbwynt strategol a oedd yn ystyried anghenion ynni ein gwlad a lles ein cymunedau. Ni dderbyniodd y Llywodraeth yr un o’r amcanion hyn. Roedd Glo Prydain wedi’i wladoli yn faich ariannol ac Undeb y Glowyr yn rhwystr milwriaethus i raglen cau pyllau. Roedd yn rhaid cael gwared ar y ddau.

Mae yna achosion o wledydd datblygedig yn trefnu’r symudiad i ffwrdd o’r diwydiannau echdynnol a thrwm drwy baratoi, talu iawndal, ymgynghori, cynllunio lleol, ailhyfforddi ac annog buddsoddiad mewnol. Ni chafwyd hynny yn y DU. Roedd cau diwydiant yn golygu cau cymuned. Lleihau diogelwch, incwm, ffitrwydd corfforol a meddyliol, cyfalaf cymdeithasol, grym diwylliannol.

Yn ogystal ag arwyddocâd cenedlaethol cyffredinol y diwydiant glo, roedd y problemau yn wleidyddol ac yn bersonol i mi. Ym 1984 roedd 6,000 o lowyr yn fy etholaeth a llawer ohonyn nhw’n ffrindiau i mi. Roedd fy nhad, teulu estynedig yn Nhredegar ac Aberdâr, fy nau daid, a chwe ewythr, i gyd yn lowyr yn eu tro.

Roedd un yn gapten y ffas yng Nglofa’r Tŵr, sef y lofa olaf i gau yn ne Cymru. Roedd cyflogaeth yn y ddwy dref yn ymwneud â’r diwydiant glo, gan gynnwys dur a gwaith peirianneg. Gwnaeth fy mam, a oedd yn Nyrs Ardal, fy magu i gredu mai glowyr oedd y dynion gorau ac mai ardaloedd fel ein hardal ni oedd y cymunedau cryfaf a mwyaf cynhyrchiol.

Roedd pleidlais pen pwll wedi bod erioed - er, dros y degawdau, doedd streiciau cenedlaethol ddim yn ffordd gyffredin o ddatrys problemau. Rhwng Streic Gyffredinol 1926 a 1972, doedd na’r un streic genedlaethol gan y glowyr. Daeth streic genedlaethol 1974, yr un yr honnir a ddymchwelodd Llywodraeth Heath, ar ôl pleidlais pen pwll genedlaethol. Ym 1984, fodd bynnag, llwyddodd Scargill i osgoi cynnig opsiwn streic i Gynhadledd Genedlaethol Arbennig yr NUM, ac felly osgoi pleidlais ddemocrataidd. Roedd hyn oherwydd roedd yn meddwl y byddai’n colli pe byddai pleidlais yn cael ei chynnal - cafodd ei drechu ynghynt yn ‘83. Roedd yn benderfynol o ddibynnu ar bicedu yn hytrach.

Roeddwn i - a llawer o lowyr - yn gwybod fod hyn yn risg enfawr: byddai peidio cael pleidlais yn sicr o rannu’r gweithlu yn ogystal â lleihau’r tebygrwydd o gydsafiad cefnogol gan weithwyr eraill ym maes trafnidiaeth, gorsafoedd pŵer a’r dociau. Pan ddatgelwyd y realiti hwn i Scargill, cefais i ac eraill ein hanwybyddu.

Roedd Scargill yn ddyn deallus ac yn areithiwr arbennig. Roedd hanes, realaeth, a synnwyr cyffredin i gyd yn dweud ei bod hi’n dwp dibynnu ar wrthdaro a phicedu. Ond pan fyddai’n symleiddio’r anghydfod drwy ofyn y cwestiwn heriol ‘Ar ochr pwy ydych chi?’ roedd yn amhosibl i bobl - yn enwedig y glowyr ifanc a oedd yn dibynnu ar ddyfodol i’r glo ar gyfer bywoliaeth - i beidio cael eu llyncu yn y brwdfrydedd, yn enwedig pan ddywedwyd wrthyn nhw fod y stoc glo bron â dod i ben a’r Llywodraeth yn gwywo.

Byddai Arthur Scargill yn gwneud gofynion a rhoi gorchmynion o’r llwyfan ac o’i swyddfa yn Sheffield - ond nid oedd strategaeth. Ar ôl i’r streic ddechrau - yn eironig ond ar ddamwain - cynigiodd beth oedd yn ymddangos fel proses effeithiol a bwriadol, ond nid oedd yn bodoli oni bai yn ei ben. Doedd gan Scargill ddim cynllun. I’r gwrthwyneb, roedd gan lywodraeth Margaret Thatcher strategaeth gadarn iawn, ac fe gafodd ei rhoi ar waith yn ddidrugaredd.

• Cafodd Ian McGregor ei benodi gan y Prif Weinidog fel cadeirydd y Bwrdd Glo Cenedlaethol. Roedd ganddo enw fel "dyn caled", wedi’i ddatblygu fel rheolwr corfforaethol yn yr UDA ac wedi’i atgyfnerthu yn ystod ei gyfnod yn cadeirio Corfforaeth Dur Prydain.
• Cyflwynodd ei llywodraeth ddeddfwriaeth a oedd yn tynnu buddiannau oddi wrth deuluoedd streicwyr. ⁠
• Cydlynodd heddluoedd Prydain mewn ffordd hollol newydd, gan ddefnyddio’r Swyddfa Gartref a Chymdeithas Prif Swyddogion yr Heddlu i greu sefydliad cenedlaethol na welwyd o’r blaen na wedyn yn y DU.
• Ac - yn hanfodol - sicrhaodd y stôr glo mwyaf erioed - tua 40% yn fwy nag erioed o’r blaen a’i gadw ar gyfer gorsafoedd pŵer, gweithfeydd golosg, a dociau.

Roedd hi wedi gwneud y paratoadau hyn ar gyfer amhariad ar y cyflenwad ynni yn dilyn ei setliad ar gyfer yr anghydfod dros dâl y glowyr ym 1981 ac ar sail y "Cynllun Ridley" a luniwyd gan un o’i Gweinidogion ar ôl cwymp Llywodraeth Heath ym 1974 - colled a adawodd y Ceidwadwyr yn chwerw dros ben.

Roedd y llywodraeth wedi paratoi’n dda ar gyfer anghydfod hir. Ond allen nhw fyth fod wedi rhagweld dau ddatblygiad a oedd o fantais enfawr iddyn nhw: Yn gyntaf, doedden nhw fyth wedi meddwl y byddai’r glowyr yn streicio heb bleidlais, yn ail, doedden nhw fyth wedi breuddwydio y byddai streic glo yn dechrau yn y gwanwyn. Roedden nhw’n elfennau a fyddai’n amlwg yn gweithio yn erbyn y glowyr. ⁠Roedd gan y Llywodraeth adnoddau diri ac, yn fanteision ychwanegol, cawson nhw’r tywydd a’r rhaniad yng ngweithlu’r glowyr. Roedd gan y glowyr ddewrder ac ymroddiad ac achos ymarferol dros lo - ond dim byd arall. Glowyr yn picedu yn erbyn glowyr yn gweithio, gyda’r heddlu, yn aml mewn niferoedd enfawr gyda threfniant milwrol, ceffylau a chŵn yn dal y tir rhyngddyn nhw. Roedden nhw’n disgrifio eu hunain fel ‘y cig yn y frechdan’.

O ystyried yr angerdd, ac agwedd rhai unedau’r heddlu, roedd gwrthdaro yn anochel. Mewn trefi a phentrefi glofaol traddodiadol, lle roedd yr heddlu yn cael eu hystyried fel pobl ddibynadwy a oedd yn rhan o’r gymuned, dinistriwyd y berthynas honno. Rhannwyd teuluoedd, ac mewn rhai ardaloedd, rhannwyd cymdogaethau. Roedd bod yn "fradwr" yn cael ei drin fel pechod marwol. Mewn rhai ardaloedd, lle roedd y mwyafrif yn parhau i weithio, roedd streicio yn cael ei ystyried yn frad. Wrth i’r streic fynd yn ei blaen am flwyddyn - ac am flynyddoedd wedyn - roedd dyled, tlodi, lefelau uchel o ddiweithdra, poen meddwl, rhaniad a phryder.

Ceisiodd pobl oresgyn hyn i gyd gyda dewrder aruthrol. Daeth teuluoedd at ei gilydd a daeth cymunedau yn agosach. Ond doedd hynny ddim yn gyffredinol. Cynyddodd nifer teuluoedd yn chwalu a methu talu morgeisi, troseddau a hunanladdiad. ⁠ Un datblygiad cadarnhaol a ddaeth i’r amlwg yn y meysydd glo oedd bod menywod, yn ystod y streic, wedi bod yn arwain. ⁠

At ei gilydd, fe wnaethon nhw sicrhau'r pethau oedd o bwys: bod pob teulu yn cael pryd o fwyd, bod pob plentyn gyda rhywbeth i’w agor ar ddiwrnod y Nadolig, bod neb yn gorfod teimlo fel derbynnydd elusen gan fod pawb yn cyfrannu rhywbeth. Dros gyfnod byr o amser, esblygodd ceginau cawl yn sefydliadau cymunedol a oedd wedi’u trefnu’n dda ac yn strategol ac wedi’u hariannu gan gyfraniadau pobl leol, undebau llafur eraill gartref a thramor a drwy godi arian yn ddi-baid. Bu rhai menywod yn teithio ledled y DU ac, yn aml, teithio dramor i bledio’r achos dros lo a chymunedau.

Buon nhw’n ffynnu yn y rolau hyn, gan ddarparu arweinyddiaeth o ansawdd nad oedd yn cael ei gynnig gan rai o’r dynion yn eu cymunedau yn aml.

Ym mis Gorffennaf a Medi 1984, ynghyd â Stan Orme, a oedd yn ymdrin ag Ynni yng Nghabinet yr Wrthblaid, lluniais gynigion i reoli cau’r pyllau drwy broses o archwilio arbenigol annibynnol a gwerthuso economaidd. Cawson nhw eu derbyn gan y Bwrdd Glo Cenedlaethol. Gwrthododd Scargill nhw yn syth heb eu dangos nhw i unrhyw un o swyddogion gweithredol yr NUM. Fel dywedodd Stan (ymgyrchydd undebau llafur gydol oes) "dydy Arthur ddim yn undebwr llafur - dydy o ddim yn credu mewn negodi".

Yn y pen draw, mae hanes y streic yn llawn arwriaeth - a’r gwyrdroi a fu ar y rhinwedd hynod hwnnw.

Neil Kinnock, gwleidydd, Aelod Seneddol Bedwellte ac Islwyn 1970-1994, Arweinydd y Blaid Lafur, 1983-1992.

Diolch i'r holl ysgolion sy'n cymryd eu darlleniadau tywydd yn ddiwyd, hyd yn oed yn y glaw a'r eira!

Daw'r cofnodion tywydd ar gyfer y tymor hwn i ben ar 20 Rhagfyr. Plîs rhannwch yr holl ddarlleniadau a gymerwyd hyd yn hyn erbyn hynny. Cofiwch nodi 'dim cofnod' ar gyfer dyddiadau nad oeddech chi yn yr ysgol ac i ychwanegu eich sylwadau.

Mwynhewch y gwyliau Cyfeillion y Gwanwyn. 

Eich Sylwadau:

Scarva Primary School: There was a lot of rainfall over the weekend with Storm Darragh.
Professor Plant: Hello Scarva Primary! Storm Darragh certainly brought plenty of rain. Your bulbs will love the extra water! Let’s hope for some sunshine soon to balance it out. Keep up the great observations.

Pil Primary School: It is still cold outside and we have had a lot of rain this week.
Professor Plant:  Thank you for the weather observations Pil Primary.

Gavinburn Primary School: There was a lot more rain this week.
Professor Plant: Hi Gavinburn Primary, thank you for the update. Keep up the great work.

Ysgol Tycroes: We had a lot of rain. Our plants have started to grow shoots.
Professor Plant: Hello Ysgol Tycroes. Shoots already, that’s wonderful news! Your bulbs are making great progress thanks to all the rain. Keep watching them closely.

Meldrum Primary School: Decent rainfall for this week, temperature seems good.
Professor Plant: Hi Meldrum Primary, it sounds like your bulbs are enjoying a balanced week of rainfall and warmth. Keep an eye out for shoots—they might appear soon!

St Mary’s Primary School: Storm Darragh came on Friday.
Professor Plant: Hello St Mary’s Primary, thank you for updating us. 

Bwlchgwyn Primary School: We have got two plant pots with shoots. We think that having a blanket of snow on them may have fooled them into thinking it was a bit warmer than it was.
Professor Plant: Hello Bwlchgwyn Primary! It’s exciting that you have two pots with shoots already. Keep monitoring their progress—they’re off to a great start!

Rhayader Primary: Our plants have started growing - about 5.
Professor Plant: Hi Rhayader Primary. Five plants already, that’s fantastic news! Your bulbs are thriving—keep taking care of them and tracking their growth. Well done!

Cornist Park C.P: Today it is cold and dark with rain clouds all day.
Professor Plant: Hello Cornist Park. A cold and rainy day might not feel cheerful, but your bulbs are loving the extra water. Keep checking—they’re sure to grow more soon!

Ysgol Porth Y Felin: The bulbs have got bigger.
Professor Plant: Hi Ysgol Porth Y Felin. How exciting to hear your bulbs are growing bigger! Keep up the great work!

Doonfoot Primary School: Lots of rain and a storm.
Professor Plant: Hello Doonfoot Primary. Thank you for your update, keep up the great work.  

Stanford in the Vale Primary: Quite a rainy week. Unfortunately, no snow. We wish you all a merry Christmas.
Professor Plant: Hi Stanford in the Vale Primary! Rain is great for your bulbs, even if snow would have been more fun for you! Thank you for the Christmas wishes—I wish you all a merry Christmas too!

Our Lady’s RC Primary: I did this alone :)
Professor Plant: Hello! Doing this alone is impressive—well done! Your observations are very valuable, so keep up the brilliant work. Great job!

Meldrum Primary School: Rainfall a bit low after Monday, temperature seems a bit all over the place right now.
Professor Plant: Hi Meldrum Primary. It's great that you are noticing differences in your daily and weekly weather readings. I look forward to your next observations. 

Pil Primary School: There was so much rain when we checked on Monday and the weather is chilly. Our spring bulbs have started to shoot up.
Professor Plant: Hello Pil Primary! Shoots appearing already? That’s wonderful! The rainy weather is helping your bulbs to grow. Keep watching closely—great job!

Pil Primary School: It was very cold this week.
Professor Plant: Hi Pil Primary. The cold might slow us down, but your bulbs are tough. Keep up the excellent work!

Pil Primary School: There was hardly any rain to measure this week.
Professor Plant: Hello again, Pil Primary! Even with less rain, your bulbs should still have enough moisture from earlier weeks. Keep tracking the weather and checking for growth—you’re doing brilliantly!

Hi Bulb Buddies,

I would like to say a huge thank you to all the schools who have uploaded their weather data to the website. For anyone new to the Blog, we have 175 schools across the country taking weather readings for every day they are in school from November to March! Our Super Scientists are exploring the effects of weather on the flowering dates of spring bulbs! 

The MET Office has described November 2024 as a month of two halves, because the weather for the first two weeks was mild and relatively warm but the following two weeks were wet, windy and even snowy! This is reflected in your comments; at the beginning of the month many of you commented on not having much rain. In the second half there were reports of lots of rain and some snow! This was the snowiest November since 2010!

Only one school has mentioned Storm Bert, but this was the cause of lots of the rainfall that you reported. You may have seen lots of discussions around flooding and weather warnings in the news. You can learn more about weather warnings here: Weather Warnings And more about named storms here: Weathering the Storm

Storm season runs from September to August, which aligns nicely with our investigation. Storm Bert was the second named storm this storm season. We've also had storm Ashley and storm Conall. You can see the names for this seasons storms in the image on the right. Last storm season was the stormiest since naming UK storms began in 2015. Last year we had 12 named storms and by this time last year there had already been four named storms and the fifth was on it's way! 

Lets take a look at your comments to see how the project is going in schools across the UK. I'm excited to report that many schools have noticed some green shoots in their pots!

Messages to Professor Plant

Eveswell Primary
Comment:
Hello professor, sorry that we could not send u this data until now. I am in year six now so I'm going to move on to high school so I probably won't see you ever again so bye for now. I hope you see this message if not that is okay. Please can you reply to me so I know that our data has helped you.

Professor Plant's Response:
Thank you, Josh! Your data has been extremely helpful, and I want to say a big thank you for all of the work you have done on this project. Please thank everyone at your school that has worked on this as well. I’m sure you will have a fantastic time at your next school!

Ysgol Pennant
Comment:
Ar y dydd Mawrth aeth yr ysgol i wylio sioe yn theatr Hafren felly doedden methu gofnodi.

Professor Plant's Response:
Diolch yn fawr Ysgol Pennant. It’s okay to miss a day—your effort in recording other days is very much appreciated. Thank you for letting me know. 

Weather Observations

Stanford in the Vale Primary School
Comment:
Sorry for the confusion on the 18-22 of November; this is the actual date for last week's temperature.

Professor Plant's Response:
Thank you for clarifying, Stanford Bulb Scientists. Accurate records are important, and your efforts help us greatly. Keep up the great work!

St Joseph's Cathedral Primary (Swansea)
Comment:
On the 28th, the temperature was not read correctly, so the real temperature was 4 to 8 degrees Celsius. The chart would not let me put two numbers, so I have to make a note. I am not sure about this, but on the 26th, a Tuesday, the rainfall was 49 mm, which I am not sure is correct. Sorry if this reading is wrong.

Professor Plant's Response:
Thank you for adding these detailed notes with your readings Mammals! It’s okay if readings are sometimes uncertain—it’s all part of learning science. You’ve shown good scientific skills by questioning your readings and noting your thoughts on these. 

Henllys Church in Wales School
Comment:
All good big change in rainfall.

Professor Plant's Response:
Great observation! Sudden changes in rainfall can tell us a lot about the weather patterns. Keep an eye on those gauges!

Ysgol Llanddulas
Comment:
We saw more rain this week.

Professor Plant's Response:
Thank you, Roaring Reptiles! It sounds like you’ve had some wet weather—perfect for bulbs to grow!

Bryn Deri Primary
Comment:
There has been a lot more rain recently, especially on the weekend of the 23rd and 24th of November—which is not shown on our data (the weekend). We have also had some frosty mornings. Our bulbs have begun to shoot. 

Professor Plant's Response:
Wonderful observations, Bryn Deri! Rain and frost make for an interesting combination. Keep watching those bulbs—they’re on their way!

Cornist Park C.P
Comment:
Monday: It is cloudy today. 
Tuesday: The weather is damp and cloudy.
Wednesday: There is lots of frost today.
Thursday: It is very cold and lots of white frost.
Friday: It is cold and sunny.

Professor Plant's Response:
Thank you, Cornist Park team, for such detailed daily updates! It’s great to see how all of you are working together to capture the weather conditions.

Bwlchgwyn Primary School
Comment:
This week we were off school for 3.5 days because of heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures. Even today, we cannot accurately look at the rain gauge because it is just so full of snow. We have managed to record the temperatures, but our gauge for the 4 days was just overflowing with snow.

Professor Plant's Response:
Thank you, Fish Group! Snowfall can make data collection tricky, but you’ve done a brilliant job despite the challenges. If this happens again you could bring the rain gauge into the classroom and wait for the ice or snow to melt before taking your rain readings. You could compare the reading before and after it melts too! 

Langbank Primary School
Comment:
Snowed on Friday.

Professor Plant's Response:
How exciting! Snow makes everything look magical—thank you for sharing this detail.

Doonfoot Primary School
Comment:
VERY WET on Monday; okay weather for the rest of the week.

Professor Plant's Response:
It sounds like Monday was a challenging start to the week, but you’ve captured the variation in weather in your comments. Thank you!

Plant Growth Observations

Alloway Primary School
Comment:
Some bulbs have started to grow.

Professor Plant's Response:
That’s fantastic news! Well done, Alloway Primary. Keep monitoring their progress as they continue to grow.

St Mary’s Primary School - Newry
Comment:
There was lots of rainfall over the weekend. Extreme frost and fog and a bit of snow.

Professor Plant's Response:
It sounds like you’ve had some wintry weather! Great job keeping track. Frost and snow can be challenging for bulbs, but they’re tough little plants.

Ysgol Tycroes
Comment:
We had snow this week, but not enough to stick. Our mystery plants have started to grow; we can see stalks with small spikey leaves on them both.

Professor Plant's Response:
How exciting that you’ve seen some snow and that your plants have started to grow! Keep watch over your plants to see what happens next. 

St Michael’s RC Primary
Comment:
We are enjoying taking care of the plants. We haven’t had much rain.

Professor Plant's Response:
Fantastic work, St Michael’s. I’m glad to hear that you are enjoying the project and that your plants are in good hands!

Ar 1 Rhagfyr 1994 plannwyd coeden yng Ngerddi'r Orsedd ger Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Caerdydd. 

Plannwyd y goeden ar Ddiwrnod AIDS y Byd 1994 ⁠er cof am bawb sydd wedi marw o AIDS yng Nghymru. Ers ei phlannu mae wedi cael sawl enw gwahanol, gan gynnwys Coeden y Bywyd a Choeden y Rhuban Coch, a dod yn ganolbwynt i ddigwyddiadau cofio Diwrnod AIDS y Byd ar 1 Rhagfyr bob blwyddyn pan fydd pobl yn clymu rhuban coch i'r goeden.

Plannwyd y goeden gan Mike Phillips a Martin Nowaczek (cyd-sylfaenwyr Cardiff Body Positive), ar y cyd ag Arglwydd Faer ac Arglwydd Faeres Caerdydd. Gollyngwyd balŵn hefyd er cof am bawb sydd wedi marw o AIDS yng Nghymru. Erbyn diwedd 1994 roedd 10,304 achos o AIDS wedi ei gofnodi a 7,019 marwolaeth hysbys yn y DU (roedd 141 or achosion a 118 o'r marwolaethau yng Nghymru).

Wrth siarad am y project, mae Mike yn cofio ⁠"Roeddwn i tua 25 oed pan blannon ni Goeden y Rhuban Coch. ⁠Roedden ni wedi agor canolfan Body Positive Caerdydd y diwrnod cynt, ac roedd Martin yn sâl ac wedi blino. ⁠Bu farw lai na 6 mis yn ddiweddarach."

Cafodd y plac wrth y goeden ei ailgyflwyno yn 2021, a rhoddwyd y plac gwreiddiol i Sain Ffagan Amgueddfa Werin Cymru. ⁠Cafodd ei arddangos yn Sain Ffagan yn 2022/23 fel rhan o arddangosfa Cymru... cofio Terrence Higgins.

Yn ddiweddar cafodd casgliad Body Positive Caerdydd ei roi i Amgueddfa Cymru, ac mae cyswllt agos rhyngddo â'r goeden a blannwyd gan y sylfaenwyr, Mike a Martin, yn 1994.

Sefydlwyd Body Positive Caerdydd yn 1993, yn 57 Heol y Santes Fair. Roedd yn cefnogi pobl yn byw gyda HIV ac AIDS ar draws Caerdydd a de Cymru, ac yn un o nifer o grwpiau Body Positive ledled y DU. Agorodd y ganolfan alw ddiwrnod cyn plannu Coeden y Bywyd, ac yn ddiweddarach dyma nhw'n trefnu 'Dathliad o Fywyd' wrth y goeden i gofio'r bywydau a gollwyd i AIDS ac i ddangos eu cefnogaeth i bobl sy'n byw gyda HIV/AIDS neu wedi'u heffeithio ganddo. ⁠Mae cylchlythyrau Body Positive Caerdydd yn y casgliad yn cynnwys ysgrifau coffa ar gyfer pobl wnaeth farw o ganlyniad i AIDS yng Nghymru, can gynnwys y sylfaenydd Martin.

Roedd llinell gymorth AIDS Caerdydd hefyd yn bodoli ar y pryd, a rhwydwaith AIDS De Morgannwg. Llinell Gymorth AIDS Caerdydd wnaeth drefnu'r Coffa Golau Cannwyll gyntaf yng Nghymru ar 1 Rhagfyr 1993 ar risiau Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Caerdydd, lle casglodd bron i 600 o bobl i gofio. Cynhaliwyd Coffa Golau Cannwyll eto ar Ddiwrnod AIDS y Byd 1994, ar ôl plannu'r goeden yn y dydd.

Roedd llinell gymorth AIDS Caerdydd hefyd yn bodoli ar y pryd, a rhwydwaith AIDS De Morgannwg. Llinell Gymorth AIDS Caerdydd wnaeth drefnu'r Coffa Golau Cannwyll gyntaf yng Nghymru ar 1 Rhagfyr 1993 ar risiau Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Caerdydd, lle casglodd bron i 600 o bobl i gofio. Cynhaliwyd Coffa Golau Cannwyll eto ar Ddiwrnod AIDS y Byd 1994, ar ôl plannu'r goeden yn y dydd.

Hi! I’m Sophie, a Biological Science student at Cardiff University. Currently, I’m undertaking a Profession Training Year within the Mollusca section in the Natural Sciences Department at Amgueddfa Cymru under the supervision of curator Anna Holmes. My passion for zoology has inspired me to pursue opportunities that deepen my understanding of the animal kingdom. I love learning about different species and their unique roles within ecosystems. While Malacology is a new field for me, I am eager to explore the world of molluscs and broaden my zoological knowledge.  

During my placement year I will be working with Anna to research a non-native species of bivalve, Potamocorbula amurensis known commonly as the Amur River clam. Specimens recently collected from the Outer Thames Estuary have come to us for identification confirmation and, if correct, it will mark the first record of P. amurensis in the UK. Native to China, Japan and Korea, Potamocorbula amurensis has been previously recorded in San Francisco Bay, where it spread rapidly, and more recently in Belgium. One of the most common ways bivalves are introduced to new environments is through ballast water from ships. Ships take in water in one area, along with small organisms, and then release it in another, leading to the introduction of non-native species. 

Over the past two months at Amgueddfa Cymru, I have been engaged in a variety of tasks that have allowed me to gain valuable experience and knowledge in malacology. In preparation for our report, I have been researching previous studies on Potamocorbula amurensis, particularly focusing on its invasions in San Francisco and Belgium. I have been using a light microscope and Helicon Focus software to photograph bivalves from the museum’s collections, some of which are over 100 years old. Specifically, I have been imaging the specimens of possible Potamocorbula amurensis from the Thames, as well as specimens of that species and similar species that were already in the museum’s collection, taken from their native habitat of Asia. I am comparing them with the Thames specimens to provide a positive identification. 

Additionally, I have been imaging other species from the same family, Corbulidae, also known as the basket clams, to examine the differences between similar species. In the UK, the only native species of Corbulidae is Varicorbula gibba, and it’s usually found burrowed in coastal mudflats or estuaries, hiding just below the surface. These shells are very small and must be imaged carefully, from several angles, ensuring the lighting emphasises the specific features that aid in identification. The right valve is notably larger than the left, earning it the nickname “overbite clam”. Each valve features a tooth, an important characteristic for identifying bivalves. 

Recently, ethanol preserved samples of Potamocorbula amurensis have been collected from the Thames. In the next few weeks, I will be analysing the DNA of these specimens, with the hope of discovering if the UK population came from the San Francisco introduction or the native population in China.   

 Understanding the presence and spread of non-native species like Potamocorbula amurensis can have significant ecological and economic implications. Invasive species often disrupt local ecosystems, outcompeting native species, altering habitats, and affecting biodiversity. Some non-native species (around 10-15% of them) can become invasive and by identifying the pathways of introduction and tracking the spread of Potamocorbula amurensis, we can better inform conservation strategies and management practices to mitigate its impact on local environments. 

In addition to my research project, I’ve also been given the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in curating shell collections.  I have been sorting through the CCW – Lloyd James shell collection, cataloguing it into the museum’s Mollusca database. This process involves carefully organising and documenting the specimens, ensuring accurate records for future reference and research. Working with this collection has given me the chance to appreciate the incredible diversity of British molluscs and observe firsthand how intricate and beautiful their shells can be. One standout for me has been Palliolum striatum a stunning scallop species with vibrant colouring and beautifully ridged patterns. 

My time at Amgueddfa Cymru so far has been nothing short of wonderful. The staff in both Mollusca and Natural Sciences as a whole have been incredibly welcoming and supportive. They have generously shared their expertise with me, not only expanding my knowledge, but also deepening my appreciation for all the great work the museum does. I’m truly grateful for this opportunity and excited for what the rest of my placement will bring. I look forward to continuing my work here and learning even more from the incredible team.