: Amgueddfeydd, Arddangosfeydd a Digwyddiadau

We hope you have enjoyed watching Lambcam 2023 so far.

The live stream from our lambing shed is due to come to an end tonight. Our ewes have lambed a bit slower than expected this year and we have over 140 lambs still to come.

So we’re not quite ready to finish just yet, and are pleased to confirm that we will be extending Lambcam until 8pm Friday 24^th March.

We’ll be back from 8am tomorrow morning to bring you the latest from the lambing shed.

If you are visiting St. Fagans this month you will notice an army of gardeners and volunteers marching around the gardens with wheelbarrows full of organic matter to condition the soil of our beautiful gardens. As winter comes to an end, spring arrives with a promise of growth. This is a crucial moment in the gardening calendar to prepare for the warmer months ahead. 

Because of the over-emittance of greenhouse gases, the Earth’s surface temperature is increasing rapidly. We are noticing summer months that are hotter and drier than ever, only last year we witnessed temperatures around 40°C in some areas of the UK. The excessive heat and prolonged drought have devastating effects on our local flora and fauna. 

One of the most important tasks for this month is to mulch the soil by adding a layer of organic matter to the soil surface. Mulching brings numerous benefits to plants including moisture retention in periods of drought, weed suppression, improvement of soil structure and fertility, reducing the need for artificial fertilisers, prevention of soil erosion, and encouragement of beneficial organisms such as earthworms, soil bacteria and fungi. Additionally, it attracts wildlife to our gardens, one of my favourite memories is of being followed by Robins as we mulch the garden in spring. They patiently wait for a feast of earthworms, while gifting us with their beautiful bird song announcing the arrival of spring. 

There are many different types of mulching materials and each with their own benefits and uses. Most of our gardens are mulched with well-rotted farmyard manure sourced from Llwyn-yr-eos farm in St. Fagans and from a local farmer. The manure is gradually incorporated into the soil by the activity of earthworms and other microorganisms, which improves the soil structure and supplies the plants with nutrients. This nitrogen rich material is ideal to be used on herbaceous borders, vegetable beds, roses and newly planted trees and shrubs.

However not all plants like nutrient rich mulches, plants that are adapted to growing in hot and dry conditions often do not cope well with excessive moisture and high fertility. For example, in the Herb Garden where we have Mediterranean plants such as lavender, rosemary, sage and thyme we have opted for mulching the beds with gravel. This is an inorganic material that does not break down; therefore it does not release nutrients to the soil. In addition, gravel is great at promoting good drainage, suppressing weeds, and adding aesthetic value to the garden.  

This year we are trying new methods of mulching as a sustainable way to utilise the maximum of our local resources. We have started using raw wool provided by the Llwyn-yr-Eos farm to mulch the vines in the greenhouse. This will help with water conservation and prevention of weeds. Besides the wool fleece degrades slowly releasing nutrients into the soil and feeding the vines. Another advantage is that wool can help retain heat during colder months, keeping the root of the vines warm in winter. 

In March we cut back the ornamental grasses and perennials of the Dutch garden and a large amount of material usually ends up in the compost heap. This year we decided to skip this process and instead we added the dried grass clippings directly to the surface of the pumpkin patch. We have sprinkled a fine layer of manure on top to weigh down the grasses and prevent them from blowing in the wind. This will also aid the process of decomposition by introducing nitrogen to this carbon rich material.  While the farmers make hay for a rainy day, the gardeners mulch with hay for a hotter day.

When choosing mulches or growing mediums for your garden, prefer materials from sustainable and local sources in order reduce the carbon footprint from transportation. It is also important to avoid peat-based composts at all costs. The extraction of peat has a negative impact in the environment, it destroys the natural habitat of many species that live in peatlands, besides it releases tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere contributing to the greenhouse effect. 
For the home gardener the most sustainable and cost-effective option is to mulch using homemade compost or leaf mould. Why not try making your own compost using kitchen and garden waste? You will be surprised at the benefits you can reap from your compost heap. 

‘What a vista of possibilities is opened up in this wonderful discovery … Surely it marks the dawn of a new era – with what results, who can tell?’

Gyda’r geiriau hyn, agorodd Arglwydd Faer Caerdydd, yr Henadur Dr J. J. E. Biggs, Orsaf Caerdydd y Cwmni Darlledu Prydeinig am 5.00pm ar 13 Chwefror 1923. Ychydig fisoedd ar ôl i’r BBC ddechrau darlledu o’i orsaf yn Llundain gyda’r arwydd 2LO, roedd gan Gymru ei gorsaf ei hun – 5WA – a oedd yn dod ag arlwy o gerddoriaeth, sgyrsiau, a gwasanaethau crefyddol i wrandawyr yng Nghaerdydd, cymoedd de Cymru, a thros Fôr Hafren mewn rhannau o orllewin Lloegr.

Dechreuadau di-nod

O’r dechreuadau di-nod mewn stiwdio fechan uwchben sinema yn Stryd y Castell, tyfodd y BBC yng Nghymru i chwarae rhan bwysig ym mywyd y genedl. Er gwaethaf cael ei gosod yn yr hyn a elwir yn ‘Rhanbarth y Gorllewin’ yng Nghynllun Rhanbarthol y BBC yn y 1930au, arweiniodd pwysau gan sefydliadau, grwpiau ac unigolion o bob rhan o Gymru at sefydlu’r Rhanbarth Cymreig yn 1937, gan roi ymdeimlad clir o hunaniaeth i’r genedl. Yn wir, dadleuodd yr hanesydd, John Davies, unwaith fod Cymru yn endid gafodd ei chreu gan ddarlledu.

Roedd dyfodiad teledu ac agor trosglwyddydd yng Ngwenfô ym mis Awst 1952 yn dechrau ar gyfnod newydd yn hanes y BBC yng Nghymru. Fodd bynnag, gan nad oedd trosglwyddyddion yn parchu ffiniau cenedlaethol, roedd Cymru unwaith eto wedi’i ‘chlymu’ â gorllewin Lloegr, a arweiniodd at gwynion ar ddwy ochr y sianel. Roedd y penderfyniad i greu gwasanaeth BBC Cymru Wales ym mis Chwefror 1964 yn gam i geisio datrys y sefyllfa. Roedd yn ofynnol i'r BBC gynhyrchu 7 awr o raglenni Cymraeg a 5 awr o raglenni Saesneg i Gymru. Arweiniodd pwysau cyhoeddus pellach a dealltwriaeth gynyddol o anghenion Cymru ar ran rheolwyr y BBC yn Llundain at sefydlu gorsafoedd radio cenedlaethol Radio Cymru a Radio Wales ar ddiwedd y 1970au. Newidiodd sefydlu S4C yn 1982 dirwedd darlledu Cymru ac mae’r BBC yn parhau i chwarae rhan fawr yn llwyddiant y sianel.

Dyfodol y BBC

A beth am ddyfodol y BBC yng Nghymru? Wel, mae radio yn dal ei dir yn dda yn yr oes aml-lwyfan. Roedd gan Gymru’r gyfran fwyaf o wrandawyr radio nag unrhyw wlad arall yn y DU ac mae teyrngarwch i orsafoedd y BBC yn amlwg. Mae teledu, ddaeth i Gymru ychydig dros 70 mlynedd yn ôl, yn wynebu heriau gan wasanaethau ffrydio ond mae’n parhau i hysbysu, addysgu a diddanu. Mae bygythiadau gan lywodraeth y DU sy’n cwestiynu holl raison d’etre darlledu gwasanaeth cyhoeddus ac mae’r ffî drwydded wedi’i gwestiynu (er ei bod yn ymddangos bod y ddadl benodol honno wedi tawelu … am y tro).

Beth bynnag yw eich barn am y BBC, does dim dwywaith bod y Gorfforaeth wedi chwarae rhan ganolog ym mywyd Cymru ers canrif.

Penblwydd Hapus BBC Cymru Wales – a hir oes!

Jamie Medhurst

Athro’r Cyfryngau a Chyfathrebu

Prifysgol Aberystwyth

Mae arddangosfa BBC 100 yng Nghymru yn Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Caerdydd nes 16 Ebrill 2023.

A sad fact is that this disappearance is mirroring what is happening in the outside world. Birds are suffering a pandemic of their own, the worst outbreak of avian flu ever known in the northern hemisphere. A new strain of bird flu has been attacking bird populations since the autumn of 2021, spreading from intensively farmed poultry in China. By late spring of 2022 there were increasing reports of the disease in seabird colonies in the north of the UK, and this has now spread across the whole of the country.

Avian flu is a virus that affects a range of birds but as with other viruses there are many different strains, most of which cause few or moderate symptoms. The difference is that this current strain, HPAI H5N1, is transmitted easily and causes symptoms that can be fatal to birds.

The effect on wild bird populations has been devastating, particularly on sea birds who live in large dense colonies along cliffs and islands where the virus is easily transmitted. It is estimated that tens of thousands of birds have died - you may well have seen some of the footage of dead or dying birds or even seen dead birds along our coasts.

In the UK we are privileged to host internationally important breeding populations of seabirds, a whopping 25% of Europe’s breeding seabirds. Worst affected species are the Great Skua and Northern Gannet populations. Up to 11% (over 2,200 birds) of the UK population of Great Skuas have been lost and scientists have recorded such high numbers of Gannet deaths that they think some populations are near collapse. 

The situation is continuing to be monitored, particularly with waterfowl, like geese, who overwinter in the UK. The hope is that populations will eventually develop an immunity to the disease, and there have been some encouraging signs in some birds, like Puffins, who seem to have had a good breeding year in 2022.

We hope to see the return of our seabirds both in the galleries and along our coasts soon!

You can find more information and recent updates on the situation in Wales here: Avian influenza (bird flu): latest update | GOV.WALES. You can also read a more detailed blog about it on The Wildlife Trust blog pages: Avian flu – the latest symptom of our ailing ecosystems | The Wildlife Trusts.

If you want to help, there are several organizations appealing for support to help monitor the situation and help seabirds recover: The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO): BTO Avian Influenza Appeal | BTO - British Trust for Ornithology and RSPB: Bird Flu Emergency Appeal Donation Form | The RSPB.

If you find dead wild birds, you should follow the latest guidance on GOV.WALES (Report and dispose of dead birds | GOV.WALES) or GOV.UK (Report dead wild birds - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)) or  webpages. Remember not to touch or handle any dead or sick birds.

For a handy guide to identifying Welsh coastal birds, download our Nature On Your Doorstep spotters guide: Spotter's Guide | Museum Wales

Autumn sends us an invitation to pause and admire the beautiful trees that surround us. It lays a vibrant carpet of colourful leaves welcoming us into the woods. In this once in a year spectacle, we advise that you wear comfortable shoes, take slower steps and mindfully redirect your gaze up to the sky to contemplate our magnificent trees. 

In St. Fagans National Museum of History, you can find some of the most beautiful specimens of trees planted by the Victorians and Edwardians that shaped our beautiful gardens. 

This year we celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the Fern-leaved Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Aspleniifolia’) located in the terraced gardens of the castle. This magnificent and unusual specimen was planted in 1872 under the head gardener William Lewis. This cultivar was introduced in the UK in the early 1800’s and won the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 2002. The leaves are dark green and deeply serrated, turning golden before falling in autumn. This specimen has an impressive dark and smooth trunk with its girth measuring 3.67m in diameter. The Fern-leaved Beech is a Chimera, originated from a plant cell mutation of the Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica). An interesting fact is that occasionally some of the serrated leaves revert to the Beech leaf shape, when that happens it is advisable to remove the reverted branches as they tend to grow more vigorously than the cultivar.

Another magnificent feature that celebrates 150 years in St. Fagans is the row of London and Oriental Planes planted by William Lewis along the formal ponds overlooking the terraced gardens.  The London plane is a natural hybrid of the Oriental Plane and the American Plane. The Oriental (Platanus orientalis) and London Plane (Platanus x acerifolia) are distinguishable by their leaf shape with the Oriental Plane having more deeply lobed leaves. Many London planes were planted over 200 years ago in the squares of London, hence its common name. This tree can withstand high levels of pollution and was one of the few trees that could thrive in the soot-laden atmosphere of cities before the passing of the Clean Air Act in 1956. Did you know that this resilient tree can store around 7.423 kg of Carbon at maturity? Large trees like this play an important role in improving air quality by sequestering carbon dioxide, removing air pollutants and absorbing gases that are harmful to human health.

William Lewis was also responsible for the planting of the Pine Walk in 1870. This beautiful avenue of Black Pine (Pinus nigra) and Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) guides you through the path towards the old Orchard. These tall and majestic trees enclose the space resembling the walls of a Cathedral. The bark of the Black Pine is dark grey with ridges and the needles are longer than other Pines. The Scots Pine is the only Pine native to Britain, it has shorter and compact needles and a warm red upper bark. Unfortunately, in recent years we have lost some of our Pine trees, in order to preserve this historic feature, we have planted four new Black Pines along the path. 

As we take pleasure in admiring these magnificent trees in the present, we must thank some of the far-sighted people of the past who have gifted us with this wonderful legacy. Trees make our cities a more pleasant and healthy environment. They enhance biodiversity, reduce flood risk, improve air quality, provide shade, and reduce the urban heat island effect in summer months. If you would like to leave a valuable legacy for future generations, start by planting a tree.  

If you are visiting St. Fagans gardens this autumn, follow this Tree Walk Guide written by Dr. Mary Barkham to learn more about our outstanding tree collection.