: Cyffredinol

Queer lives celebrated: LGBTQ+ Tours at National Museum Cardiff

Dan Vo, 27 Awst 2020

Just prior to lockdown we were able to run the first LGBTQ+ tours at the National Museum Cardiff which were created in partnership with Pride Cymru. As the doors unlock and visitors can start to return to the museum and also to mark and celebrate Pride Cymru 2020, I would like to share with you my favourite set of objects from the tours.

Teithiau LGBTQ+
© Dan Vo @DanNouveau

An Encounter with May and Mary

Clasbau llawes a wnaed gan May Morris (1862-1938)

When I first saw the exquisite silver sleeve clasps with a centrally suspended chrysoprase teardrop gemstone flanked by two apple-green orbs, I was utterly charmed. What rooted me to the spot and caused goosebumps to tickle my skin though was the name of the owner and the donor: Miss May Morris, given by Miss M. F. V. Lobb.

Echoing in my mind was a talk, The Great Wings of Silence, that I’d seen Dr Sean Curran deliver at an LGBT+ History Month event at the V&A museum on their relationship. Curran also wrote about May Morris (1862-1938) and Mary Frances Vivian Lobb (1879-1939) saying, “people like Mary Lobb and May Morris are part of a still barely visible queer heritage that can contribute to legitimising contemporary queer identities”.

I felt what I was seeing was evidence of their relationship. Though, as it turns out, there are two great collections that hold jewellery made by May and gifted by Mary, National Museum Cardiff and my ‘home collection’ of the V&A. Somewhat ironic! 

 

The Welsh Connection

The link between May and the V&A, I think, is easy to deduce: William Morris had significant influence in the early years of the V&A and after he died May, a respected artist in her own right, carried on his work teaching about good design principles and maintained a strong relationship with the museum. 

While the Morris family were proud of their Welsh ancestry, the question of how May’s jewellery ended up specifically at National Museum Cardiff involves a curious path that takes in sites from all across Wales, and certainly affirms the significant relationship between May and Mary.

May was a skilled jewellery maker and embroiderer and took charge of the embroidery department of her father’s renowned company Morris & Co. when she was 23. By the time Mary came into her life, May was living alone in the Morris family summer residence, Kelmscott Manor in the Cotswold.

Mary was from a Cornish farming family and during the First World War and as an early recruit to the Women’s Land Army she was involved in demonstrations showing how women could support the war efforts, even making the news with a headline “Cornish Woman Drives Steam Roller”!

At some point after the war, Mary joined May at Kelmscott Manor and the couple became a familiar sight, even attending local events together. Then, perhaps as it is for some now, not everyone was sure what to make of the relationship: Mary has been variously described as Morris’s close companion, housekeeper, cook, and even bodyguard!

When May died in 1938 she bequeathed her personal effects and £12,000 to Mary, an amount larger than any she left to anyone else. She also secured the tenure of Kelmscott for the rest of Mary’s life, however, Mary tragically died five months later in 1939. In those short months, Mary arranged the donation of May’s jewellery as well as her own scrapbooks to the National Library of Wales.

The scrapbooks were not given much consideration and were broken up and scattered across various sections of the library. It was researcher Simon Evans who began slowly reassembling the collection, and as he did so started to realise the significance and how it helps paint a clearer picture of the relationship between May and Mary.

Rediscovered items include watercolour landscapes painted by May, which suggests the pair traveled extensively together across Wales with journeys including Cardigan, Gwynedd, Swansea, Talyllyn and Cader Idris (one of my favourite images of the couple is a photograph from the William Morris Gallery that shows them camping in the Welsh countryside).

 

The Queer Perspective

Sandwiched in the scrapbooks is also a cryptic note in a letter from May to Mary, "after posting letter, I just grasped the thread at the end of yours, and having grasped (how slow of me!) I will be most careful.” 

To contextualise, Evans also describes a postcard (at Kelmscott Manor), written on a trip in Wales, in which Mary asked someone back at the Manor to send Morris’s shawl which is in "our" bedroom, which seems to put to bed the rumour May and Mary shared a room. Further, writer and curator Jan Marsh concludes in her book Jane and May Morris by saying the relationship between May and Mary was, in contemporary terms, a lesbian one.

Teithiau LGBTQ+
© Dan Vo @DanNouveau

Through the jewelry gifted to the National Museum Cardiff we have a small glimpse of two lives intertwined, an intimate relationship between May and Mary that was full of love, care, and concern for each other. Theirs is one story among many on the free volunteer-led LGBTQ+ tours, which will return in the future when it is safe to do so.

In the meantime, labels for 18 objects have now been written that help highlight works with an LGBTQ+ connection for visitors. Connected to the May and Mary is a stunning hair ornament, which resembles a tiara, formed by floral shapes studded with pearls, opals, and garnets with silver leaves, all meeting symmetrically in the middle of the head. 

There are landscapes and a self-portrait by Swansea born painter Cedric Morris and several portraits by the renowned Gwen John who hails from Haverfordwest, as well as a bust of her by lover Rodin. Other highlights include works by Francis Bacon, John Minton, Christopher Wood, and 'Brunette' - a ceramic bust of Hollywood star Greta Garbo by Susie Cooper.

It is also now possible to explore the museum’s queer collection online by searching for ‘LGBTQ’ in the Collections Online. This will allow you to see works like The Wounded Amazon by Conwy sculptor John Gibson, a painting of Fisher Boys by Methyr Tydfil born artist Penry Williams (Gibson and Williams lived together in Rome and are understood to be lovers), and a ceramic plate that features perhaps the most famous lesbian couple in history, the Ladies of Llangollen, who lived together at Plâs Newydd. 

It is a joy and a privilege to be able to share the rich history of Welsh queer culture in such a historic place. I'm pleased to say the tours and the related research are merely just getting started! There are so many more stories to be found and told, many that will take us down interesting intersectional paths too. So do stay tuned for more from the National Museum Cardiff and Pride Cymru volunteers. 

For now I wish you a happy Pride. However you’re celebrating it, I hope it’s with as much sparkle as May and Mary’s glamorous bling! 

Arweinwyr teithiau LGBTQ+


Dan Vo is a freelance museum consultant who founded the V&A LGBTQ+ Tours and developed the Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Caerdydd National Museum Cardiff LGBTQ+ Tours. He is currently the project manager and lead researcher of the Queer Heritage and Collections Nework, a subject specialist network supported by the Art Fund formed of a partnership between the National Trust, English Heritage, Historic England, Historic Royal Palaces and the Research Centre for Museums and Galleries (University of Leicester).

Minecraft eich Amgueddfa: Yr Enillwyr!

Danielle Cowell, 25 Gorffennaf 2020

Rydym wedi cael ceisiadau gwych o bob rhan o Gymru a thu hwnt! Mae'r safon yn wirioneddol anhygoel! Mae ymweld â'r amgueddfeydd rhithwir hyn wedi bod yn llawer o hwyl ac yn anrhydedd anhygoel! Diolch yn fawr i bawb a gymeroddran yng Nghystadleuaeth Minecraft Eich Amgueddfa!

Gobeithio chi wedi mwynhau cymryd rhan gymaint ag y gwnaethom ni fwynhau ymweld ach Amgueddfa!

Mae'r fideo isod yn dangos cofnodion gan ein holl gyfranogwyr ac yn tynnu sylw at y ceisiadau buddugol.

Llongyfarchiadau i bawb a gymerodd ran yn yr her enfawr hon!

Mae'r gystadleuaeth hon yn taflu goleuni ar yr 'creftwyr' ifanc talentog sydd gennym yng Nghymru! Maent wedi creu'r Amgueddfeyddharddaf a'r casgliadau rhyfeddol. Roeddent hefydyn meddwl am bopeth y gallai fod ei angen ar ymwelydd o gaffis, i fannau chwarae, sioeau ac wrth gwrs cyfleusterau toiled. Penseiri digidol, curaduron a rheolwyr Amgueddfeydd ydyn nhw mewn un! Mae'r sgiliau digidol y maen nhw wedi'u defnyddio wrth greu a chyflwyno yn rhywbeth i weiddi amdano!Mae Llythrennedd Digidol fel thema drawsgwricwlaidd yng Nghymru yn talu ar ei ganfed.

Rydym yn falch iawn o gyhoeddi y bydd Casgliad y Werin yn creu casgliad o'r holl gynigion fel y gall eraill hefyd werthfawrogi'r amgueddfeydd anhygoel a grëwyd. Unwaith y bydd gennym ganiatâd cyfranogwyr, byddwn yn diweddaru'r blog hwn gyda dolenni. Casgliad digidol Cenedlaethol yw Casgliad Y Werin sy’n casglu hanes gan Bobl Cymru.

Rydym yn falch iawn o gyhoeddi bod cystadleuaeth Minecraft Eich Amgueddfa wedi cyrraedd rhestr fer ar gyfer y Family Friendly Museum Award From Home.

Yr Enillydd:

1af: Taith tu ôl i’r llenni i’r dosbarth cyfan yn eich hoff amgueddfa! (Pan fydd yr ysgolion yn ailagor). Ynghyd â dau docyn neilltuedig ar gyfer Amgueddfa Dros Nos: Deffro Gyda'r Deinos! GARTREF a thystysgrifau.

Blwyddyn 2 - Thomas Denney
Blwyddyn 3 - Carys Lee
Blwyddyn 4 - Gwilym Davies-Kabir
Blwyddyn 5 - Osian Jones
Blwyddyn 6 - Caitlin Quinn & Lucy Flint
Categori grŵp: Marc, Zach and Matthew Chatfield.

2il: Dau docyn neilltuedig ar gyfer Amgueddfa Dros Nos: Deffro Gyda'r Deinos! GARTREF a thystysgrifau.

Blwyddyn 2 - Monty Foster
Blwyddyn 3 - Nico Poulton
Blwyddyn 4 - Luca Dacre
Blwyddyn 5 - Chloe Hayes
Blwyddyn 6 - Bethan Silk
Categori grŵp - Emily Jones and Daisy Slater

3ydd: Dau docyn neilltuedig ar gyfer Amgueddfa Dros Nos: Deffro Gyda'r Deinos! GARTREF a thystysgrifau.

Blwyddyn 2 - Meilyr Frost
Blwyddyn 4 - Arwen Silk
Blwyddyn 5 - Zach Waterhouse
Blwyddyn 6 - Evie Hayden
Categori grŵp - Theo Harrison, Thomas Sommer, William Howard-Rees

Canmoliaeth uchel: Dau docyn neilltuedig ar gyfer Amgueddfa Dros Nos: Deffro Gyda'r Deinos! GARTREF a thystysgrifau.

Blwyddyn 2 - Mali Smith
Blwyddyn 4 - Oliver Jarman
Blwyddyn 5 - Ffion Ball
Blwyddyn 5 - Zac Davis
Blwyddyn 6 - Scarlett Foster
Blwyddyn 7 - Wren Ashcroft
Categori grŵp- Bella Hepburn and Phoebe Wilson
Categori grŵp - Gwen Fishpool, Ethan Coombs and Sofia Mahapatra

I'w dyfarnu tystysgrifau Minecraft Eich Amgueddfa am gwblhau'r her!

Rita Jones
Thomas Silk
Elliott Thompson
Entry 1 (Gelli Primary)
Entry 2 (Gelli Primary)
Entry 3 (Gelli Primary)
Entry 4 (Gelli Primary)
Alis Jones
Andrew Poulton
Cari Hicks
Elyan Garnault
Ethan Beddow
Evan Hicks
Greta Wyn Jones
Joshua Akehurst
Jude Clarke
Matilda Turner
Ronan Peake
Tomos Dacey
Zac Jonathan
Cally Sinclair
Chris Jones
David Hughes
Durocksha Eshanzadeh
Eifion Humphreys
Emilia Slater
Emily Akehurst
Freya Powell
Harriet Heskins
Henry Lansom
Holly Wyatt
Ioan Davies
Isaac Smith
Jessica Thomas
Kayden Matthews
Lewis Hopkins
Macy Jo Tolley
Maisie Boyce
Mia Livingstone
Noah Pearsall
Oliver Reeves
Peyton Creed
Phoebe Skinner-Quinn
Rufus Huckfield
Sam Cowell
Sam Rees
Sophie Vickers
Sumaiyah Ahmed
Tomos Pritchard
Will Heskins
Zoe Murfin
Abhay Prabhakar
Alexander Newman
Angharad Thomas
Floyd Thomas
Gwydion Frost
Morgan Trehearne
Rhys Tinsley
Ziggy Dyboski-Bryant
Ben Fox-Morgan
Emilia Johns
Trixx Flixx
Dylan, Rhiannon, William Bringhurst Dylan, Rhiannon & William
Ellouise Grace James Matthews
Pippa and Monty Walker
Daniel Brenan & Micah Bartlett
Chloe and Grace Chamberlain

Y cystadleuaeth:

Cystadleuaeth i blant 6-11 oed

Y her: Defnyddiwch eich dychymyg i adeiladu amgueddfa ddelfrydol yn Minecraft. Adeiladwch adeilad mawreddog a’i lenwi gyda’ch hoff

wrthrychau. Gallwch chi ddewis unrhyw wrthrych o’n saith amgueddfa – deinosor, ceiniog Rufeinig neu dŷ o Sain Ffagan!

Gwobrau: Cyfle i ennill taith tu ôl i’r llenni i’r dosbarth cyfan yn eich hoff amgueddfa! (Pan fydd yr ysgolion yn ailagor)

Bydd gwobr i bob dosbarth blynyddoedd 2 i 6.

A Day in the Life of a Natural History Curator

Jennifer Gallichan, 11 Mai 2020

A Day in the Life of a Natural History Curator

My name is Jennifer Gallichan and I am one of the natural history curators at National Museum Cardiff. I care for the Mollusc (i.e. snails, slugs, mussels, and octopus) and Vertebrate (things with backbones) collections. Just like everybody else, museum curators are adapting to working from home. But what did we use to do on a 'normal' day, before the days of lockdown?

Caring for the National Collections

Most of our specimens are not on display. Amgueddfa Cymru holds 3.5 million natural history specimens and the majority are held behind the scenes in stores. Caring for the collections is an important part of our role as curators. We have to meticulously catalogue the specimens to ensure that all of the specimens are accounted for. As you can imagine, finding one object amongst 3.5 million could take a while.

Natural history collections cover a whole range of materials including shells, dried plants, minerals, fossils, stuffed animals, bones, pinned insects and fluid preserved specimens (this includes things in jars).

These collections are vital for research, education, exhibitions and display. Some have been in the museum for well over a century, and it is our role to ensure they last into the next century and beyond. We work with specially trained Conservators to monitor the collections and highlight anything that might be at risk, needs cleaning or repair.

Answering your Questions

We spend a lot of time working with you, our fantastic visitors. Much of our time is spent answering the thousands of enquiries we receive every year from families, school children, amateur scientists, academics of all kinds, journalists and many more. We also host open days and national events throughout the year which are another great opportunity to share the collections. Many of us are STEM (Science, Technology Engineering & Mathematics) ambassadors, so an important part of our role inspiring and engaging the next generation of scientists.

Working with Volunteers

Our museums are crammed full of fascinating objects and interesting projects to inspire and enjoy. We spend a lot of time with our excellent volunteers, helping them to catalogue and conserve the collections, guiding them through the often intricate and tricky jobs that it has taken us decades to perfect.

Working with Other Museums

Museums across the world are connected by a huge network of curators. We oversee loans of specimens to all parts of the globe so that we can share and learn from each other’s collections. We have to be ready to deal with all manner of tricky scenarios such as organising safe transport of a scientifically valuable shell, or packing up and transporting a full sized Bison for exhibition.

Working with Visitors

Despite the fact that a large part of the collections are behind the scenes, they are open to visitors. Researchers from across the globe come to access our fantastic collections to help with their studies. We also host tours of the collections on request.

Making Collections Bigger and Better

Despite having millions of specimens, museum collections are not static and continue to grow every year. Be it an old egg collection found in an attic, or a prize sawfish bill that has been in the family for generations, it’s an important part of a curator’s job to inspect and assess each and every object that we are offered. Is it a scientifically important collection or rare? Has it been collected legally? Do we know where and when it was collected? Is it in a good condition? Do we have the space?

Creating New Exhibitions

A fun part of the job is working with our brilliant Exhibitions department to develop and install new exhibitions. We want museums to be exciting and inspiring places for everyone so we spend a lot of time making sure that the information and specimens we exhibit are fun, engaging, inspiring and thought provoking.

Being Scientists

Last but definitely not least, when we aren’t doing all of the above, we are doing actual science. Museums are places of learning for visitors and staff alike. Many of us are experts in our field and undertake internationally-recognised research. This research might find us observing or collecting specimens out in the field, sorting and identifying back in the lab, describing new species or researching the millions of specimens already in the collections.

Museums from Home?

Despite lockdown, we are working hard to keep the collections accessible. We’re answering queries, engaging with people online, writing research papers and chipping away at collection jobs from home. And like all of you, we are very much looking forward to when the museum opens its doors once again.

If you want to find out more about the things we get up to in the museum, why not check us out on Twitter or follow our blog? You can also find out more about all of the members of the Natural Sciences department here.

Palwch er Iechyd a Lles

Sharon & Iwan Ford, 29 Ebrill 2020

Roedd gerddi cynnyrch a blodau yn rhan nodweddiadol o gartrefi Glowyr. Man pwysig lle tyfwyd bwyd, lle'r oedd colomennod, ieir ac yn aml mochyn hefyd yn cael eu cadw. Sharon Ford yw Rheolwr Dysgu a Chyfranogi yn Big Pit Amgueddfa Lofaol Cymru. Ysgrifennodd yr erthygl hon ar gyfer ein blog, i ddathlu buddion iechyd a lles garddio - yn enwedig yn ystod y cyfnod cloi hwn. Mae'n llawn llawenydd garddio ac awgrymiadau a chynghorion defnyddiol, a chafodd Sharon fwy nag ychydig o help gan gyd-arddwr brwd - ei mab, Iwan.

‘We may think we are nurturing our garden, but of course it's our garden that is really nurturing us’   

Jenny Uglow

Dwi erioed wedi bod mor ddiolchgar am fy ngardd. Mae’n cynnig lloches y tu hwnt i bedair wal y tŷ. Mae’r tywydd braf wedi’n galluogi ni i fod tu allan pan nad ydym yn gweithio, i fynd o dan draed pan fyddwn angen ychydig o lonydd, ac wrth gwrs i roi mwy o sylw nag arfer i’r ardd. Mae bod â rhywbeth i gynllunio a chanolbwyntio arno wedi bod yn wych am dynnu’n meddyliau oddi ar yr argyfwng byd-eang a bod oddi wrth deulu a ffrindiau. Mae hyd yn oed ein mab 8 oed bywiog, Iwan wedi bod yn ymwneud mwy â’r ardd eleni, gan gynllunio pa lysiau mae eisiau eu cynaeafu a’u bwyta mewn ychydig fisoedd, ac mae’r awyr iach a’r gweithgarwch yn ei flino erbyn diwedd y dydd. Mae hyn yn bwysig gan ei fod arfer cael gwersi nofio, gymnasteg a rygbi.

Mae effaith bositif garddio ar iechyd corfforol a meddyliol yn hysbys i bawb, a gall helpu gyda nifer o broblemau fel pwysau gwaed uchel, gorbryder yn ogystal â phroblemau iechyd meddwl mwy difrifol.

Rydyn ni’n arbennig o lwcus i gael gardd adref a rhandir dros y ffordd. Nid pawb sydd mor lwcus, ond gall dim ond ambell i bot o blanhigion neu blannu llysiau mewn corneli a chilfachau leihau straen a hybu hunan barch. Mae gofalu am blanhigion tŷ yn rhoi teimlad o bwrpas i rywun, ac mae’n lle da i gychwyn os nad oes gennych brofiad o arddio.

Gofynnais i Iwan os oedd eisiau rhannu ei gyngor ar dyfu a gofalu am blanhigion – mae’n arddwr profiadol erbyn hyn, gan ei fod wrthi ers yn blentyn bach. Roedd hefyd eisiau rhannu ei gyngor ar gadw ieir, rhag ofn bod unrhyw un yn meddwl cael ieir i’w cadw’n hapus! Mae llawer o dystiolaeth am fuddion therapiwtig cadw ieir hefyd.

Fy enw i yw Iwan Ford. Rwy’n 8 oed ac yn byw yn Blaenafon. Y dyddiau hyn, rydw i adref gyda Mam a Dad drwy’r amser. Mae’n iawn, ond rwy’n colli fy ffrindiau a fy nghefndryd. Rydyn ni’n lwcus iawn achos mae ganddo ni ddwy ardd a dwy iâr. Enwau’r ieir yw Barbara a Millie. Roedd gen i iâr arall o’r enw Penny, ond roedd hi’n sâl iawn a bu farw ychydig wythnosau yn ôl. Fe wnaethon ni ei chladdu yn yr ardd.

Fe gawson ni Millie pan glywodd rhywun fod Barbara ar ben ei hun. Silkie yw Millie, ac mae’n ddoniol iawn ac yn drwsgwl. Mae ganddi draed mawr ac mae’n cerdded dros bopeth. Mae’n gyfeillgar iawn ac yn fy nilyn rownd yr ardd. Mae gan ieir silkie glustiau glas a phlu blewog. Iâr fantam yw Barbara, ac mae ganddi blu hardd iawn. Mae plu oren o gwmpas ei gwddw. Mae’n dodwy wyau bach iawn ond mae nhw’n flasus iawn. Mae nhw’n amlwg yn ieir hapus iawn.

Rwy’n helpu Mam a Dad gyda’r garddio achos mae ganddo ni randir a gardd wrth y tŷ. Rwy’n hoffi plannu, dyfrio a hel llysiau a ffrwythau. Mae gen i ardd lysiau fach fy hun ac rwy wedi plannu ffa Ffrengig, pwmpen, maro a ffa coch yn barod. Mae hadau angen pridd da a digon o gompost, haul a dŵr. Rhaid i chi gofio dyfrio yn aml neu chewch chi ddim planhigion.

Cyngor plannu Iwan:

  • Llenwch y potiau gyda chompost. Rhowch yr hedyn i mewn. Weithiau byddwch yn llenwi hanner y pot gyda chompost, rhoi’r hedyn i mewn ac wedyn mwy o gompost. Weithiau byddwch yn llenwi’r pot a gwneud twll gyda’ch bys i roi’r hedyn i mewn. Cofiwch ddyfrio, a bydd yr hadau yn tyfu mewn ychydig wythnosau. Pan fyddan nhw wedi tyfu ychydig, a dim perygl o rew, gallwch eu plannu yn y ddaear.
  • Dim gardd? Gallwch blannu tatws mewn bwcedi neu fagiau compost. Mae tomatos yn tyfu fel hyn hefyd.
  • Cofiwch ysgrifennu enwau’r planhigion ar ffyn hufen ia a’u rhoi yn y potiau, er mwyn cofio beth yw beth.

Cyngor ieir Iwan:

  • Dyw ieir silkie ddim yn crwydro achos dydyn nhw ddim yn hedfan, felly mae nhw’n berffaith ar gyfer gerddi bychan.
  • Mae baw ieir yn dda i’r pridd. Pan mae’r compost baw ieir yn barod, gallwch ei gymysgu yn y pridd i gael planhigion mawr a chryf.
  • Mae ieir yn hoffi cynrhon blawd. Rydyn ni’n rhoi rhai i’r ieir ac yn rhoi rhai i adar yr ardd hefyd. ‘Beaky and Feather’ yw hoff fwyd ieir, ac mae’n gwneud i’w plu sgleinio.

 

Tîm GRAFT Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Y Glannau yn Hadu Lles a Blodau'r Haul yn y Gymuned

Angharad Wynne, 28 Ebrill 2020

Er na all tîm a gwirfoddolwyr prosiect GRAFT Amgueddfa Genedlaethol y Glannau, ymgynnull i arddio gardd yr Amgueddfa ar yr adeg hon, maent serch hynny yn cadw'n brysur yn sefydlu 'Hadau Allan yn y Gymuned' ac yn ein hannog ni i gyd i dyfu blodau haul mewn mannau gweladwy a chyhoeddus i ddangos cefnogaeth ar gyfer gweithwyr allweddol. Dyma ychydig mwy am y prosiect cymunedol arloesol hwn a sut mae wedi tyfu o hedyn syniad i brosiect llewyrchus sy'n tyfu planhigion, bwyd a phobl.

GRAFT: maes llafur wedi'i seilio ar bridd, yw prosiect tir ac addysg fwytadwy Amgueddfa Genedlaethol y Glannau, a darn parhaol o seilwaith gwyrdd yng Nghanol Dinas Abertawe. Mae'r prosiect hefyd yn waith celf sy'n ymgysylltu'n gymdeithasol gan yr artist Owen Griffiths, ac fe'i comisiynwyd yn wreiddiol fel rhan o Nawr Yr Arwr yn 2018, a ariannwyd gan 1418NOW fel rhan o brosiect diwylliannol enfawr ledled y DU sy'n coffáu'r Rhyfel Byd cyntaf.

Mae GRAFT yn gweithio gyda grwpiau cymunedol o ystod eang o gefndiroedd ledled y ddinas a ddaeth ynghyd, i drawsnewid cwrt yr Amgueddfa i mewn i amgylchedd tyfu organig hardd, cynaliadwy; creu tirwedd fwytadwy i annog cyfranogiad a sgwrs ynghylch defnydd tir, bwyd a chynaliadwyedd mewn ffordd hygyrch a grymusol.

Mae Owen a'r Uwch Swyddog Dysgu Zoe Gealy yn datblygu rhaglen barhaus GRAFT o amgylch y syniadau hyn o gydweithredu, cynaliadwyedd a'r gymuned. Bob dydd Gwener, (heblaw yn ystod y cyfnod cloi hwn), mae gwirfoddolwyr hen ac ifanc yn gweithio ochr yn ochr â'i gilydd i rannu sgiliau gweithio mewn pren a metel, dysgu sut i dyfu planhigion, ennill cymwysterau a chefnogi ei gilydd ar hyd y ffordd. Mae'r prosiect wedi gweld prentisiaethau llwyddiannus yn datblygu o ganlyniad i'w raglen, yn ogystal â gweld buddion iechyd meddwl tymor hir trwy weithio y tu allan gyda'i gilydd. Mae cyfeillgarwch yn datblygu, ac mae pobl, yn ogystal â phlanhigion, yn ffynnu. Yn ystod datblygiad GRAFT, yn ogystal â gwelyau uchel, mae pergola a meinciau o bren lleol, popty pizza cob a chychod gwenyn wedi’u cyflwyno i’r ardd. Daw gwirfoddolwyr ieuengaf GRAFT o Ysgol Cefn Saeson yng Nghastell-nedd ac maent yn gweithio gydag Alyson Williams, y Gwenynwr preswyl, yn dysgu am fioamrywiaeth, yr amgylchedd ac yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd i ofalu am y gwenyn.

Mae peth o'r cynnyrch sy'n cael ei dyfu yn yr ardd fel arfer yn gwneud ei ffordd i mewn i brydau blasus yng nghaffi'r Amgueddfa tra bod rhywfaint yn cael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer prydau cymunedol yn GRAFT. Mae cyfran o gynnyrch yn cael ei ddefnyddio gan wirfoddolwyr, a rhoddir peth i brosiectau a grwpiau ledled yr ardal sy'n darparu bwyd i'r rhai mewn angen, fel Tŷ Matts, Ogof Adullam a chanolfan galw heibio ffoaduriaid Abertawe.

HADAU A HEULWEN YN YSTOD Y CYFNOD YMA O WAHARDDIADAU

Dros yr wythnosau nesaf bydd GRAFT yn postio hadau trwy gynllun parseli bwyd Dinas a Sir Abertawe, ac i grwpiau cymunedol y maent yn gweithio gyda nhw yn rheolaidd megis Roots Foundation a CRISIS. Mae'r hadau'n cynnwys pwmpen sgwash a blodau haul, a gynaeafwyd gan y garddwyr y tymor diwethaf.

Mae menter arall y mae GRAFT yn ei datblygu yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf yn annog pobl i blannu blodau haul mewn mannau gweladwy a chyhoeddus, i ddangos cefnogaeth i weithwyr allweddol ochr yn ochr â phaentiadau enfys. Gwahoddir pobl hefyd i bostio lluniau o’u tyfiant llwyddiannus ar dudalennau cyfryngau cymdeithasol GRAFT.

I ofyn am hadau, cysylltwch â zoe.gealy@museumwales.ac.uk

07810 657170

Wrth gloi, mae angen rhywfaint o ofal ar ardd GRAFT yn ystod y cyfnod yma, ac felly mae tîm ar-safle Amgueddfa Genedlaethol y Glannau yn dyfrio'r ardd a gofalu am y planhigion ifanc yn ystod eu sifftiau dyddiol.

Gyda diolch i chwaraewyr Loteri Cod Post y Bobl am gefnogi rhaglen gyhoeddus o weithgareddau a digwyddiadau Amgueddfa Cymru.

DILYNWCH GRAFFT:

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