Iechyd, Lles ag Amgueddfa Cymru

I plunge my face into the leaf litter on the forest floor and take in the earthy aroma: a sweet mix of damp decay and mossy greens. Have I gone mad? Quite possibly, but no more than most; stuck in a modern world that doesn’t quite make sense, worried too much about too many things, and rarely remembering to stop, look up and breathe. Down here, hidden in this hollow, under a canopy of gently swaying oaks, cheek pressed into the dark rich soil, I actually feel more normal than I have in a while.  

Truth is, I woke up fairly miserable this morning.  Sadly, it’s not uncommon, and frustratingly, it’s often not clear why, or what has caused it. As a result, I tend to focus on what I can control and change. Sometimes, that means a change of scene.  

Nature Connectedness and the Wheel of Wellbeing 

Recently, since working on the Winter of Wellbeing Programme (WoW), it has got me thinking more about what makes me well. At the same time, separately, I have been reading a lot into the power of Nature Connectedness. So, with both of these in mind, I wrapped myself up and headed to the nearest clearing of trees. I am fortunate to have this on my doorstep.  

‘Nature Connectedness’ is the sort of thing that is easy to dismiss as a bit ‘flowery’, but there is an increasing body of evidence showing the restorative power of Nature, the value of access to nature, and crucially, the importance of feeling a connection with nature. In fact, there is a whole research group at the University of Derby working on just this.

As part of the WoW project, we have been using the ‘Wheel of Wellbeing’ as a way of understanding and measuring the elements that make us feel well: Body (be active), Mind (keep learning), Spirit (give), People (connect), Place (take notice), Planet (care). It became clear to me that each of these elements can be nourished through time in nature, something I am keen to explore through the WoW project, as well as through my own forays into the forest!  

The benefits of a connection to Nature  

Nature is a profound teacher and healer, and a sanctuary for those fortunate enough to access and connect with it. When you spend time in Nature, it almost instantly creates a physical change in you - reducing levels of stress, lowering blood pressure, helping you focus and concentrate - as well as a number of other tangible and well documented positive effects, especially around mental health. 

These benefits are amplified the more we feel a connection to Nature.  Sadly, for many, Nature remains hidden or unnoticed, and their feelings of connection hang by a thread. This is particularly true amongst young people, especially teenagers, where there is a natural dip in connection with nature, just when they might benefit most from the improved physical and mental health associated with Nature connection; to free themselves from social anxieties and find some identity, security and meaning in the otherwise manic world around them.  

Five pathways to connection  

A crucial step, of course, is finding a ‘way-in’ for young people, both physically and emotionally. Many don’t have easy access to nature in the first place, or have little interest, even if they are surrounded by it. Meaningful and lasting connections can’t be forced. They must be made in our own time and in own way. Yet, there are a few things that can be done to facilitate and encourage this.  Even urban environments are bursting with life, which means you don’t have to be in a forest or beautiful flower meadow for Nature to cast its spell. Sadly, most of us have lost the knack of noticing, so rarely dedicate time to truly see and appreciate Nature.   

To help open up our eyes and minds, and bring us closer to nature, the University of Derby have developed 5 pathways to greater connection (https://www.derby.ac.uk/blog/5-ways-closer-nature/): 

• Contact – multisensory, tangible experiences 

• Beauty – Engaging with the aesthetic ‘awe-inspiring’ qualities of Nature.  

• Meaning - thinking about the meaning and signs of nature and what they mean to individuals.  

• Emotion – Finding and exploring emotional bonds with, and love, for nature 

• Compassion - Extending the self to include nature, leading to moral and ethical concern 

These were consistently found to be important and effective at making people feel closer to nature, which makes them useful for individuals, educators and practitioners when thinking about the sort of activities and exercises that will create connection with Nature. 

The Natural Health Service 

Even amongst those who would consider themselves connected to Nature, like myself, it is all too easy to forget to nourish it, to go back to the source and refresh now and again. Perhaps we need to view it as less of a luxury and more of an essential part of our human existence, where we are part of Nature rather than separate and sanitised. That is why it is great to see moves towards green social prescribing in the NHS, including research and pilot projects in Wales.

With all of this in mind, back in the middle of my own mini wellbeing crisis, it is tempting to stay a little longer here in this earthy embrace, let a few more winter leaves fall and settle on my back. By the time I finally pull myself up and dust myself down, I have totally lost track of how long I have been here and realise I should probably get back - I’ve still got work to do after all! But now, at least, with moss in my hair and flecks of mud on my cheek, I feel in a slightly better state to tackle it.  

Ymunwch â ni am Derfysg Digidol! Geithdy cyffrous am ddim sy'n dathlu drag a hunaniaeth rhywedd  a'i ymwneud â hanes protest Cymru.

Mae'r prosiect hwn, a ysbrydolwyd gan hanes Merched Beca, yn archwilio hunaniaeth fel rhan o brotest.

Bydd 'Terfysg Digidol' yn anelu at wneud hyn drwy gynnal gweithdy i bobl ifanc rhwng 10 a 14 oed yn Sain Ffagan Amgueddfa Werin Cymru.

Bydd y diwrnod yn cael ei rannu'n dair rhan:

• Dyluniwch eich bathodyn protest eich hunain
• Gwnewch arwyddion protest wedi'u hysbrydoli gan hanes y Merched Beca
• Ac yn olaf, yn gwisgo ein bathodynnau ac yn defnyddio ein harwyddion protest byddwn yn ymweld â'r tolldy yn Sain Ffagan i lwyfannu a thynnu lluniau ein mini-terfysg Merched Beca ein hunain

Bydd cyfranogwyr y gweithdy hwn hefyd yn derbyn 'Pecyn Celf' wedi'i lenwi ag adnoddau.

Cynhelir y gweithdy am ddim yma am 12-2pm ar 12 Mawrth 2022. Gall cyfranogwyr ymuno naill ai yn Sain Ffagan yn bersonol neu'n ddigidol dros Zoom. I archebu eich lle cysylltwch â info@galeriesimpsonswansea.com

Mae Terfysg Digidol yn brosiect a ddyfeisiwyd gan yr artist Abigail Fraser ar gyfer y rhaglen allgymorth cymunedol 9-90 gan artistiaid GS Abertawe, fel rhan o Geaf Llawn Lles, a ariennir gan Llywodraeth Cymru.

Mae dylunio mynegeiol yn bodoli o'n cwmpas ni! Mae'n cofnodi'r rhyngweithio rhwng gwrthrychau, gan ddogfennu'r weithgaredd dan sylw. 

Cymerwch olwg ar y darlun hwn gan yr artist Olafur Eliasson. Fe'i creodd allan ar y môr yn ei gwch trwy drochi pêl mewn inc du. Gadawodd iddo rolio ar draws y papur er mwyn cofnodi’r tonnau a symudiadau'r cwch ar draws y cefnfor. 

Beth am greu eich darlun arbrofol eich hun? 

Mi fyddwch angen: Beiro, darn o linyn, pad braslunio. 

1. Clymwch y darn o linyn (neu beth bynnag rydych yn ei ddefnyddio) i'r beiro neu bensil.   

2. Clymwch ben arall y llinyn i gangen coeden. (tip – mae canghennau tenau yn symud dipyn mwy na rhai tewach)  

3. Rhowch ddarn o bapur o dan y beiro a gosod amserydd am ba bynnag faint o amser yr hoffech adael y beiro symud (fe wnaethon ni amseru am 10mun)  

4. Gwyliwch y gwynt yn chwythu drwy’r canghennau gan adael patrwm y gwynt ar y darn papur. 

5. Canlyniad: Darn o gelf  wedi ei greu gan natur 

Mae'r lluniau yma i gyd wedi cael eu tynnu wrth i fi geisio creu dyluniad arbrodol fy hun, gan ddarlunio symudiad coeden yn ystod gwynt storm Corrie. 

Mae modd dilyn symudiad y cynghennau ar y papur - pan mae'r marciau yn dew rydym yn gwybod bod cyfnod o lonyddwch, pan mae'r gwynt yn chwythu wedyn mae'r llinellu hynny fwy tennau. 

Rhannwch eich dyluniadau hefo ni, tagiwch ni ar Instagram neu Facebook gan ddefnyddio #gaeafllawnlles

My name is Lowri and I am one of the Freelance Project makers working on the Winter of Wellbeing project. My main role is as part of a small team putting together activity packs for families and young people with the goal of improving wellbeing. But before this project, I had been a stay at home parent for over a decade. 

The last time I was formally employed, it was 2011. A year where it was still acceptable to say ‘talk to the hand’, 3D movies still seemed like a good idea and Flossing was just a dental practice, not a dance. So when I heard about a position that involved working with young people in the heritage sector, which are both my areas of interest, where I could work from home around my family, I couldn't believe my luck! However, after so long away from work, even with a few relevant qualifications and experiences I have, I struggled to know if I had anything of value to offer.  

Thankfully, I did not need to worry too much. My experiences as a parent have been surprisingly essential to the work I have been doing. Even my daughter has become involved in testing and photographing some of the activities which will now be shared with thousands of children around the country. That got me thinking about how valuable our skills as parents can be in the workplace. For example: 

• If you can construct a play kitchen with no instructions and 2 missing screws at 11.30pm on Christmas eve… you can problem solve. 

• If you can negotiate a screaming toddler out of a soft play area… you can hold your own in any meeting. 

• If you have managed to get everyone out of the door on time, with a packed lunch, reading book read, spellings learnt and cupcakes for the charity bake sale (that you will pretend you baked yourself but actually bought on the way to school and bunged in a Tupperware box) and still arrive at school on time…You can project manage. 

I know now, through working on this project, that I do have value outside of the home. The Winter of Wellbeing project has not only given me the opportunity to make a difference in young people's lives, it has given me invaluable work experience, built m

y confidence up and allowed me to contribute financially to my family. And because of the short term nature of the contract, I have managed to dip my toe into the employment pool without the massive worries about childcare in the summer holidays, which is often a barrier for parents returning to work.  

All in all, I have had a ball so far on the project, I have met so many interesting and inspiring people. I have learnt so much in such a short space of time and will come away from it more confident to apply for future jobs I might previously have discarded because I thought I wasn't good enough. Feeling valued outside of the home has added so much to my wellbeing and I am so thankful for that. 

Eleni mae 8–13 Mehefin yn Wythnos Gofalwyr, a’r nod yw cydnabod cyfraniad gofalwyr di-dâl i deuluoedd a chymunedau ledled y DU. Petai’r gofal hwn yn cael ei ddarparu gan wasanaethau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol y byddai’n costio £530 miliwn y diwrnod ar draws y DU.

Mae nifer o ofalwyr yn wynebu trafferthion ariannol, unigedd cymdeithasol, neu iechyd gwael o ganlyniad i’w rôl. Yn ystod y pandemig mae’r pwysau ar ofalwyr wedi cynyddu wrth i nifer o’r gwasanaethau y byddan nhw’n ddibynnol arnynt, fel canolfannau cymunedol neu wasanaethau encil, wedi cau. Ceir amcangyfrif hefyd bod y cyfanswm nifer wedi cynyddu 50% (Carers UK), sy’n golygu bod o bosib hyd at 600,000 o oedolion a phobl ifanc yng Nghymru yn ofalwyr.

Tua diwedd 2020 dyma Amgueddfa Cymru yn cynnal arolwg i holi gofalwyr beth allai’r Amgueddfa ei gynnig. Os ydych chi am ddeall pam ein bod ni am ddarparu gweithgareddau neu ddigwyddiadau yn benodol o ofalwyr, sut all amgueddfeydd gyfrannu yn ein barn ni, a’r hyn arweiniodd at yr arolwg, darllennwch y blog hwn o'r llynedd.

Derbyniwyd ymatebion gan oedolion a phobl ifanc, ac roedd y gweithgareddau mwyaf atyniadol yn eithaf cyson:

• gweithgareddau celf/crefft y gallai pobl eu mwynhau
• amser i gymdeithasu gyda gofalwyr eraill
• gwybodaeth neu sgyrsiau fyddai o fudd i ofalwyr.

Roedd tua dau draean o’r gofalwyr â diddordeb mewn gweithgareddau i’w mynychu eu hunain a dau draean â diddordeb mewn mynychu gyda’r person maent yn gofalu amdano. (Roedd gan draean o'r ymatebion ddiddordeb yn y ddau.) Roedd diddordeb mewn digwyddiadau ar-lein ac wyneb yn wyneb.

Dyma ni felly’n cynllunio i dreialu sesiynau diwrnod i ofalwyr am dri mis, gan ddechrau ym mis Mai eleni. Cynhelir dwy sesiwn ar ddydd Mawrth cyntaf pob mis: 2.30–3.30pm i ofalwyr o bob oed, a 5–5.30pm i ofalwyr dan 26. Os ydych chi’n ofalwr, ac am fynychu un o’r sesiynau ar ddydd Mawrth 6 Gorffennaf, gallwch chi archebu tocyn am ddim.

Hyd yn hyn mae’r sesiynau wedi cynnwys:

• gweithgareddau darlunio (does dim angen talent artistig)
• pam a sut i greu rhestr chwarae ar gyfer rhywun annwyl
• profiadau Cynhyrchwyr Amgueddfa Cymru yn rhedeg SgrinWyna, a thrafod ein menter Cysur Mewn Casglu.

Mae Cysur Mewn Casglu yn rhannu straeon am wrthrychau sy’n rhoi cysur i bobl, ac mae’r rhaglen yn cynnwys taflenni sbardun y gall gofalwyr eu defnyddio gyda’u hanwyliaid. Gall sgyrsiau weithiau ddiflasu neu ddod yn ailadroddus os ydych chi gyda rhywun drwy’r amser, ac mae gofalwyr wedi dweud bod y taflenni wedi sbarduno sgyrsiau diddorol newydd. Dysgwch ragor am Cysur Mewn Casglu a’r taflenni sbardun.

Rydym hefyd wedi creu rôl Gwirfoddolwr Cefnogi newydd i’n helpu i gynorthwyo gofalwyr ac eraill i ymwneud â digwyddiadau, casgliadau a gweithgareddau’r Amgueddfa. Mae gan y gwirfoddolwyr sydd wedi ymgeisio brofiad a sgiliau gwych, a pan fyddant wedi cwblhau eu hyfforddiant byddant yn ein galluogi i gynnig croeso gwell ac amrywiaeth o weithgareddau i bobl fyddai’n elwa o gefnogaeth ychwanegol.

Un elfen o’r sesiynau Diwrnod Gofalwyr sydd wedi bod yn anoddach na’r disgwyl yw lledu’r neges. Mae cymaint o’r llefydd y byddai gofalwyr yn arfer treulio eu hamser ar gau, a’r sefydliadau sydd fel arfer yn cefnogi gofalwyr wedi bod dan gymaint o bwysau yn ystod y pandemig. Hyd yn oed os nad ydych chi’n ofalwr eich hun, rydych chi mwy na thebyg yn adnabod un o’r 600,000 o ofalwyr yng Nghymru. Beth am roi gwybod iddyn nhw am y Diwrnodau Gofalwyr, a gofyn os oes rhywbeth allwch chi ei wneud i helpu yn ystod y cyfnod anodd hwn? Diolch yn fawr.

Dysgwch ragor am ein Diwrnodau Gofalwyr.

Os ydych chi am roi adborth i ni am ein Diwrnodau Gofalwyr, hyd yn oed os nad ydych chi wedi gallu mynychu, gallwch gwblhau arolwg byr di-enw.