Llawn Hosan Nadolig o Hanes Sanau yng Nghymru!

Mark Lucas, 4 Rhagfyr 2020

Gan ei bod yn bryd hongian hosanau Nadolig unwaith eto, dyma ni’n fforio’n harchifau a gofyn i Mark Lucas, Curadur y Diwydiant Gwlân yn yr Amgueddfa Wlân Cymru am hanes yr hosan yma yng Nghymru. Fel mae'n digwydd, mae yna lawer i'w ddweud, ac os cewch eich ysbrydoli i roi cynnig ar wau eich hosan Nadolig eich hun, mae gennym ni batrwm hawdd iawn i'ch helpu chi i wneud hynny.

Hanes gweu hosanau yng Nghymru

Mae traddodiad hir o weu hosanau yng Nghymru, ac yn yr 18fed a’r 19eg ganrif, cyfrannodd gweu hosanau at economi ddomestig cefn gwlad Cymru. Byddai hosanau yn cael eu gweu ar yr aelwyd yn y gaeaf, a’r teulu cyfan yn helpu. Roedd y Noson Weu yn draddodiad yn y Gymru wledig, lle byddai cymdogion yn dod ynghyd i weu yn gymdeithasol, a gwrando ar hen straeon, caneuon hynafol neu gerddoriaeth ar y delyn.

Bala a Thregaron oedd y canolfannau gweu hosanau, a chynhaliwyd marchnadoedd mawr deirgwaith y mis yn y trefi hyn. Ym 1851, roedd 176 o hosanwyr yn Nhregaron a’r cylch.

Mae gwlana yn hen draddodiad Cymreig arall. Byddai grwpiau o fenywod yn dilyn porthmyn neu gerdded y ‘llwybrau gwlana’. Bydden nhw’n casglu’r darnau bach o gnu o’r caeau a’r llwyni, yn plygu, estyn a thynnu bob un darn o gnu gwerthfawr. Byddai’r menywod yn ymweld â ffermydd ar

Diorama Gwlana

hyd y ffordd gan gyfnewid llety, bwyd a newyddion lleol am waith o gwmpas y fferm. Weithiau, os oedden nhw’n lwcus, byddai’r ffermwr wedi cadw cnu i’r menywod. Roedd yr hawl i gasglu’r cnu’n werthfawr, a byddai menywod ifanc a oedd yn gweithio fel morwynion yn sicrhau eu bod yn cael bythefnos i ffwrdd ar gyfer casglu cnu bob blwyddyn. Byddai’r menywod yn dychwelyd adref gyda’i sachau trwm llawn gwlân. Bydden nhw’n ei olchi a nyddu’r edafedd er mwyn ei ddefnyddio i weu hosanau a dillad eraill.

Bachyn edafedd

Oherwydd diffyg trafnidiaeth yn y Gymru wledig, os byddai rhaid i bobl deithio bydden nhw’n cerdded, ac wrth gerdded byddai menywod yn gweu gyda bachyn edau. Mae bachyn edau ar siâp S, gydag un pen wedi’i gysylltu â gwasg eich dillad a phellen ar y pen arall, er mwyn i chi gael eich dwy law yn rhydd i weu wrth gerdded. Yn Sir Aberteifi yn yr 19eg ganrif, byddai menywod yn cario mawn o’r mynyddoedd i’w ddefnyddio fel tanwydd. Bydden nhw’n cario hyd at 27kg o fawn mewn basgedi ar eu cefnau, i gadw eu dwylo’n rhydd i weu wrth gerdded. Byddai menywod hefyd yn gweu ar eu ffordd i’r capel, ond yn stopio cyn camu i dir cysegredig.

Gwisgwyd gweiniau gweill ar ochr dde’r corff ar ongl i ddal gwaelod y waell, gan adael y llaw chwith yn rhydd i weithio’r edau ar y waell arall. Byddai’r wain yn dal pwysau’r gwlân ac atal y bachau rhag cwympo oddi ar y gweill.

Gweiniau nodwyddau gweu

Traddodiad Cymreig yw rhoi gweiniau gweill fel arwydd o gariad. Cai’r rhain eu cerfio’n gywrain gan ddynion ar gyfer eu cariadon. Fel arfer maent wedi’u cerfio o bren, ond mae enghreifftiau i’w gweld o ifori a metel.

Manylion peiriant gweu hosanau 

Yn Oes Fictoria, daeth peiriannau hosanau yn boblogaidd. Gallai’r peiriannau hyn weu hosanau’n gyflymach o lawer nac y byddai merched yn gweu â llaw.

Cynhyrchodd diwydiant hosanau gogledd Cymru 300,000 pâr o sanau i luoedd y Cynghreiriad yn ystod y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf.

Ym 1966 gallai Melin Dreifa yng Nghwm Morgan, dan berchnogaeth David Oliver, gynhyrchu 7 pâr o hosanau’r awr, a byddai’r peiriannau gweu trydanol yn aml yn cynhyrchu 250 pâr yr wythnos.

Esiampl o sanau Corgi

Mae’r traddodiad yn fyw hyd heddiw yn ffatri Corgi yn Rhydaman, sy’n cyfuno sgiliau traddodiadol a pheiriannau modern i gynhyrchu sanau gwlân. Maent yn adnabyddus ar draws y byd am greu sanau a hosanau moethus ac ymhlith eu cwsmeriaid y mae’r Teulu Brenhinol.

Hosanau ar ddangos yn Amgueddfa Wlân Cymru.

Beth am wau hosan Nadolig eich hun?

Mae gennym ni hosanau gwau cain iawn yng nghasgliad Amgueddfa Wlân Cymru, ond os hoffech chi roi cynnig ar rywbeth symlach, mae gennym ni batrwm gwau syml iawn ar gyfer hosan Nadolig y dylech chi allu ei baratoi mewn pryd ar gyfer ymweliad Siôn Corn. Er na allwn warantu y bydd yn cael ei lenwi, mae ein siopau yn Amgueddfa Sain Fagan ac yn yr Amgueddfa Llechi Genedlaethol yn Llanberis (gwelwch eu gwefannau am fanylion agor cyn cychwyn) yn cynnig gostyngiad o 10% ar eitemau i lenwi'r hosan, i unrhyw un sy'n dod â hosan Nadolig wedi'i gwau â llaw gan ddefnyddio'r patrwm hwn. Felly, ewch ati i wau!

GELLID LAWRLWYTHO'R PATRWM SYML I WEU HOSAN NADOLIG YMA

 

Cynnwys Gofalwyr


David Zilkha, 23 Tachwedd 2020

Gwnaeth adroddiad State of Caring 2019 Gofalwyr Cymru amcangyfrif fod 400,000 o ofalwyr yng Nghymru y llynedd. Roedd Cyfrifiad 2011 yn gosod y ffigwr llawn fel 370,000 neu 12% o’r boblogaeth, gyda 30,000 o’r gofalwyr hynny o dan 25 oed a nodwyd fod gan Gymru y gyfradd uchaf o ofalwyr o dan 18 oed yn y DU. Mae’r ffigurau hyn i gyd yn cyfeirio at ofalwyr di-dâl, sy’n cefnogi oedolyn neu blentyn gydag anabledd, salwch corfforol neu feddyliol, neu sydd yn cael eu heffeithio drwy gamddefnyddio sylweddau. Nid yw’n cynnwys y rheiny sy’n gweithio mewn swyddi gofal am dâl.

Amcangyfrifir y bydd y rhan fwyaf ohonom, tri allan o bump, yn dod yn ofalwr ar ryw bwynt yn ystod ein bywydau.

Wrth ystyried y rhifau anferthol hyn a’r ffaith fod y rhan fwyaf ohonom eisoes naill ai’n cael ein heffeithio, neu’n mynd i gael ein heffeithio, pam nad oes mwy o sôn am ofalwyr? Un rheswm efallai yw bod gofalwyr yn rhy brysur yn gofalu. Rwyf innau wedi bod yn ofalwr, a chyn ymuno ag Amgueddfa Cymru treuliais 30 mlynedd yn gweithio mewn gwasanaethau gofal iechyd a chymdeithasol, ac yn ystod yr adeg honno rwy’n amcangyfrif fy mod wedi gweithio gydag ychydig filoedd o ofalwyr. Mae fy mhrofiad a’m hymchwil helaeth wedi dangos fod nifer o ofalwyr yn profi unigrwydd ac ynysu cymdeithasol, yn dioddef o iechyd meddyliol neu gorfforol gwael eu hunain, a phwysau ariannol, o ganlyniad i’w rôl fel gofalwyr. 

Felly beth mae hyn yn ei olygu i Amgueddfa Cymru? Un o’r amcanion ar gyfer ein strategaeth 10 mlynedd, a gaiff ei chyhoeddi yng Ngwanwyn 2021, yw ein bod yn berthnasol i bawb ac ar gael i bawb; un arall yw ein bod yn canolbwyntio ar iechyd a lles i bawb. Mae gan ein rhaglen ymgysylltu gymunedol ystod eang iawn o ffyrdd i bobl sydd ag anghenion gofal (yn sgil iechyd, anabledd neu amgylchiadau eraill) fod yn rhan o weithgareddau’r amgueddfa fel ymwelydd neu drwy ein rhaglenni gwirfoddoli ac addysg. Croesawn ofalwyr drwy gyfrwng y mentrau hyn ac mae nifer o ofalwyr sydd wedi cymryd rhan, ond nid oes gennym eto lawer iawn o adnoddau sydd wedi’u cynllunio o gwmpas anghenion gofalwyr. 

Wrth edrych ymlaen at flwyddyn nesaf, mae’r Tîm Gwirfoddoli yn awyddus i ddarparu cyfleoedd sydd wedi’u cynllunio’n benodol ar gyfer gofalwyr. Gall hyn gynnwys gwirfoddolwyr sy’n gallu cefnogi gofalwyr wrth ymweld â’n hamgueddfeydd, neu, gall olygu cynllunio cyfleoedd gwirfoddoli i ofalwyr sy’n gweithio o amgylch gofynion gofalu. Ar hyn o bryd rydym yn dychmygu cymysgedd o opsiynau o ran presenoldeb – rhai cyfleoedd i ofalwyr fynychu neu ymuno â rhywbeth ar eu liwt eu hunain, eraill lle y gall gofalwyr wneud hynny gyda’r person y maen nhw’n gofalu amdanynt. 

Y darlun arferol o ofalwr yw rhywun hŷn, yn gofalu naill ai am riant oedrannus neu bartner. Mae sawl gofalwr yn gweddu’r disgrifiad hwnnw, ond mae yna hefyd fwy o bobl ifanc a phlant yn gofalu nag y mae’r rhan fwyaf o bobl yn ymwybodol ohono, ac mae gofynion gofalu mewn perygl o gael effaith andwyol ar eu haddysg, eu datblygiad ac ansawdd eu bywyd yn gyffredinol. Rydym felly yn cynllunio i gynnwys rhai cyfleoedd sydd wedi’u hanelu’n benodol at ofalwyr ifanc.   

Mae pobl o bob cymuned yn wynebu cyfrifoldebau gofal, a allai mewn rhai achosion fod yn fwy heriol yn sgil gwahaniaethu systemig ac anfantais. O’m profiad innau yn gofalu am fy mam-gu Iraci, gwelais fod y gwasanaethau cymorth oedd ar gael â bwriad gwirioneddol i groesawu pawb, ond bod bron pob un ohonynt wedi eu trefnu o amgylch arferion, ffyrdd o fyw, a phrofiadau bywyd poblogaeth Gwyn Prydeinig. Nid oedd y bwyd a’r gweithgareddau a gynigiwyd, a’r pynciau a drafodwyd (er enghraifft mewn therapi Atgof), yn berthnasol nac yn cynnig cysur iddi hi mewn unrhyw ffordd. Nid wyf yn awgrymu fod hyn yn rhoi dealltwriaeth i mi o brofiad rhywun arall, nid ydyw, ond mae yn rhoi dealltwriaeth i mi o gyfyngderau gweithredu un dull yn unig. 

Felly rydym yn ymwybodol y bydd angen i ni weithredu mewn modd amrywiol a gofalus, a dyma lle hoffem ofyn am eich cymorth. Rydym wedi llunio arolwg sy’n amlinellu rhai o’n syniadau hyd yma, ond hoffem hefyd glywed oddi wrthoch chi os ydych chi’n ofalwr neu wedi bod yn ofalwr yn y gorffennol. Os nad ydych yn ofalwr, byddem yn ddiolchgar pe baech yn medru ein helpu drwy rannu hwn gyda gofalwyr yr ydych yn eu hadnabod. 

Mae’r arolwg yn lansio ar Ddiwrnod Hawliau Gofalwyr ar 26 Tachwedd, ac ar yr un diwrnod rydym yn trefnu trafodaeth fyw ar-lein (gyda thocyn digwyddiad am ddim i bob gofalwr sy’n ymuno â ni). Gallwch ddod o hyd i fanylion ynglŷn â sut i gymryd rhan, a hefyd gweld y sesiynau ‘blasu’ ar yr un diwrnod, drwy gyfrwng tudalen Gwirfoddoli ar ein gwefan: https://amgueddfa.cymru/cymrydrhan/gofalwyr

Eich Sylwadau Tywydd

Penny Dacey, 16 Tachwedd 2020

Helo Cyfeillion y Gwanwyn,

Rydw i wedi mwynhau darllen eich sylwadau a gweld eich lluniau o'r diwrnod plannu. Rwy'n falch i weld cafodd pawb cymaint o hwyl yn plannu'r bylbiau ac i glywed bod chi'n mwynhau cymryd eich cofnodion tywydd. Daeth fy hoff sylw wythnos yma o Ysgol Pearson; roeddent yn hapus ei bod wedi bwrw glaw oherwydd y gallent gymryd darlleniad glawiad.

Dyma rai o'r sylwadau rydych wedi'u rhannu â'ch data tywydd hyd yn hyn:

Data tywydd

Pearson Primary School: Yay it finally rained a bit. Athro'r Ardd: It makes me very happy to think that being able to take rain measurements means you are happy to see it rain. Keep up the good work Bulb Buddies.

Our Lady of Peace Primary School: Hi Professor Plant its K* and A*, we are having so much fun doing this job thank you again from K* and A*. Athro'r Ardd: You are welcome Bulb Buddies, I’m glad you are enjoying the project!

Llanbedr Church in Wales Primary: We may need to look at the location of our rain catcher. Athro'r Ardd: If you have noticed that the rain catcher is being blocked in some way then it would be good to find a new location. Well done for observing this Bulb Buddies.

St Joseph's Primary (North Road): We've really enjoyed planting our bulbs and have set up our rain gauge. We're really looking forward to collecting our data! Athro'r Ardd: Fantastic work, I’m happy that you are enjoying the project.

Ochiltree Primary School: So fun and I enjoyed checking the measurements so much. Athro'r Ardd: Fantastic, keep up the good work!

Stanford in the Vale Primary School: A mild week with sunshine outbreaks - cannot believe we are in our 3rd week of observations! Athro'r Ardd: Time flies when you are having fun, keep up the great work Bulb Buddies.

St Peter Primary School (Plumbridge): We enjoyed our first week recording. It was very fun recording the temperature and rainfall. Athro'r Ardd: I’m glad you are enjoying the project, you really are super scientists!

Eich planhigion

St Patrick Primary School (Drumgreenagh): We enjoyed taking the temperature and the rainfall this week. We can`t wait until they bloom. We look at how they are doing every now and again. We hope we done a good job at looking after them. Athro'r Ardd: It sounds like you are doing a fantastic job Bulb Buddies.

Coastlands School: It has been very wet this week here in Coastlands! We are wondering if this will affect the growth of our plants. We know our plants need water, but surely not this much! Athro'r Ardd: Hi Bulb Buddies, thank you for your weather data and for the concern you’ve shown for your bulbs. It is possible for plants to receive too much water and this can cause damage and stunt growth. The plant pots you use have holes in them to help drain excess water. I would only worry if you notice that the soil becomes saturated and that puddles form on the surface for long periods of time. I would also like to check that you are entering your rainfall in mm and not cm measurements, as your rainfall does not seem to be overly high.

Llanedeyrn Primary School: On Monday we noticed a tip appearing from one of the pots - a daffodil bulb. Through the week 6 more tips of the daffodil bulbs are appearing. Athro'r Ardd: Fantastic work Bulb Buddies. Maybe you could take photos before you finish for the holidays and compare them when you are back in school!

Arkholme Primary School: A lot of leaves fell on the bulbs this week which gives them a nice blanket. It's been very wet this week but four bulbs have sprouted. Athro'r Ardd: Well done for watching your bulbs closely and spotting the first signs of growth.

St Mary Primary School (Co Down): Hello Professor Plant. We have planted our bulbs and we are waiting and watching for them to grow. We can't wait to see the flowers bloom. Athro'r Ardd: I’m glad to hear you are keeping a close eye on your plants Bulb Buddies, keep up the good work.

Carnbroe Primary School: No shoots have come out the plants yet. Athro'r Ardd: Well done for keeping watch of your plants Bulb Buddies.

Ochiltree Primary School: I really enjoyed planting the bulbs it was really fun and exciting. Athro'r Ardd: I’m glad you are enjoying the project Bulb Buddies.

Sylwadau tywydd

Athro'r Ardd: Diolch am eich arsylwadau tywydd Cyfeillion y Gwanwyn. Mae'n ddiddorol i gael trosolwg wythnosol o dywydd ardraws y DU!

YGG Tonyrefail: Wel am wythnos wlyb!! Gobeithio cawn wythnos brafiach yr wythnos nesaf. 

Darran Park Primary: We have had a mixture of sunshine, clouds, fog and rain showers this week.

Livingston Village Primary School: It was really foggy on Monday and Tuesday. 

Ysgol Bro Pedr: It's been a mixed week - lots of rain and some sunshine - no need to water the bulbs. 

Moffat Academy: H*, A*, R* and F*. November 9th: mild and cloudy with a warm sun. November 10th: dark sky with lots of clouds. November 11th: warm but very cloudy. November 12th: sunny with a very cold wind. November 13th: heavy rain but sunny periods. Athro'r Ardd: Thank you for the daily overview Bulb Buddies, keep up the good work.

Pil Primary School: There was more rainfall this week. The temperature went from 16 at the beginning of the week to 13 at the end of the week. We liked putting the information in. Athro'r Ardd: I’m glad to hear that you are enjoying taking weather records Bulb Buddies.

Sheuchan Primary School: Today was a bright sunny day but it has the lowest temperature. 

Newbuildings Primary School: Lots of rain in Northern Ireland as well as some lovely sunshine! 

Stanford in the Vale Primary School: It's been a mild week with outbreaks of sunshine! 

Holy Cross Girls Primary School: Wednesday was a very wet day, so we didn't get to check our plants until Thursday. It was a cold week, Tuesday was the hottest temperature. 

Litchard Primary School: It’s been a mild week this week. It’s been wet with some lovely sunshine during the day.

Newbuildings Primary School: Newbuildings has had a lot of rain this week. The heaviest rainfall was on Thursday and Tuesday was the warmest day. No sign of any shoots on our bulbs yet! 

Stanford in the Vale Primary School: We observed our first frosts this week - it’s been a cold week! 

Holy Cross Girls Primary School: Wednesday was a very wet day, so we didn't get to check our plants until Thursday. It was a cold week, Tuesday was the hottest temperature. 

Cofnodion Tywydd Wythnosol

Penny Dacey, 12 Tachwedd 2020

Helo Cyfeillion y Gwanwyn,

Rwyf isio rhoi diolch mawr i chi gyd am eich gwaith caled yn plannu eich bylbiau. Wnaethom ni plannu dros 18,800 o fylbiau ar draws y DU! Mi welais o’r llunia chafodd pawb llawer o hwyl yn helpu!

Wnaeth Cofnodion Tywydd cychwyn ar 2 Tachwedd. Mae 'na adnoddau dysgu ar y wefan i helpu paratoi am gymryd cofnodion tywydd. Rwyf wedi atodi hyn rhag ofn bod rhai heb ei gweld eto. Mae’r adnodd hyn yn helpu ymateb cwestiynau pwysig fel pam yw mesur tywydd yn bwysig i’n harbrawf.

Defnyddiwch eich siart tywydd i gofnodi'r glaw a’r tymheredd pob ddiwrnod y ydych yn yr ysgol. Ar ddiwedd yr wythnos, cofnodwch mewn i’r wefan i rannu eich canfyddiadau. Fedrwch hefyd gadael sylwadau a chwestiynau i fi ymateb yn fy blog nesaf!

Plîs gadewch i mi wybod sut ydych yn wneud, a rhannwch luniau trwy Twitter ac e-bost.

Daliwch ati Gyfeillion y Gwanwyn,

Athro’r Ardd

 

Sylwadau a rhannwyd hefo'r wythnos gyntaf o ddata tywydd:

Plannu bylbiau

St Patrick Primary School: We planted the bulbs on 3 November 2020 as it was a sunny day. We had so much fun planting the bulbs, it was a great experience for our class. Athro'r Ardd: I’m glad you enjoyed planting your bulbs Bulb Buddies. I hope you enjoy taking weather records too! 

Our Lady of Peace Primary School: Thank you for sending us bulbs we really enjoyed planting them from K and A. Athro'r Ardd: You are more than welcome Bulb Buddies, thank you for taking part in the project.  

Arkholme Primary School: We planted our bulbs before the half term holiday. The rain gauge and thermometer are set up and we enjoyed collected the information. Athro'r Ardd: Fantastic work Bulb Buddies, it sounds like you have everything under control. Thank you for sharing your weekly data. 

Livingston Village Primary School: We had lots of rain over the weekend so that is why our rainfall was so high on Monday. We have had some of our bulbs dug up so we used our night vision camera to watch and see what was happening. We saw a squirrel and a bird digging at our bulbs! Athro'r Ardd: I’m sorry to hear your bulbs were dug up, but what exciting detective work to find the culprit! I'd love to see the video footage if you are able to share it. It’s likely that the bird was making the most of the newly turned soil to look for food. Squirrels do eat some spring bulbs , but they are also known to dig up bulbs when looking for somewhere to store their food for the winter! If you find that your bulbs are dug up again, apparently sprinkling chilli flakes or powder in the area will deter squirrels.  

Coastlands School: Our professor plant has been wondering if the frosty mornings might effect the growth of our bulbs! Athro'r Ardd: Hi Bulb Buddies, that's a good question. We expect that the weather will affect the growth of our plants and that they will flower earlier if we have a mild winter. Your bulbs will be nice and warm in the soil for the winter. You might like origami booklet resource on the Spring bulb website, this looks at the secret life of a bulb and what your bulb does in winter. 

Casglu data tywydd

YGG Tonyrefail: Helo Athro'r ardd. Dyma ein canlyniadau cyntaf ni o YGG Tonyrefail. Rydw i'n falch o gael gweld yr heulwen!!! Athro'r Ardd: Diolch Cyfeillian y Gwanwyn, daliwch ati gyda'r gwaith da. 

Steelstown Primary School: Our first week of weather watching was good fun. We had to set an alarm to remind us to do it at the same time every day. Athro'r Ardd: Setting an alarm is a great idea Bulb Buddies! Thank you for sharing your data. 

Pearson Primary School: The children loved going down to the garden every day to check the temperature and to see if their plants are growing yet. As yet we have had no rain here, so hopefully we will get some over the weekend and the children can measure the rainfall next week. Athro'r Ardd: I’m glad that the class are enjoying the project. I love that they are hoping for rain so that they can take rainfall readings! Fantastic work Bulb buddies. 

Pil Primary School: There was a lot of rain on Monday! We liked recording the results. Athro'r Ardd: I’m glad you are enjoying taking weather readings. Keep up the good work Bulb Buddies. 

Sheuchan Primary School: Very wet start to week. Monday's rainfall figure includes from 2pm Friday to 2pm Monday. Athro'r Ardd: Thank you for emptying the rain gauge on the Friday Bulb Buddies, keep up the good work. 

Carreghofa Primary School: It hasn't rained much this week but on Monday Mr Roberts empty the funnel out so mondays results was not accurate. Athro'r Ardd: Thank you for letting me know Bulb Buddies, keep up the good work. 

St Mary Primary School (Co Down): Hello Professor Plant. We are the eco ambassador and the science champion in our class. We ae going to help our class observe the rainfall and the temperature this year to see the flowers grow. Athro'r Ardd: Thank you for taking on leading roles with this project Bulb Buddies. I look forward to your updates on how the investigation is going at your school. 

St Peter Primary School (Plumbridge): We enjoyed our first week recording. Athro'r Ardd: Fantastic Bulb Buddies, thank you for sharing your data. 

Arsylwadau tywydd

Athro'r Ardd: Diolch i'r ysgolion canlynol am yr arsylwadau tywydd maen nhw wedi'u rhannu â'u data wythnosol. Daliwch ati gyda'r gwaith gwych Cyfeillion y Gwanwyn.

Oystermouth Primary: Very dry end to the week in Mumbles. Temperatures appear high but it was much colder in reality. 

Porthcawl Primary: After loads of rain for the whole of half term and the start of the week it has been amazing sunshine since Wednesday 

Moffat Academy: At the weekend it was so rainy it filled up the rain-gage. The rest of the week was pretty dry. It felt very cold, though it was considerably warm temperature wise. Mostly cloudy through the week, with a bit of sun. Frost on the fifth, and mist or fog on the sixth. 

Newbuildings Primary School: The sun has been shining brightly in Newbuildings today! Monday and Tuesday have been very wet Thursday has been the hottest day of the week. Our bulbs are snug asleep in their little plant pots! 

Litchard Primary School: It's been frosty every morning with some ground frost. All the temp and rainfall has been the same and its sunny every afternoon. 

High Cross Primary School: We have noticed it has got colder this week. 

Ysgol Bro Pedr: It's been quite a cold week, but it's been really sunny towards the end of the week. 

Stanford in the Vale Primary School: We observed our first frosts this week - its been a cold week! 

Polychaetes in the Pandemic

Kelsey Harrendence , 11 Tachwedd 2020

How a Distanced Professional Training Year Can Still Be Enjoyable and Successful

As an undergraduate, studying biosciences at Cardiff University, I am able to undertake a placement training year. Taxonomy, the study of naming, defining, and classifying living things, has always interested me and the opportunity to see behind the scenes of the museum was a chance I did not want to lose. So, when the time came to start applying for placements, the Natural Sciences Department at National Museum Cardiff was my first choice. When I had my first tour around the museum, I knew I had made the right choice to apply to carry out my placement there. It really was the ‘kid in the candy shop’ type of feeling, except the sweets were preserved scientific specimens. If given the time I could spend days looking over every item in the collection and marvelling at them all. 

Of course, the plans that were set out for my year studying with the museum were made last year and, with the Covid-19 pandemic this has meant that plans had to change! However, everyone has adapted really well and thankfully, a large amount of the work I am doing can be done from home or in zoom meetings when things need to be discussed.

Currently, my work focuses on writing a scientific paper that will be centered on describing and naming a new species of shovel head worm (Magelonidae) from North America. Shovel head worms are a type of marine bristle worm and as the name describes, are found in the sea. They are related to earth worms and leeches. So far, my work has involved researching background information and writing the introduction for the paper. This  is very helpful for my own knowledge because when I applied for the placement I didn’t have the slightest clue about what a shovel head worm was but now I can confidently understand what people mean when they talk about chaetigers or lateral pouches!

Part of the research needed for the paper also includes looking closely at species found in the same area as the new species, or at species that are closely related in order to determine that our species is actually new.

Photos for the paper were taken by attaching a camera to a microscope and using special imaging stacking software which takes several shots at different focus distances and combines them into a fully focused image. While ideally, I would have taken these images myself, I am unable to due to covid restrictions, so my training year supervisor, Katie Mortimer-Jones took them.

Then I cleaned up the backgrounds and made them into the plates ready for publication. I am very fortunate that I already have experience in using applications similar to photoshop for art and a graphics tablet so it wasn’t too difficult for me to adjust what I already had in order to make these plates. Hopefully soon, I will be able to take these images for myself.

My very first publication in a scientific journal doesn’t seem that far away and I still have much more time in my placement which makes me very excited to see what the future holds. Of course, none of this would be possible without the wonderful, friendly and helpful museum staff who I have to express my sincere thanks to for allowing me to have this fantastic opportunity to work here, especially my supervisor, Katie Mortimer-Jones.