Summer Conversations '14
It was decided that Cymerau should start with a first level of consultation with local people and visitors in summer 2014. This was aimed at gathering some information about what people think/know about water in the Cymerau area, raising awareness of the project, gathering contacts, and at trialling a map-based approach to getting conversations started, using very open questions.
The process was as follows:
· People were introduced to a map showing the Dyfi Biosphere area (the third event used a map of the more limited Cymerau case study area instead, so as to focus in);
· They were asked to put a pin into the map at a particular place associated with water;
· They were asked to explain why they had chosen that place by writing on a post-it/and/or making a short recording.
The process was as follows:
· People were introduced to a map showing the Dyfi Biosphere area (the third event used a map of the more limited Cymerau case study area instead, so as to focus in);
· They were asked to put a pin into the map at a particular place associated with water;
· They were asked to explain why they had chosen that place by writing on a post-it/and/or making a short recording.
The Centre For Alternative Technology
Three occasions were used for the consultation, each providing a different kind of audience. We differentiated between people who are local to the area and those who were visitors. In all 189 people took part in the consultation process but only 152 (80.42%) actually recorded why they chose a specific place. Audio recordings were collected as well as written comments.
The initial event was the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) 40th Birthday celebration. The response was good with a total of 96 people taking part. 41(42.70%) places were identified by people who described themselves as 'local and 55 (57.29%) by people who were visitors to the area.
The second event was at the Living World day, organised by Ceredigion Museum in Aberystwyth and coinciding with the Sea2Shore event on the Promenade. Only 16 people took part in the consultation, of which 14 (87.5%) described themselves as 'local' and 2 (12.5%) as visitors.
The third event was the annual Tal-y-bont Show. Tal-y-bont is one of the two villages in the case study area and the show attracts many local people. The total number of people who took part was 77, of which 55 (71.42%) identified themselves as 'local' and 22 (28.5%) as visitors to the area.
The initial event was the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) 40th Birthday celebration. The response was good with a total of 96 people taking part. 41(42.70%) places were identified by people who described themselves as 'local and 55 (57.29%) by people who were visitors to the area.
The second event was at the Living World day, organised by Ceredigion Museum in Aberystwyth and coinciding with the Sea2Shore event on the Promenade. Only 16 people took part in the consultation, of which 14 (87.5%) described themselves as 'local' and 2 (12.5%) as visitors.
The third event was the annual Tal-y-bont Show. Tal-y-bont is one of the two villages in the case study area and the show attracts many local people. The total number of people who took part was 77, of which 55 (71.42%) identified themselves as 'local' and 22 (28.5%) as visitors to the area.
Ceredigion Museum
The information was collated under five headings, although there was some cross over between the headings. The first, Personal Association and Recreation recorded the highest number of comments (38%)
The following extracts give a flavour of the comments.
A. Personal Association and Recreation
Comments ranged from the very thoughtful, showing a long and deep experience of a particular place to the light-hearted recreational response. In between these there was a whole variety of knowledge and emotional experience of place.
'For nearly thirty years I have loved walking up Cwm Einion and spending time at the stunning pools and waterfalls there. It is a place for quiet contemplation. It’s timeless and I very rarely see anyone else there.'
'Moel y llyn. Mae e'n lle diogelwch. Pwysig am ffermwyr o gwmpas. Pan ydy'r ddwr mor uwch ar y mynydd?' (Moel y llyn. It's a safe place. Important for farmers around here. Why is there water so high on the mountain?)
'The hidden waterfall at the top of Cwm Clettwr. Visiting it with family in the middle of winter with its huge icicles is magical.'
B. Natural History and Biodiversity
Those who offered a place that was specifically associated with wildlife or biodiversity appeared to be people who have a professional interest in these subjects or who have a long-standing association with watching wildlife in that particular place. There is a mix of simple observation with comments that relate to issues associated with conservation or the effects of climate change.
'Cors Fochno) Let it change into a saline bog. Probably will happen anyway.'
'The Dyfi estuary - important wetland area for osprey and otter - fish eating wildlife.'
'The stretch of the Leri between Dol-y-bont and the caravan park. Great because there have been kingfishers here, although not seen since the 2012 floods. Also good for goosander in winter, otters and dragonflies. An undisturbed stretch of the Leri. Discusses the original route of the Leri and that it may have come out through where the golf course now is.'
The following extracts give a flavour of the comments.
A. Personal Association and Recreation
Comments ranged from the very thoughtful, showing a long and deep experience of a particular place to the light-hearted recreational response. In between these there was a whole variety of knowledge and emotional experience of place.
'For nearly thirty years I have loved walking up Cwm Einion and spending time at the stunning pools and waterfalls there. It is a place for quiet contemplation. It’s timeless and I very rarely see anyone else there.'
'Moel y llyn. Mae e'n lle diogelwch. Pwysig am ffermwyr o gwmpas. Pan ydy'r ddwr mor uwch ar y mynydd?' (Moel y llyn. It's a safe place. Important for farmers around here. Why is there water so high on the mountain?)
'The hidden waterfall at the top of Cwm Clettwr. Visiting it with family in the middle of winter with its huge icicles is magical.'
B. Natural History and Biodiversity
Those who offered a place that was specifically associated with wildlife or biodiversity appeared to be people who have a professional interest in these subjects or who have a long-standing association with watching wildlife in that particular place. There is a mix of simple observation with comments that relate to issues associated with conservation or the effects of climate change.
'Cors Fochno) Let it change into a saline bog. Probably will happen anyway.'
'The Dyfi estuary - important wetland area for osprey and otter - fish eating wildlife.'
'The stretch of the Leri between Dol-y-bont and the caravan park. Great because there have been kingfishers here, although not seen since the 2012 floods. Also good for goosander in winter, otters and dragonflies. An undisturbed stretch of the Leri. Discusses the original route of the Leri and that it may have come out through where the golf course now is.'
Tal-y-bont Show
C. Landscape and Views
This section of the feedback was subtly different to that recorded in Section A. Although the experience was personal, the person focused more on the values of a particular landscape in general and often referred to emotional and sensory values associated with it, such as 'tranquility', ''quietness' or 'isolation.
'Llechwedd Mawr. Prydferthwch a tawelwch. Lle mae'r afon yn rhedeg i Nant-y-Moch.' (Llechwedd Mawr. Beautiful and quiet. A place where the river runs to Nant-y-Moch).
'I enjoy the view across the bay and down to the sea and horizon. I feel that there are few beauty spots that equal this.'
'Ynyslas: Wide open space, with great sand dunes full of wildlife. Yet, always space to watch for miles, feels like a deserted beach area. Good for deep thinking!!'
D. Cultural
'This section gave us a mixture of those places associated with family history and those associated with a previous way of life or industry. There were a few references to places that have a spiritual or legendary association.'
'Llandre - the stream which runs down the hillside and used to supply the village where my ancestors lived for over 300 years. There is also an ancient well, which stands close by. I enjoyed climbing the little waterfall there as a child. When I stay in Llandre I look forward to drinking the soft, delicious water supplied in this area.'
'Einion mine - water played a critical role in the lead mining industry - it powered machinery (the mine contains a rare water-wheel in situ) and it was a huge challenge and danger to mining below the water table.'
E. Issues
The section dealing with issues recorded the second highest input. This indicates that a significant number of people (14.28%) are thinking about water in terms of the connection with issues, such as climate change and flooding. In many cases this was because they are personally affected by this.
'A good place to go swimming in the sea. Hope environment means that there isn't flooding in this part of the coast (Impact of sea defences). The beach is changing before our eyes.'
'I have a love/hate relationship with the Leri. It flows gently down the side of my garden, or at least it does most of the time, but in 2012 it had a bad day! It not only flowed through the garden but into my house - not good. The small area of the bridge is very pretty, but it is too small for this river - big problems, still not resolved...'
'Big concerns over disturbance to water in Nant y Moch area due to lead pollution in that area - water supplies to, for example, Bow Street.'
This section of the feedback was subtly different to that recorded in Section A. Although the experience was personal, the person focused more on the values of a particular landscape in general and often referred to emotional and sensory values associated with it, such as 'tranquility', ''quietness' or 'isolation.
'Llechwedd Mawr. Prydferthwch a tawelwch. Lle mae'r afon yn rhedeg i Nant-y-Moch.' (Llechwedd Mawr. Beautiful and quiet. A place where the river runs to Nant-y-Moch).
'I enjoy the view across the bay and down to the sea and horizon. I feel that there are few beauty spots that equal this.'
'Ynyslas: Wide open space, with great sand dunes full of wildlife. Yet, always space to watch for miles, feels like a deserted beach area. Good for deep thinking!!'
D. Cultural
'This section gave us a mixture of those places associated with family history and those associated with a previous way of life or industry. There were a few references to places that have a spiritual or legendary association.'
'Llandre - the stream which runs down the hillside and used to supply the village where my ancestors lived for over 300 years. There is also an ancient well, which stands close by. I enjoyed climbing the little waterfall there as a child. When I stay in Llandre I look forward to drinking the soft, delicious water supplied in this area.'
'Einion mine - water played a critical role in the lead mining industry - it powered machinery (the mine contains a rare water-wheel in situ) and it was a huge challenge and danger to mining below the water table.'
E. Issues
The section dealing with issues recorded the second highest input. This indicates that a significant number of people (14.28%) are thinking about water in terms of the connection with issues, such as climate change and flooding. In many cases this was because they are personally affected by this.
'A good place to go swimming in the sea. Hope environment means that there isn't flooding in this part of the coast (Impact of sea defences). The beach is changing before our eyes.'
'I have a love/hate relationship with the Leri. It flows gently down the side of my garden, or at least it does most of the time, but in 2012 it had a bad day! It not only flowed through the garden but into my house - not good. The small area of the bridge is very pretty, but it is too small for this river - big problems, still not resolved...'
'Big concerns over disturbance to water in Nant y Moch area due to lead pollution in that area - water supplies to, for example, Bow Street.'
