Browsing Tag

Wales

Cymraeg dailyconnectionwithnature feature field recordings politics Wales

on borders and ecosystems

February 17, 2020

 Sophie McKeandIn response to a week-long creative residency at the National Trust’s Chirk Castle, Jan/Feb 2020 To ascend the steep, tree-lined, bird-song-filled lane and face Chirk Castle’s imposing portcullis entrance, is to do no less than to hike through centuries of time. Multifaceted layers hang like bright linen sheets in the morning fog of these borderlands, of y ffîn, so that if you slow down for long enough you might feel a slight caress on the cheek, or a brush…

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Cymraeg feature nature poetry Wales

Hanes (parts 1 & 2)

June 22, 2018

Today I hiked along the north Wales hills. This photograph (thanks Andy) has made me smile because it reminds me of how far I’ve come. Around 13 years ago the world changed quite dramatically and I felt as if I were going quite mad while at the same time discovering both myself and a deep and profound connection with nature. I had a compulsion to walk these hills as I tried to understand the new ways in which I was…

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feature nature poetry

On losing dogs, finding my heart, and Creative Wales awards.

February 14, 2018

One of our family went missing in an unfamiliar forest recently. It was a traumatic experience because he’s always come back. We called and whistled but he was gone. After nearly an hour we began the return journey to the van without him and planned to stay in the area for as long as it took to find him. Soon after that he called to me. Quite clearly. A squeeze in the chest. I’ll be back where we parted. By…

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vanlife

Folie á deux

December 8, 2017

The decision to sell or gift everything we own that couldn’t fit into our Mercedes Sprinter LWB hi-top was both exhilarating & terrifying. As we leapt from the cliff face of our normal lives the months spiralled past in a dreamlike fashion. Our vision was to let go of the all the objects & toxic behaviour patterns that held us back while re-attaching ourselves to, or rediscovering, the things that sing to our hearts including friends, our creative spirits, family…

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