Pontypridd Great Big Green Week – reconnecting with the River Taff

Pontypridd Great Big Green Week – reconnecting with the River Taff.

In February 2020, Pontypridd was devastated by Storm Dennis which saw hundreds of homes and businesses flooded, ruined roads, smashed bridges and lives turned upside down. Experiencing climate change in the raw, in your home town is an experience we will never forget. But the people of Pontypridd are strong, our community is close-knit and out of the devastation we saw an army of friends and neighbours we had never met sweeping contaminated water from homes, working together to fill skips with the wreckage, offering hot meals, cash donations, hugs of sympathy and comfort. Together, our community learnt about what a climate emergency looks and feels like when it reaches your doorstep. See a video from that day here. 

Over 18 months later, Angela Karadog, Project Co-ordinator of Pontydysgu’s European Circular Economy Youth Project saw Great Big Green Week as an opportunity to bring a few people together. Angela said “Initially, I registered Pontypridd Green Week expecting to run maybe a single event for the project combined with some social media through the week. But the people of Pontypridd had other ideas! We partnered with Climate.Cymru and Pontypridd Friends of the Earth and have organised a full week of activities, workshops, arts, presentations and celebrations, we are even writing a Bill of Rights for the river!”

The week starts with a fancy-dress litter pick in the town centre and activities at Clwb y Bont (a much loved venue badly hit by the 2020 floods) including upcycled art, recycled fashion and a film screening.  At the end of the week there is a Repair Cafe, permaculture workshop and a plant swap. Local politicians are getting involved by hosting a Senedd visit and collecting views on how to maintain momentum.

The week ends with a ceremony bringing the community together to convey a Bill of Rights, compiled by local people, for the River Taff, which flows through the heart of the town. Local artist Lupin Wright is drafting the rights on a scroll handcrafted from local plants which will be presented during the celebration. The ceremony will start with a river-side litter pick and include poetry from Rufus Mufasa, songs from Pontypridd Community Choir, a parade and blessings.

Hayley Richards of Pontypridd Friends of the Earth explains “Our community has not had a chance to come together to reflect on the devastating flooding of 2020 and think about our future. We hope this ceremony is a positive way to begin this process. It is an opportunity to make peace with the River Taff, reconnect with the river and better understand the important role the Taff plays in our lives and in support of nature.” 

Organiser Contact Details;

Angela Karadog

@angerrard

angela.gerrard@gmail.com

pontygreenweek@gmail.com

http://ceyou.eu

01443 405386 / 07736322610 

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