Children’s poems bring Yr Wyddfa to life in new book
A new bilingual poetry book celebrating Wales’ most iconic mountain has been launched thanks to a partnership between the University of Chester, the Eryri National Park Authority, and North Wales primary schools.
The book, titled Yr Wyddfa: Retracing Footsteps – I Remember…, brings together words and illustrations created by children from Capel Garmon, Betws-y-Coed, and Dolwyddelan schools, inspired by the history and landscape of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).
The project grew from the Retracing Footsteps: The Past, Present and Future of Yr Wyddfa exhibition currently on display at Betws-y-Coed Visitor Information Centre.
The exhibition explores the 19th-century visitor books once kept at the mountain’s summit and uses them to reflect on how people experience Yr Wyddfa today.
Earlier this year, 24 pupils from the three schools attended a workshop led by University of Chester academics Dr Daniel Bos and Dr Cian Quayle.
They discussed the history of tourism on Yr Wyddfa and the significance of the old visitor books that form part of the Retracing Footsteps research project.
The session also featured Welsh children’s author and former Wales Poet Laureate, Casia Wiliam. She guided pupils to write their own poems inspired by the mountain, drawing on their senses, memories, and imagination.
Graphic designer Dr Alan Summers later compiled the poems and artwork into the new publication, which the team personally delivered to the pupils.
Dr Daniel Bos said: “Working closely with the local schools offered a wonderful glimpse into how students engage with the history and poetry found in those books. It was truly inspiring to see how young people today reimagine and perceive the mountain, bringing fresh perspectives to our understanding of this special place.
“It has been particularly rewarding to collaborate with the Eryri National Park Authority in understanding some of the challenges they and local communities face in conserving and protecting the mountain, as well as exploring how creative work can influence and offer new perspectives on the landscape.
“Being able to visit and personally deliver the books to the schools and students was a memorable experience. Seeing the students’ faces and the excitement that their poems are now part of a book they can keep and share with their families and friends was especially gratifying.”
Nia Artell-Jones, Headteacher at Dolwyddelan, Capel Garmon and Betws-y-Coed schools, said: “Taking part in this project has been such a special opportunity for our pupils. Yr Wyddfa is a mountain they have all experienced in some form of another, but through poetry and art they discovered new ways to connect with it and to share what it means to them.
“Working with the University of Chester, the Eryri National Park Authority and Casia Wiliam really sparked their imagination, and they were all very proud to see their words and drawings brought together in a beautiful book. It’s something they’ll remember for a long time.”
Ioan Gwilym, Head of Communications at Eryri National Park Authority, added: “It’s important for us as an organisation that helps care for this place, to listen to what the next generation thinks and feels about Yr Wyddfa. The children’s poems capture the wonder, respect, and curiosity that so many feel when they visit the mountain, and how creativity can deepen our connection with the landscape and help us think about its future. These poems are not just reflections, they’re reminders that this mountain belongs to them too.”
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