Mapping Nature and Culture on the Afon Cegin

Last week we held two eco-cultural mapping sessions as part of our work on the Afon Cegin. These sessions were designed to bring together local knowledge, creativity, and science to better understand this fascinating catchment and shape ideas for its future.

Rhiwlas: stories and species

We began at Rhiwlas Village Hall, where we placed tracing paper over large maps of the Cegin and invited the community to mark out important features and species. People shared memories of the river’s past, observations of the present, and ideas for how we can improve the Cegin going forward. The room was full of local expertise — from wildlife records to stories of how the landscape has changed over time.

Maesgeirchen: riverside activities and art

The second session took place by the river near Maesgeirchen estate. Here, we invited passers-by to take part in hands-on activities, including invertebrate identification and a community litter pick. We also continued adding to our collaborative map, which by this stage had grown into a striking mural thanks to artist Jess Balla.

The sessions gave us a rich picture of the Cegin as both a natural and cultural space, and we’re excited to carry this community insight forward into the next stages of the project.