River Rapping: Finding a Voice for the Afon Cegin

At North Wales Rivers Trust we believe lasting change for our rivers starts with community connection, to each other and to nature. As part of our Roots project, which focuses on improving the health of the rivers flowing into the Menai Strait, we’ve been working closely with the Maesgeirchen community to help provide opportunities for young people to connect with their river in meaningful, creative and hands-on ways. 

This work was strengthened by working in collaboration with Owen Maclean, a Maesgirchen resident and well known local rap artist. Together we ran a series of workshops that combined creative skill development with environmental learning. 

In the sessions, children aged from 5 -16 worked together to write their own lyrics inspired by their own experiences at the Afon Cegin. The children were encouraged to record through dictation, writing or drawing to make the process inclusive for different styles of expression. 

As well as writing their lyrics the children:

• Learned how to rap, perform and tell their story

• Developed skills in editing and producing their own music

• Took part in sessions at the river to learn about the ecology 

• Got hands-on with river litter clean-ups

The outcome of this initiative is a powerful, honest and uplifting rap that captures what the Afon Cegin means to the local youth. It covers personal thoughts and emotions, demonstrates pride in place, and highlights some of the challenges facing local rivers and the community that lives alongside it.  

The Afon Cegin flows into the Menai Strait, meaning what happens here has an impact far beyond the local area. By supporting young people to care about their river, we are helping to protect a much wider ecosystem.

This project has demonstrated that we can work with communities in creative ways that increase the inclusivity and sense of belonging in nature. If young people feel a sense of ownership for their local environment, they will become its strongest advocates. 

Help us amplify their voices by sharing their work with the youtube link above, celebrating the Afon Cegin, a river at the heart of its community.