River Rapping: Finding a Voice for the Afon Cegin

At the North Wales Rivers Trust, we believe that lasting change starts with connection—helping people feel proud of their local environment and inspired to protect it.

That’s exactly what we’ve been building along the Afon Cegin.

As part of our work to improve rivers flowing into the Menai Strait, we’ve been working closely with the community in Maesgeirchen through our Roots Project—creating opportunities for young people to connect with their river in meaningful, creative and hands-on ways.

Working with local rap artist Owain McLean, young people from Maesgeirchen Youth took part in a series of sessions combining creativity with environmental learning.

They didn’t just write lyrics—they:

• learned how to rap, perform and tell their story

• developed skills in editing and producing their own music

• took part in river-based sessions, including invertebrate sampling

• got hands-on with river clean-ups

Through this process, the river became more than just a backdrop—it became something personal.

The result is a powerful, honest and uplifting rap that captures what the Afon Cegin means to them. It speaks of pride, identity and the real challenges facing local rivers.

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.

Projects like this are about more than awareness—they are about building long-term stewardship. When young people feel ownership of their local environment, they 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.