Roots Project Takes Part In YnYS Mon Sculpture trail
As part of the North Wales Rivers Trust’s Roots Project, we’ve been out in communities across the catchments flowing into the Menai Strait—listening, learning, and reconnecting people with their rivers.
Most recently, we joined the Aberlleiniog Sculpture Trail event in Llangoed, Ynys Môn—a celebration of art, place and landscape that invited visitors to follow the river on a journey all the way to the Menai Strait. It was a powerful reminder that rivers are not just waterways, but threads that connect communities, stories and nature.
Based in the gardens of Llangoed Village Hall, our team created a space for people to pause, reflect and share their own connections to their local river.
Through printmaking and creative mapping, we invited visitors to explore:
their memories of the river
how it makes them feel
what they value—and what they worry about
What emerged was a rich tapestry of stories, from childhood memories to concerns about pollution and change. These moments of reflection are at the heart of the Roots Project—helping people see their river not just as something nearby, but as something they are part of.
Alongside the creative sessions, we explored practical solutions inspired by circular economy thinking. One highlight was experimenting with simple biochar water filters made from reused plastic bottles—demonstrating how low-cost, innovative ideas can help reduce pollution and improve water quality.
These hands-on activities sparked conversations about how small actions, when taken together, can make a real difference to the health of our rivers.
Makeshift biochar filter
Events like this show the power of bringing creativity and environmental action together. By meeting people where they are—through art, conversation and shared experience—we can build stronger connections to the rivers that shape our landscapes.
A huge thank you to the Llangoed community for such a warm welcome, and to the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation for supporting the Roots Project.
