Volunteers are needed to help uncover an overgrown map of Wales. The earth sculpture has been languishing at a site on Anglesey for a decade but now conservationists want to tidy it up for future generations to enjoy.
The intriguing work, which is eleven yards long by six yards wide, was made by Welsh artist Paul Davies at the Llyn Alaw reservoir near Llannerch-y-Medd in the north half of the island. The sculpture has been overgrown by bramble, gorse and undergrowth for more than a decade.
Beca artist Paul Davies is probably best known for his "Welsh Not"-performance at the 1977 National Eisteddfod. People on and around Anglesey are invited to join volunteering events at the reservoir site in October and February, to help "rediscover" the huge map.
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Bangor University researcher Dr Sarah Pogoda, of the School of Arts, Culture and Language, is working on the project. She said: “Paul initiated the commission from Welsh Water in 1987 with the then European Commission’s “Year of the Environment”.
"Paul, Art & Design students from Coleg Llandrillo Menai (then Gwynedd Technical College) and local volunteers joined forces over months for building the sculpture, using only local materials. It is one of the first major works of so-called “land art” in Wales and the UK,” added Sarah.
She has been working with Welsh Water, Isle of Anglesey County Council’s Countryside and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Unit. Owen Davies, AONB Community Warden at the Isle of Anglesey County Council, has been taking the lead for clearing the sculpture from its overgrowth and organising the volunteering events for October this year and February 2024.
Owen explains: “We look forward to working with local schools and communities to help revive this historic artwork at Llyn Alaw using hand tools such as garden-loppers and bow-saws. This will be challenging and rewarding work given the current condition of the sculpture, so please, we need many helping hands!”
The first volunteering event will take place from October 13-15. Volunteers can be re-imbursed for their fuel, but we will also arrange lifts to and from the site. Portable toilet and hand washing facility will be available. Bring your own lunch.
Alwyn Roberts, of Welsh Water, said: “We’re delighted to play our part in bringing this piece of cultural heritage back to life. The area - and with it the sculpture - fell a bit off the public visibility since Alaw Fishery closed a number of years ago, but we hope that through our common efforts we will bring the sculpture back to be enjoyed by visitors to the site, as it is an important piece of local heritage.”
