Deputy Minister for Culture Sport and Tourism Launches Young Custodians of Conwy Castle

2 Oct 2019 10:26 AM

The learners from Ysgol Cystennin and Ysgol Babanod Mochdre have become the Young Custodians Wales for Conwy Castle.

Cadw’s Lifelong Learning team have worked with the children and the Castle to enable young people to have a castle as their Learning Zone and bring history to life.

Aged between 5 and 11 the youngsters will be the youth voice for any future decisions about this important World Heritage Site in North Wales.

This project is already going strong, the Young Custodians have already taken part in a double tapestry project, creating a medieval tapestry for the castle and another for their community with textile artist Cefyn Burgess.

The project has inspired bard Ieuan Wyn to create a piece to go alongside the tapestry of the life of the Princes created by Ysgol Cystennin.

The Young Custodians of both schools have had a hugely productive, fun, team building time learning about medieval history of their area and creating beautiful tapestries about the life of the Welsh princes and people of medieval Wales.

Rhian Jones, head teacher of both schools yesterday said:

This project is wonderful. The children have gained and learned so much, they have loved creating the beautiful tapestries and are really proud to be part of Young Custodians Wales.

The children have also run a logo competition to design their own unique Young Custodian Badges and the winner, Ester de Wet-Bunton, was announced at the Tapestry unveiling at Conwy Castle by Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas.

The badges act as a free entry to their site and encouragement to visit outside of school hours with their families to continue their learning journey.

Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis Thomas, yesterday said:

Young Custodians Wales is a great opportunity for schools across Wales to use heritage sites as their learning zones.  The tapestries created by the children of both schools are very impressive and creative.  It’s good to see such enthusiasm from the children about the Welsh princes.

Susan Mason, Head of lifelong learning Cadw yesterday said:

We aim to give opportunities across Wales to inspire creative learning using our rich heritage and iconic monuments.  The Young Custodians Wales is one of those projects which can be rolled out to other schools and heritage sites.

The tapestry created by Ysgol Babanod Mochdre will be launched in the Community at Creating Enterprise on 2nd October at 9.30am.