Tir Coed's 25 Year Celebration in Bishop's Park
Written by Tir Coed / Monday 09 December 2024
We continued our 25 year anniversary celebrations at Bishop's Park, Carmarthenshire. Despite worsening weather conditions, which prevented many of our staff team and partner organisations from making the journey to the event, those who braved the elements were treated to a warm welcome and a fantastic day of activities.
The event was packed with a variety of outdoor workshops, including spoon carving, wooden ring making, straw craft and willow weaving, and of course more cake! It was heart-warming to see a mix of past trainees and newcomers to Tir Coed enjoying the occasion. Particularly rewarding was witnessing two of our past trainees, Dan and Peter, lead the spoon carving workshop. The skills and confidence they have developed during their time with Tir Coed were truly inspiring to see.
“I thought that running the spoon carving workshop would be a good opportunity to give back and pass on some of the skills I’d learned from previous Tir Coed courses. In the afternoon we had two ladies come along – they had a grand time – and went away as new converts to carving, the exact same thing that happened to me after my first Tir Coed course.”
Dan, Previous Tir Coed Trainee
Bishop's Park, home to the Carmarthenshire County Museum, provided a wonderful venue for the event. Participants and attendees were encouraged indoors to warm up and to see some historic examples of the heritage crafts they were trying their hand at, including harvest mares, Welsh love spoons and willow basketry.
Anne May, Engagement Officer for the Walled Garden Project at the Tywi Gateway Trust who manage Bishop’s Park shared her thoughts on the day:
“Participants from all walks of life attended, including a few Abergwili residents, some of Bishop’s Park’s volunteers and a trainee volunteer group, plus a group of home school children accompanied by their parents. The feedback received from participants was extremely positive and people went home with a handful of bespoke Christmas gifts which included willow bark coasters, carved wooden mushrooms and willow wreaths.
During the workshops, demonstrations and clear instructions were given on how to use sharp tools safely, by always pointing the knife blade away from you and moving the wood backwards, whilst holding the blade in place. Great care was given to ensuring that everyone felt confident to continue with their chosen tasks independently, knowing that support was on hand if required. While safety had obviously been very thoroughly considered, the team’s long-experience ensured an atmosphere that was warm, calm and immersive.
Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and one which highlighted the potential for further partnership work. We hope that we will have the opportunity to invite Tir Coed back to the park - in more favourable conditions – soon.”
Despite the challenging weather, the event was a great success. It was fantastic to see the community come together, celebrate Tir Coed's achievements and look forward to the future. We are grateful to everyone who attended and made the day special.
As we continue our anniversary celebrations, we remain committed to connecting people with the outdoors, promoting sustainable living and supporting the development of valuable skills. Thank you for being part of Tir Coed's journey.
Stay tuned for more updates as we celebrate 25 years of positive impact!
