Casi Wyn led the students of Ysgol Llangoed on a voyage of discovery. Taking inspiration from the blooming hedgerows and natural areas in the grounds of the school, they discovered together the unique relationship between words and nature.

Year 5 and 6 started with thinking about ‘What is a poet?’Casi read some of the poems she developed during her time as Wales’ Childrens Poet, including a poem about the 2022 World Cup. The group then discussed the poems and developed some themes of interest to them. They then visited the pond, closing their eyes, taking a moment to listen to the sounds around them, making connections between their senses and words, poetry and writing. The poem they wrote was called ‘Yn Yr Ardd’

Year 3 and 4 were very proud of the area in the school’s trees were they had been building constructions and dens. They observed and discussed the area there, the woodpeckers, twigs, nuts and leaves.  Their writings and words grew into their poem ‘Sut i adeiladu den?’

Year 1 and 2 explored the flowers and plantings by the school’s afterschool garden club. They played a game – how many flowers can you find? Back in the classroom they explored both the English and Welsh names for the flowers they found, discussing emotions, textures and colours they discovered outside. Their poem was named : ‘Blodau Y Byd’

The day finished with a sharing of all the poems with everyone in the school along with Casi  singing several Welsh folk songs inspired by nature, showing the link between Welsh language, poetry and music.

The poems created during and after the workshop will be entered in the 2024 Llangoed Flower Show, Welsh Language poetry being one of the categories in both the Youth and Adult sections.

Casi Wyn was the Wales’ Youth Poet Laureate from 2021-2023. In addition to her ongoing work as an inspiring poet, she is a familiar face in Wales and beyond as a singer and songwriter. Many of her songs are regularly played on radio stations across the UK.