A summer programme to celebrate the River Teifi is announced.

2/7/25

To celebrate the River Teifi's wildlife, culture and heritage, several free summer events have been programmed by Small World Theatre working with spacetocreate this summer, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Llais yr Afon project focuses on restoring and protecting the River Teifi, while involving local communities in its improvement. The project that includes West Wales Rivers Trust and Save the Teifi, has already engaged 300 people in public consultations and is gathering momentum with plans for future events to further input on the river's future.

Ann Shrosbree, Small World Theatre said

"The River Teifi is a beautiful, much loved and vital resource that faces challenges from pollution, climate change and unsustainable land use.West Wales Rivers Trust identified five themes of public concern from the consultation process. These are access to the river, restoring water quality, protecting habitats and species, food and farming and recognising the culture and heritage of one of Wales' most iconic rivers. These inspired a People's Plan for the Teifi."

A new programme of guided walks, talks and creative workshops has emerged from the People's Plan, and we will also include a replica of Idris Mathias' famous illustrated map.

Guy Norman, spacetocreate said

"Idris Mathias' map has been a great source of inspiration. We worked in schools in Cenarth, Llechryd, Cilgerran, Cardigan and St Dogmaels to create collages, prints and shadow puppet theatre performances for showcase events in villages."

A copy of the original Idris Mathias map is expected to draw crowds this summer as it appears alongside the programme. The organisers are inviting more people to share their stories, concerns and knowledge at the events as they work towards creating a new contemporary folk map to be displayed in communities along the Lower Teifi Valley at the end of this year.

The Llais yr Afon Summer Programme appears in St Dogmaels Festival, the Welsh Wildlife Centre, Small World Theatre, Bethania Chapel Vestry, Cardigan County Agricultural Show, Cardigan River and Food Festival and Cilgerran Festival Week.