GWYNEDD youngsters took part in a slate art project which helped them learn about about their heritage

Pupils from Ysgol Y Felinheli, Ysgol Maenofferen and Ysgol Eifion Wyn worked with artist Eleri Jones and staff of Gwynedd Council’s Archive Service.

They prepared striking and creative art on the theme of slate.

The Year 5 and 6 pupils learned about the historical and cultural importance of the quarrying landscape in north-west Wales and the proposed World Heritage Site nomination.

They took part in a quiz, a talk about the slate industry and its significance by the Schools' Archive Service.

They were then given the opportunity to transfer the information into artwork with the help of Eleri Jones.

Old photographs and documents from the Archives were used to provide inspiration for the creation of printing plates, which were printed on paper, fabric and on banners.

Councillor Gareth Thomas, Gwynedd Council's Cabinet Member for Economic Development said: “Schemes such as the LleCHI Project are extremely important in giving young people in Gwynedd the opportunity to learn more about their heritage and to get the sense of ownership over that heritage. It is also great to see the young people of the county having the opportunity to play an important and active role in the World Heritage Site nomination for the slate landscape of north-west Wales.

“We know the historical and cultural importance of the quarries here in north Wales, and securing a World Heritage Site designation would give a huge boost to the continuing efforts to regenerate the slate communities of Gwynedd.”

Each school used coloured ink and chalks to create the slate colour associated with their area.

The colour blue was used for Blaenau Ffestiniog and green/blue/purple for the Llanberis area.

Pupils from Ysgol Eifion Wyn, painted boats, whilst Ysgol Maenofferen pupils painted wagons and houses whilst pupils from Ysgol Y Felinheli painted slate fences.

The handwriting on the artwork includes personal stories about the pupils' family connection with the slate industry, extracts of shanty songs, poetry and literature which include ‘Cwymp yn y Chwarel’ by Sian Lewis and ‘Bwli y Bradwr’ by Brenda Wyn Jones.

The artwork will be displayed in the Caernarfon and Dolgellau archives over the Summer holidays until the end of September.

In addition, in a joint scheme with the National Slate Museum, a group of LleCHI Ambassadors for Secondary schools have been recruited.

They will bring together the young people of the Welsh Slate areas, and through a series of workshops, visits and events train and develop them to become Young Ambassadors for the World Heritage Application.

The aim is to equip young people to become LleCHI Young Ambassadors.

The scheme is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and works across Gwynedd's quarrying communities to try and empower, re-connect and regenerate those communities through heritage and to complement the wider work of developing a nomination to seek World Heritage Site status for the slate landscape of north-west Wales.

For more information about the World Heritage Site nomination for the slate landscape of north west-Wales, visit www.llechi.cymru or email llechi@gwynedd.llyw.cymru