Sgyrsiau Cwrwgl // Coracle Conversations

THE CORACLE AS A SPACE FOR CONVERSATION

Lindsey and Katie hold the first coracle conversation, at the launch of Oracl Cwrwgl Conwy. They discuss how cosy it feels in the coracle and how to use the space and seat to support good conversations.

WISHES

To be able to have a cup of tea while in the coracle!

That the coracle becomes a symbol as well as a practical tool for freshwater conversations - perhaps in situations of conflct - in the Conwy Valley.

HOW THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT HAS LOST CONNECTION WITH COMMUNITY

Chris Baine and Craig Bennett discussed the evolution and challenges of the environmental movement. They explore the shift from community-driven environmentalism and partnership approaches to urban conservation in the 1970s, to professionalized NGOs in the 1990s and problems with competition between organisations and loss of community involvement. They consider the potential now for bringing together professionalism AND bottom-up community engagement in order to work more effectively to restore rivers and wetlands.

WISHES

Chris wished for a visual/auditory journey which would increase public understanding of the interconnections along the Conwy Valley, while Craig advocated for rivers as the backbone of nature restoration..

THE VALLEY JOURNEY OF A WATER MOLECULE
14-year old Elowen reflects with Lindsey on the symbolic and practical aspects of water. They imagine the journey and experience of water molecules, and their transformation from water to gas and back again as they travel down the valley. They reflect on the resilience of water, its interconnectedness with everything and its ability to adapt.

WISHES

Elowen wishes to visit every spring in the Conwy Valley

LEARNING TO LIVE ALONGSIDE, AMONGST AND IN SOLIDARITY WITH HEALTH FRESH WATER

Victoria talks of why she originally got involved in Gofod Glas because of the language used, and being asked to think about the river in a different way and not as a power dynamic, colonial, political thing or a way of making money.

She feels strongly about the precarious nature of our contemporary relationship with water, and our separation from it, compared to the old, indigenous ways.

Victoria and Lindsey agree that the one thing that’s for certain is that we can’t continue like this. And they share stories - from their own experience, the past, and other areas of the world - that show not always been like this.

Victoria draws on her freshwater swimming experiences - feeling the suspension and immersion and losing your outer limits so she feels part of the water: Tasting and sensing waters in different lakes and rivers in the Conwy Valley - water coming from bedrock is so sweet that it almost tastes like it has sugar in it.

They go on to discuss some of the Gofod Glas questions, and what could be done.

WISH

That we learn how to live alongside, amongst and in solidarity with healthy fresh water.

CONSIDERING THE GOFOD GLAS QUESTIONS

Llifo Conwy worked through all the Gofod Glas questions, and tried arranging them - through discussion and negotiation - on a line from ‘straightforward/easy to answer’ to ‘difficult/complex’ to answer.

Of course, some questions initially thought to be straightforward to answer, others thought were more complex. And some felt that the positioning depended on your point of view - perhaps an organisation might think something is sorted, but a community might not. The questions to the river provoked the biggest range of opinions.

The 7 ‘easiest’ to answer questions:

• What’s the longest river in the valley?

• Is there any support to build a pond or get a water butt?

• Where is the best place to watch the salmon leap?

• How many springs are there feeding the Conwy valley? Which are the cleanest? Which taste the best?

• [To the river]: do you want to have rights?

• Where are the worst pollution problems?

• What can we do about tourists/vans/human waste in Dyffryn Mymbyr?

[40 questions in the middle]

The 6 ‘most complex’ questions:

• What are the politics of freshwater, the power-dynamics, the impact of continued colonial legacy and assumptions?

• How can we change the system? Where does the power lie?

• How do we make information more accessible and interesting?

• [to the river}: Do you want to have rights?

• What stories and lives have been hidden in places like wetlands, and are now being lost and/or revealed?

• How does commercial forestry affect water quality? Do we even need commercial forestry anymore?

THE NEED FOR MORE INNOVATIVE, EMPATHIC AND HOLISTIC WATER MANAGEMENT

Emily and Bev had a wide-ranging and personal conversation about the emotional, philosophical and practical dimensions of freshwater stewardship. They shared stories of their professional work in the field, personal experiences and deep emotional connections to freshwater environments. Exploring examples of working with farmers to reduce livestock access to rivers and decreasing nutrient pollution, personal experiences of sewage flooding and concerns about swimming in potentially polluted rivers, they discussed the limitations of current data-driven and regulatory approaches, and the need for more innovative, empathetic, and holistic ways of thinking about water management.

WISHES

For stronger connections between people and rivers, in both in their professional work and in the wider community.

For a deeper, more intuitive understanding of rivers—imagining what it would be like if rivers could communicate their needs directly.

BEING FISH AND RIVER

8-year old Iago shares his favourite place to swim - Lluniau Mymbwr. He loves the sun shining on the water. He says that when he jumps in the water it makes him feel happy. He feels that this makes the water feel happy too, and the water gives a thank you by making the water warmer for you.

He feels that fish in the water are like family. That they understand him. They don’t go away when he goes in the water, and he loves it when they put their softness on his legs. Its really good. It makes him like he’s the king fish or something. He likes wearing goggles to see the fish and everything under the water.

He imagines how it is to be a fish. The fish feels safe in the water, and likes to go on ledges and in different directions, exploring places they’ve never been. The fish needs have rocks and stones to hide in when things come that might want to eat him. The fish doesn’t need much from humans. We don’t usually go to humans because they stay in deep waters, while humans go to the edge to catch us. Humans are affecting the water, putting bottles and throwing things in the water. David Nash’s wooden ball doesn’t affect us though - it makes us smile because it looks pretty and i like it.

To answer some of the questions that people have asked the river, Iago imagines that he is the river. He feels it is tiring to have such a long body, going down the valley bump, bump, bump. His arms can change directions, and he likes it when his legs go faster, in a thunderstorm (lthough splashing on the rocks really hurts.) I says thank you to humans who swim in me and who say thank you to me.

WHY HAS THE AFON BACH STARTED TO RUN DRY?

Concerned and saddened by its demise, Liz wonders how could we protect the Afon Bach so it’s life force continues to be in our community?

Liz and Jenny explore what has been affecting the Afon Bach, and come up with a series of questions that they’d like to find answers to:

• How have humans altered the landscape and water over the years?

• Will the river try to move from its current path?

• Why have the salmon left the Afon Bach and could they return?

• Could we all work together to revitalize and protect the Afon Bach and how could I help?

They end by sharing ideas of what could we do to support the stream so it doesn’t dry up? (in the context of climate change and cycles) eg nature based solutions; river restoration; could wetland restoration on upper levels support base flows for longer; ‘leaky dams’/pools that don’t stop fish moving

WISHES

I wish that we can minimize and adapt to climate change so that there is enough water to sustain people and nature in this catchment and the wider Conwy/Cymru

My wish would be for us to work together to restore/improve the Afon Bach and surroundings to enable salmon and other species to use it again and in the future

BUILDING TRUST AND HONEST CONVERSATIONS WITH FARMING COMMUNITIES

Richard and Justin consider the complexities of working with farming communities on issues of nature recovery and sustainable water management, recognising some farmers perceive nature recovery initiatives as accusatory or as a critique of their stewardship.

Is it possible to change the narrative to one that recognizes the interconnectedness of nature, livelihoods, and community resilience, emphasizing that long-term sustainability requires solutions that benefit both the environment and rural economies?

They discuss the need to shift away from rigid, top-down approaches towards personal relationships, peer-to-peer learning, careful negotiation, flexibility and a willingness to engage in open, sometimes difficult, conversations.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Megan and Jenny chose to discuss one of the Gofod Glas questions - What can I do? They discussed the challenges of trying to work out what they - and others - can do as individuals, and in community, within the context of the big systemic issues such as embodied water, that affect use, levels and quality of freshwater. Ideas included saving water at home and ‘water literacy training’ (eg where does your tap water come from?), to field days and experiences introducing freshwater conservation to young people and students. They discussed the importance of building emotional connections with freshwater, as well as practical things you can do (how not to pollute water if you go swimming, how to live more sustainably) and sharing opportunities to work in the sector.

BE DAN NI ISIO? WHAT DO WE WANT?

Parch i’r Afon - respect for the river!

Afonydd iach - clean waters!

Mwy o bysgod - more fish!

CORACLE CONVERSATION NOMINATIONS