Over the summer, members of the community worked together to convert the old school yard (adjacent to the Village Hall) into a shared area: Functioning as both a peaceful garden in which to reflect and pause for breath – and also a warm, inviting space to welcome visitors and locals alike.
It was agreed that this Garden would serve as the ideal location for my sculpture ‘Buddies’ – originally intended for the local primary school, Ysgol-Y-Foel. When walking through the village on their way to visit St. Mary’s church, or the Millenium Woods, the pupils are encouraged to ‘buddy up,’ and this was the inspiration for the piece.
During the construction of the original sculpture, the pupils of Ysgol-Y-Foel worked with me, placing their thumb prints into clay before the final piece was cast. The leaving of a thumb print is a symbolic acknowledgement; that this community both remembers and thanks the excellent start in life Ysgol-Y-Foel has provided for the children of this village, past and present.
The Garden is a tribute to much loved Community member David Johnson, one of the key figures in the regeneration of the Village Hall. A quotation from Victor Hugo can be seen on the wall.
The Garden itself was designed by local landscape architect Simon Richards, and was project managed by committee members Valerie Thompson and Phil Higgins.
NICK EAMES 