Pont-y-Ddôl
Spring 2019 – ongoing
“There is a small patch of ground at the canal basin at Pontymoile which was left to grow wild this year. In one summer we counted over 40 species of plants coming up, plus many butterflies, bumblebees, damselflies and other insects...Further to encouraging the flowers at Pontymoile basin, we will plant different species of flowers in long strips along the canal water’s edge. Purple Loosestrife, Yellow Flag Iris and Meadow Sweet, all found locally, will not only provide valuable forage for insects, but will create a colourful display along the canal for everyone to enjoy.”
Common Blue Butterfly, Field Research at Pontymoile Basin, 2019; photo by Rebecca Chesney
Pont-y-Ddôl (bridge over the meadow) is a habitat creation project and artwork by artist Rebecca Chesney south of Pontymoile Basin on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal. The project is part of the Hinterlands Wales programme, a 3 year project led by Peak and Canal & River Trust inviting artists and communities to explore Mon & Brecon Canal as a space for creativity, biodiversity & wellbeing.
After a period of research between 2018-19, identifying existing plant and insect species along the waterway, Rebecca Chesney has proposed a project of 3 strands: changes to Canal & River Trust’s regular mowing regimes along the canal banks, providing increased habitat and forage for insects, toads, frogs and birds; preserving a triangular meadow plot at Pontymoile Basin, left to establish after a change of tenancy at the nearby Toll House; and blocks of water’s edge planting south of Pontymoile Basin in 3 native species: yellow flag iris, purple-loosestrife and meadow sweet.
The original planting week was postponed in 2020 due to covid-19 and went ahead in April 2021 led by Rebecca Chesney and Pontypool-based CIC In Our Nature with help from local residents. Rebecca Chesney is developing creative monitoring kits for local residents to record plant and insect species. We’re seeking 15 locally based volunteers to help monitor the existing meadow and new habitats from Summer 2021. Please get in touch on inournaturecic@gmail.com if you’d be interested in helping us monitor the new habitats and with any updates from your canal walks!
Planting week, April 2021; photo by Vaida Barzdaite
Rebecca Chesney is an artist based in Preston. Her work is concerned with how we perceive land: how we romanticise, translate and define it. Exploring the blurred boundaries between science and folklore, Rebecca’s work is also concerned with how our understanding of nature is fed by a confused mix of truth and fiction. Rebecca is currently artist in residence along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal with The Super Slow Way and was Artist-in-Residence for the Black Mountains, in partnership with Peak and the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority in 2015-16.
Planting week, April 2021; photo by Vaida Barzdaite
This project has been funded by Arts Council Wales Lottery Funding, Colwinston Trust and Canal & River Trust. Thanks to garden designer Sarah Price for advice in the early stages of the project, Habitat Aid for supplying the plants and In Our Nature for supporting the planting week and ongoing community engagement. Thanks also to Canal & River Trust staff who have moved on to other roles: Environment Manager, Oda Dijksterhuis and Community Roots Officer, Paul Gibson.
