In July 2019 Span held an innovative digital mapping day centred on Garn Fawr an Iron Age Hill Fort on the Strumble Head peninsula.
On Friday 5th July Span welcomed the Prifardd (chaired poet) Mererid Hopwood, wildlife expert and Strumble Head resident Shani Lawrence, and geologist Math Williams to St Nicholas church hall. There they were also joined by a group of year 5 pupils from Ysgol Wdig and from this base camp set out to climb Garn Fawr. They spent time on the mountain and were introduced to the flora and fauna of the place as well as the geological processes that had led to the landscape’s formation. The pupils were then able to write a poem with the help of Mererid Hopwood, reflecting on their experiences outdoors.
On Saturday 6th July Span were joined by Ken Murphy from the Dyfed Archaeological Trust who gave an overview of the archaeological knowledge related to the site as well as the different imaging techniques that archaeologists use and produce in the course of their work. With a base in the community hall at St Nicholas, weekend participants were shuttled back and forth to the site to experience some of the evidence at first hand. In the hall a digital map was projected onto a screen and participants were able to input information about places and features creating an ever-expanding patchwork of knowledge relating to the area. The event continued on the Sunday and many residents came bringing documentary information about the area such as photographs and tithe maps which were all then incorporated onto the map.
SPAN Digidol are now ready to show the results of this work, Map Digi Penfro, to a wider public and will be hosting an evening at Theatr Gwaun in the company of the map’s developer SPAN Digital Champion Alan Cameron-Wills and other members of the Span Digidol team.
Span Digidol is a pilot project which aims to explore ways in which the arts and digital technology can work in tandem to deal with issues such as community well-being and rural isolation. It has been funded through the Arwain Sir Benfro LEADER programme and the Arts Council of Wales. Map Digi Penfro was also partly funded by Pembrokeshire County Council through the Support of the Arts programme.
The event will include an opportunity to view the map and to contribute further to it. The map is intentionally a work in progress, so there will also be a chance to gather feedback on what might be added or improved upon in the future. The event is free to attend with an option to make a donation to the continuing work.
To book your place please follow this link:
