It’s May already and I must apologise for my lack of blog posts recently. It’s been a busy time for Amgueddfa Cymru.

I’m delighted that we have ended the year with another set of strong visitor figures attracting 1,745,315 visitors, exceeding 1.7m visitors for the first time ever. In 2012, we celebrated 1.69 million visits as the highest total ever recorded since free entry was introduced in April 2001, and this year we had an extra 55,289 visitors compared to the previous year of year, up by 3.27%.

Amgueddfa Cymru has now achieved record visitor figures for two consecutive years and I am delighted that we’ve succeeded in breaking yet another record this year, which is testimony to the quality of the service delivered by the Museums and the true value of the Welsh Government’s free entry policy.

It’s been a challenging time for the organisation. The current financial climate poses unprecedented challenges for every public sector organisation in Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru is no exception. Amgueddfa Cymru is facing a reduced budget and must find £2.5m in savings over the next three years. We have recently undertaken a period of consultation with staff and partners regarding a proposed new structure for the organisation which will be announced shortly. I’m very grateful for the patience and cooperation of Amgueddfa Cymru staff during this difficult period.

The proposed changes will not affect the day-to-day operations of the seven national museums across Wales. In finding savings, we have given priority to sustaining services for users. Amgueddfa Cymru will continue to offer visitors quality experiences at each of its sites.

Since I last posted on my blog, a new Culture & Sports Minister has been appointed in the Welsh Government, John Griffiths AM whom I had the pleasure of meeting recently. I am very grateful for the support and work of the previous Heritage Minister Mr Huw Lewis over the past few years and I’m really looking forward to working with Mr Griffiths.

It seems like a long time ago now but I was in Chongqing in China at the beginning of March for the opening of our Amgueddfa Cymru exhibition Wales: Land of the Red Dragon at the China Three Gorges Museum. Promoting Wales as a contemporary nation through international work is one of our main priorities and this partnership is an excellent way to give the 30 million people living in the Chongqing region the chance to learn more about Wales’ rich and unique assets in culture, history and the environment.

I recently bought a copy of E.P. Thompson’s William Morris: From Romantic to Revolutionary. It is a few years since I last read anything by E.P. Thompson, and his Customs in Common has long been on my list of future reads. I found the postscript to the 1976 edition, in which he discusses Morris’s place in the history of communism, moving because of the very personal way in which Thompson refers to his own thinking on this subject.

May 3 update

Plenty of feeding taking place today and I think there may now be 3 chicks. Their heads are becoming more visible by the day so it should soon be very obvious how many chicks there are. Female seems to be doing most of the feeding at the moment with the male bringing in the food.

I hope the chicks are more sensible this year when they are bigger and don't get too adventurous too soon - the ledge by the nest isn't very wide! 

Watch their progress here

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Disgybl yn ysgol SS Philip and James Primary School gyda’i chenhinen Bedr.

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Disgybl yn ysgol SS Philip and James Primary School gyda’i chenhinen Bedr.

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Disgybl yn ysgol SS Philip and James Primary School yn mesur ei genhinen Bedr.

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Disgyblion ysgol SS Philip and James Primary School yn Lloegr yn cofnodi tymheredd.

» View full post to see all images

Diolch i Ysgol SS Philip and James am y lluniau ardderchog hyn.

Eich gardd yn edrych yn hyfryd!

Diolch yn fawr,

Athro’r Ardd

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Nick a Pat Bean mewn cae o gennin Pedr Dinbych-y-pysgod ar eu fferm Springfields Fresh Produce ym MaenorbÅ·r, ger Dinbych-y-pysgod. Dyma o ble daeth eich cennin Pedr chi!

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Nick a Pat Bean

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Blodau yn Ysgol Gynradd Rogiet, Cymru.

Helo na Wyddonwyr Gwych,

Mae 4116 ohonoch chi wedi helpu gydag ymchwiliad Bylbiau’r Gwanwyn eleni – mae’n ANHYGOEL! Rydw i’n chwysu chwartiau’r wythnos hon yn ceisio paratoi’r tystysgrifau i gyd i chi!

Ond dyw ymchwiliad pawb heb orffen eto, mae rhai blodau yn dal heb agor.

Beth i’w wneud os nad yw’r blodau wedi agor eto?

Daliwch ati i anfon cofnodion aton ni! Os ydy’ch blodau chi yn dal heb agor mae daliwch ati i ymchwilio! Pan fyddan nhw’n agor, gallwch chi gofnodi’r dyddiad a thaldra’r planhigyn ar y wefan.

Pam fod dyddiad cau felly?

Bob blwyddyn, mae’n rhaid i fi ysgrifennu adroddiad arbennig sy’n crynhoi’r holl ddata fyddwch chi’n ei anfon ata i. Mae’r amser wedi dod i fi ysgrifennu’r adroddiad nawr. Bydd yr holl gofnodion a gyrhaeddodd cyn y dyddiad cau yn cael eu cynnwys yn adroddiad eleni.

Beth sy’n digwydd i’r cofnodion sy’n cyrraedd ar ôl y dyddiad cau?

Bydda i’n ychwanegu cofnodion sy’n cyrraedd ar ôl y dyddiad cau i’r bas data ac yn eu cynnwys yn adroddiad y flwyddyn nesaf. Mae pob un o’ch cofnodion chi’n bwysig iawn a byddan nhw’n helpu’r ymchwiliad i fod yn fwy cywir yn y dyfodol. Fydd eich data chi ddim yn cael ei golli neu ei wastraffu, rwy’n addo.

Pwy sydd yn y llun??

Gadewch i fi eich cyflwyno i Nick a Pat Bean, perchnogion fferm Springfields Fresh Produce, o ble daeth bylbiau eich cennin Pedr! Yn y llun, maen nhw’n sefyll mewn cae o gennin Pedr Dinbych-y-pysgod sydd yn tyfu ar eu fferm.

Pwy sydd wedi anfon cofnodion blodau am y tro cyntaf?

Diolch i’r ysgolion canlynol am anfon eu cofnodion blodau cyntaf: Gladestry C.I.W. School, Williamstown Primary, St Athan Primary, Ysgol Hiraddug and Bwlchgwyn CP School yng Nghymru, Hawthornden Primary School, Ladybank Primary School, Tynewater Primary School ac Torbain Primary School yn yr Alban, ac Larkrise Primary School, Britannia Community Primary School ac Thorneyholme RC Primary School yn Lloegr.

Diolch hefyd i’r ysgolion sy’n dal i anfon mwy a mwy o gofnodion – mae ein hymchwiliad yn mynd yn fwy ac yn fwy cywir bob tro!

Diolch yn fawr

Athro’r Ardd

There are number of reasons why we would want to undertake a national review of museum collections. One of them is to aid the development of a Distributed National Collection (DNC), one of the most exciting collections management concepts in recent years.

DNC - What is it?

The idea of the DNC implies a shared responsibility for our heritage. The Museum Strategy for Wales recognises that collections telling the story of Wales are kept across the nation by a diverse range of museum institutions. Collections – and the knowledge that goes with them – remain at the heart of museums; they are the reason museums exist and what makes them unique.

Many museums collect to reflect the culture and natural history of the geographic area they cover. Other museums collect material related to a specific site, activity, community or object specialism. A museum’s collecting remit is usually defined in its acquisition policy. When accepting objects into their collections museums consider not only to their own acquisition policies, but also those of other museums – this coordinated approach to collecting is one benefit of the shared knowledge that comes with a DNC.

There are a number of reasons that may reduce a museum’s capacity to collect as comprehensively as it had previously done. An agreement with other museums could facilitate the development of specialized subject-based collections, and arrangements to facilitate management of and access to objects and specimens. Institutions across Wales would co-ordinate the collection, display, research, storage and disposal of collections to ensure the greatest access to collections with efficient targeting of resources. This strategy represents a move away from the location of collections to a focus on how they are used and cared for.

Why do we need one?

The concept of the DNC was adopted by CyMAL for the Welsh Assembly Government within the 2010 Museum Strategy for Wales, and endorsed by museums across Wales. Collections and the stories they tell are the most fundamental of museum assets. In recent years there have been a number of important initiatives to better document, understand and care for museum collections. Whilst this remains by no means a comprehensive achievement with much still to be done, we now have an opportunity to take stock and develop new concepts and initiatives.

Driving factors for the development of a DNC may be funding constraints, or loss of specialist expertise. However, the DNC is about more than simply pooling resources. The concept enables the museum sector to, among other things:

-          promote our collections,

-          work collaboratively across the sector,

-          collect comprehensively, and

-          improve access both within the collecting community and for the public.

How will it help the public?

The public benefit lies in a better understanding and appreciation of our collections, which opens up ways and means to improve our enjoyment of and access to them. Knowing where the most historically significant and intrinsically important items and records are kept, and how they can be accessed, can only be of benefit to those who wish to see them as well as to those charged with their long term care and interpretation.

What’s in it for museums?

The DNC enables information to be discovered and shared, omissions within collections identified and areas of overlap addressed with informed collecting. This makes museum collections more robust and relevant. Scientists, such as biologists and geologists, in particular, have long known that museum collections globally are one single resource. Specimens held in museum collections form a physical inventory of the history of life on Earth. Specimens are kept, in preference to data and images alone, for the physical information they contain.

Museums are seen by the public as unbiased guardians of factual information and therefore have the potential, if they are not reduced to simply recycling nostalgia, for influencing public opinion in an authoritative way. The concept of the DNC formalises the relationship between museums and supports easier sharing of specimens and information. It forms a coordinated strategy to ensure the preservation of a nation’s cultural material, and to facilitate broader physical and intellectual access to it. Museum collections will add up to much more than the sum of their parts.  This partnership approach is important in any subject discipline, not only in natural history, for museums to retain their status as keepers of knowledge.

Natural history museums are in the midst of an unprecedented opportunity for linking collections-based research with the experiences they offer to the millions of people they serve each year. If they are successful in fully integrating these two historically separate realities, they have enormous potential to elevate the public understanding of, engagement with, and participation in urgent and compelling scientific challenges now and in the future.

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Update 30 April

Great news, at least one chick has hatched over the weekend. The female spent 10 mintues or so tearing off little morsels for a chick this morning. I could just make out a little white head wobbling around. As I write this the female is back brooding the chick and the remaining eggs. Apologies for the quality of the photo, the only way I can get screen shots of any activity is to photograph the screen.

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Disgyblion Ysgol Gynradd Oakfield yn Llaneirwg, de Cymru

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Disgyblion Ysgol Gynradd Babyddol St Josephs ym Mhenarth, de Cymru

Bydd Amgueddfa Cymru yn dyfarnu Tystysgrifau Gwyddonwyr Gwych i wyth deg pump o ysgolion ar draws y DU eleni, i gydnabod eu cyfraniad i Ymchwiliad Bylbiau’r Gwanwyn – Newid Hinsawdd.

Llongyfarchiadau anferth i bob un o’r ysgolion! Mae rhestr o’r enillwyr isod, ydy’ch ysgol chi yno?

Roedd mwy na dwywaith cymaint o ysgolion yn cymryd rhan yn yr ymchwiliad eleni, sy’n newyddion gwych. Mae’n hyfryd bod cymaint ohonoch chi’n helpu gyda’r ymchwiliad pwysig yma.

Diolch i bob un o’r 4116 disgybl a helpodd eleni! Diolch am weithio mor galed yn plannu, arsylwi, mesur a chofnodi – rydych chi i gyd yn Wyddonwyr Gwych! Bydd pob un yn derbyn tystysgrif a phensel Gwyddonydd Gwych, ac fe fyddan nhw’n cyrraedd eich ysgol tua canol mis Mai.

Diolch yn fawr i Edina Trust am eu nawdd ac am helpu i wireddu’r holl broject!

Enillwyr 2013

Diolch i’r tri enillydd wnaeth anfon y nifer fwyaf o ddata tywydd.  Bydd pob un yn derbyn trip ysgol llawn hwyl i atyniad natur.

• SS Philip and James Primary School yn Lloegr
• Ysgol Gynradd Williamstown yng Nghymru
• Wormit Primary School yn yr Alban

Ail safle

Bydd pob ysgol yn derbyn tocyn anrheg i brynu offer ar gyfer eich projectau garddio.

• Balcurvie Primary School yn yr Alban
• Ysgol Gynradd Sofrydd yng Nghymru
• Stanford in the Vale Primary School yn Lloegr

Clod uchel

Bydd pob ysgol yn derbyn tystysgrifau, pensiliau, hadau blodau’r haul a hadau perlysiau.

• Balmerino Primary School
• Blaenycwm Primary School
• Britannia Community Primary School
• Coed-y-Lan Primary School
• Coppull Parish Primary School
• Dunbog Primary School
• Freuchie Primary School
• Glyncollen Primary School
• Henllys CIW Primary School
• Oakfield Primary School
• St Athan Primary School
• St Joseph's RC Primary School (Penarth)
• St Roberts Roman Cathlic Primary School
• Torbain Primary School
• Tynewater Primary School
• Westwood CP School
• Ysgol Gynradd Talybont
• Ysgol Nant y Coed
• Ysgol y Ffridd

Cydnabyddiaeth arbennig

Bydd pob ysgol yn derbyn tystysgrifau, pensiliau a hadau blodau’r haul.

• Brynhyfryd Junior School
• Bwlchgwyn CP School
• Darran Park Primary
• Gladestry CIW School
• Greyfriars RC Primary School
• Hawthornden Primary School
• Kilmaron Special School
• Lakeside Primary School
• Llangan Primary School
• Magor Church in Wales Primary School
• Milford Haven Junior School
• Newburgh Primary School
• Newport Primary School
• Rhydypenau Primary School
• Rogiet Primary School
• St Mary's Catholic Primary School (Wales)
• St Mary's RC Primary School (England)
• Stepping Stones Short Stay School
• Thorneyholme RC Primary School
• Ysgol Bodafon
• Ysgol Bryn Garth
• Ysgol Clocaenog
• Ysgol Deganwy
• Ysgol Hiraddug
• Ysgol Porth y Felin

Ysgolion i dderbyn tystysgrifau

Bydd pob ysgol yn derbyn Tystysgrifau Gwyddonwyr Gwych a phensiliau.

• Archbishop Hutton's Primary School
• Auchtertool Primary School
• Cadoxton Primary School
• Christchurch CP School
• Duloch Primary School
• Eyton Church in Wales Primary School
• Freckleton CE Primary School
• Fulwood and Cadley Primary School
• Harwell Primary School
• Holy Family RC Primary School
• Hywel Da Primary School
• Ladybank Primary School
• Ladygrove Park Primary School
• LasswadePrimary School
• Lever House Primary School
• Manor Primary School
• Medlar with Wesham CE Primary School
• Nether Kellet Primary School
• Northbourne CE Primary School
• Park Primary School
• RAF Benson Primary School
• Rishton Methodist Primary School
• Sherwood Primary School
• St John's Catholic Primary School
• St Nicholas Primary School
• Stepaside CP School
• Tor View Community Special School
• Weeton Primary School
• Windale Primary School
• Ysgol Capelulo
• Ysgol Gymunedol Dolwyddelan
• Ysgol Iau Hen Golwyn
• Ysgol Morfa Rhianedd
• Ysgol Pencae

Da iawn, rydych chi wedi gwneud gwaith ANHYGOEL.

Cystadleuaeth Darlunio Cennin Pedr 2013

Llongyfarchiadau i'r disgyblion canlynol am creu darluniau botanegol ardderchog!

• 1st: Oliver Braddy – Stanford in the Vale Primary School
• 2nd: Sam – St Joseph's RC Primary School (Penarth)
• 3rd: Daniel (age 6) – Stanford in the Vale Primary School

Goreuon y Gweddill

• Etward? (age 6) – Stanford in the Vale Primary School
• Finlay (age 7) – Stanford in the Vale Primary School
• Jemima – St Joseph's RC Primary School (Penarth)
• Joe – St Joseph's RC Primary School (Penarth)
• Joshua – St Joseph's RC Primary School (Penarth)
• Joshua (age 7) – Stanford in the Vale Primary School
• Larson (age 11) – Stanford in the Vale Primary School
• Leo – Stanford in the Vale Primary School
• Nathan – St Joseph's RC Primary School (Penarth)
• William Glen (age 5) – Stanford in the Vale Primary School

Diolch yn fawr

Athro’r Ardd

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Mae anifeiliaid sy’n gaeafgysgu fel ystlumod, brogaod a madfallod wedi dihuno a mynd yn ôl i gysgu am ei bod hi’n rhy oer! Image courtesy of Bat Conservation Trust

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Broga cyffredin, Rana temporaria

Y dyddiad cau estynedig i chi anfon eich cofnodion blodau ata i yw dydd Gwener 19 Ebrill – dydd Gwener yma blantos y bylbiau! Cofiwch anfon eich cofnodion ata i ar y wefan.

Cofiwch hefyd edrych ar y blog bylbiau wythnos nesaf pan fydda i’n cyhoeddi enillwyr y Cystadlaethau! Bydd enillwyr y Gystadleuaeth Tynnu Llun Blodau ac enillwyr y Daith Gweithgaredd Natur yn cael eu cyhoeddi ar ddydd Llun 22 Ebrill.

Blodau pwy sydd wedi agor yr wythnos hon?

Yng Nghymru, mae Ysgol Gynradd Lakeside, Ysgol Bryn Garth, Ysgol Christchurch ac Rhydypenau Primary School, yn Lloegr Manor Primary School and Coppull Parish Primary School ac yn yr Alban Wormit Primary School i gyd wedi anfon eu cofnodion blodau. Da iawn a diolch yn fawr i’r ysgolion yma!

Mae tipyn o sôn ar y newyddion yn ddiweddar am yr oerfel a’r eira, a pa mor hwyr mae’r planhigion yn blodeuo eleni.  Oeddech chi’n gwybod taw dyma’r mis Mawrth oeraf ym Mhrydain ers dros 50 mlynedd? Roedd hi’n oerach ym mis Mawrth na misoedd y gaeaf hyd yn oed – Rhagfyr, Ionawr a Chwefror! Does dim rhyfedd bod rhai o’n blodau ni’n hwyr yn agor eleni.

Edrychwch ar wefannau Newyddion y BBC* neu Met Office News* am ragor o wybodaeth am y straeon oerllyd yma.

Ym mis Mawrth, adroddodd papur newydd y Guardian bod planhigion yn blaguro ac yn blodeuo’n hwyr eleni, yn enwedig yn yr Alban, a bod anifeiliaid sy’n gaeafgysgu fel ystlumod, brogaod a madfallod wedi dihuno a mynd yn ôl i gysgu am ei bod hi’n rhy oer!

Yn anffodus, gall tywydd oer arwain at fwy o lygredd yn yr aer*. Byddwn ni’n cynhyrchu mwy o lygredd drwy gynhesu ein tai, ond mae’r awyr oer, llonydd hefyd yn golygu bod gronynnau yn casglu yn yr atmosffer yn lle anweddu neu gael eu chwythu i ffwrdd.

Diolch yn fawr

Athro’r Ardd

*Erthyglau allanol yn Saesneg yn unig

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Ty Gwyrdd yn yr eira ym mis Ionawr.

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Planhigion tomato yndechrau tyfu

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Hapus gyda'i byrddau neges!

Bu pythefnos Pasg, unwaith eto, yn adeg prysur iawn yma yn Sain Ffagan. Daeth dros 4000 o ymwelwyr trwy ddrysau’r TÅ· Gwyrdd. Roedd amryw o weithdai gennym dros y gwyliau, o weithdy uwchgylchu i blannu hadau tomato ag hyd yn oed cwis arbennig Ffŵl Ebrill. 

Yn un o’n gweithdai - Plannu, Tyfu, Bwyta – roedd cyfle i deuluoedd meddwl am dyfu bwyd eu hun. Roedd cyfle i blannu hadau tomato a mynd a’r hadau yma gatref. Y gobaith yw, ar ôl misoedd o feithrin yr hadau bydd gan bawb planhigion tomato iach a hyd yn oed tomatos blasus erbyn yr haf. Nai gadael i chi wybod sut mae fy nhomatos yn tyfu dros y misoedd nesa! 

Fe ddaeth Wood for the Trees Wales i ymuno a ni am gwpwl o ddyddiau i gynnig un o’i gweithdai uwchgylchu. Yn y gweithdy yma roedd cyfle i droi hen fframiau lluniau a theils corc mewn i fyrddau neges newydd sbon. Roedd hyn yn boblogaidd dros ben, erbyn diwedd y sesiwn roedd pob un hen ffrâm wedi cael ei ddefnyddio! Os oes gennych ddiddordeb mewn gweithdai tebyg, cadwch lygaid ar dudalen Facebook Wood for the Trees!

Eleni, wnaeth Dydd Llun y Pasg digwydd cwympo ar y 1af o Ebrill, sef dydd Ffŵl Ebrill. Roedd hyn yn gyfle gwych i ni gael cwis i ffeindio allan os yw ymwelwyr i’r TÅ· Gwyrdd yn Eco Cŵl neu yn ffyliau Ebrill ffôl. Neis oedd ffeindio mas bod y mwyafrif o’n hymwelwyr yn Eco Cŵl… gyda dim ond cwpwl o eithriadau. Ar ôl cwblhau’r cwis roedd cyfle i wneud bathodyn i dangos i ffrindiau faint more eco cŵl ydych. 

Fel rhan o’r prosiect Creu Hanes, mi fydd defnydd y TÅ· Gwyrdd yn newid. Tra bod y brif fynedfa yn cael ei uwchraddio, bydd y TÅ· Gwyrdd yn cael ei ddefnyddio fel rhan o fynedfa dros dro i’r amgueddfa. 

Dros y blynyddoedd, da ni di cael llawer o hwyl yn rhedeg gweithdai niferus yn y TÅ· Gwyrdd ac yn cwrdd â miloedd o bobl ddiddorol. Diolch mawr i’r sawl sydd wedi helpu ni i gyflawni hyn. Peidiwch â phoeni, mi fydd dal nifer o weithdai a digwyddiadau natur ac amgylcheddol yn digwydd, ond mewn mannau gwahanol yn yr amgueddfa.

There more than 100 natural history collections across Wales, containing a fantastic record of Welsh (and international) fauna, flora and geology. Many of these collections go back to the early 19^th century. They are an irreplaceable resource for public exhibitions, teaching and scientific research. These collections include some real jewels, such as a King Penguin from the Shackleton expedition to Antarctica more than 100 years ago, an early Neolithic bone flute, and a 19^th century turnspit dog (stuffed).

One of the best ways scientists and researchers can gather information about the importance of our environment is through studying museum collections. For example, biological specimens are used to study changes in biodiversity over time, and geological specimens can help us understand climate change. Preserving these collections is an absolute necessity. If a 200-year-old collection can tell us something about how to save the environment tomorrow, it has to be worth preserving.

Unfortunately, many natural science collections across Wales are at real risk of deterioration. The only subject specialists in Wales work at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales. This means that many museums do not have the knowhow to interpret their collections to their full potential, some collections are neglected and museum visitors do not get to see everything they possibly could.

A new project is now trying to address this issue. The Linking Natural Science Collections project will review a large part of the Welsh natural history collections and combine them – at least in the virtual reality of the internet – by bringing together collections records in an online database. This means that all the individual collections across Wales can then be treated as pieces of one large natural science collection. These collections will therefore form part of a Distributed National Collection – a concept from the Welsh government’s Museum Strategy.

The project will conclude after three years with a touring exhibition of spectacular or significant natural science objects from across Wales. There will also be many other benefits, for example training for curators who will then be able to better understand and use their collections, and to share their knowledge with museum visitors and users.

If you have a natural sciences collection or are interested in knowing more about this project please get in touch with the project manager, who is based at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales (christian.baars@museumwales.ac.uk).

You can also follow the project on Facebook: facebook.com/LinkingCollectionsWales.

Find out more about the Museums Strategy for Wales 2010-1015.

Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales: www.museumwales.ac.uk.

© the National Museum of Wales