Trees have rooted into our consciousness for as long as we have told stories. Their language holds the ground that is our past while stretching our minds up to the sky and future potential. Trees are our lungs; the words in our mouths; they are our confidants and friends.

If the trees speak in myriad ways - is it us who have forgotten how to listen? After everything they’ve seen what would the trees tell us?

In association with Bute Park and the Tree Charter, award-winning poet and Young People’s Laureate Wales, Sophie McKeand, will be on site at Bute Park over the weekend of 28^th and 29th October gathering the tree stories of people young and old through a number of creative workshops and initiatives such as mindful tree listening, children’s tree story sheets, and an in situ typewriter and postbox for anonymous stories. People are also encouraged to drop by to share any stories or poems they have created about trees.

Supported by artist and designer Andy Garside, Sophie will then compile a poetry anthology of people’s work, in addition to a commissioned poem capturing the significance of the trees within Bute Park and inspired by the words, people and trees she encounters throughout the project.

The Stories They Would Tell will be at Bute Park on Saturday 28^th October outside the Education Centre and Sunday 29^th October near the Water Taxi stop (10am - 3pm) - just look for the Bute Park gazebo.

The mindful tree listening workshop spaces are limited to eight participants and will run at 10.30am and 1.30pm each day. Advance booking is advised by emailing Sophie on: words@sophiemckeand.com. Otherwise please feel free to drop by anytime to chat and share your thoughts.

A showcase event on November 25^{th (}10.30am - 2.30pm) will include a family tree walk, mulled drinks and roasted chestnuts, the unveiling of a Tree Charter pole with Sophie’s commissioned poem as well as readings from the tree anthology. Both the longer poem and the anthology will be on display at the Cardiff Story Exhibition from 2^nd December until 25^th February.

The Stories They Would Tell / Y Straeon a Ddywedent

Parc Bute

Mae coed wedi ymwreiddio i’n hymwybod ers cyn cof.  Mae tir ein gorffennol yn drwch o’u hiaith, a hwythau sy’n gwthio ffiniau’n meddyliau i’r awyr, ac i’r potensial sy’n ein haros yn y dyfodol.   Y coed yw ein hysgyfaint; ein geiriau; ceidwaid ein cyfrinachau, a’n cyfeillion.

Os mai amryfal yw’r ffyrdd y mae coed yn siarad – ai ni sydd wedi anghofio sut i wrando?  Ar ôl popeth y maen nhw wedi'i weld, beth fyddai'r coed yn dweud wrthym ni?  

Ar y cyd â Pharc Bute a'r Siarter Goed, bydd y bardd penigamp ac Awdur Ieuenctid Cymru eleni, Sophie McKeand, ar safle Parc Bute dros benwythnos 28 a 29 Hydref. Yno bydd yn casglu straeon y coed gan bobl ifanc a hen mewn nifer o weithdai a mentrau creadigol gan gynnwys gwrando'n ofalgar ar y coed, taflenni storïau coed i blant, a pheiriant teipio a blwch post ar gyfer y sawl sydd am gyflwyno storïau’n ddienw. Mae pobl hefyd yn cael eu hannog i alw heibio a rhannu eu storïau neu eu cerddi am goed.  

Gyda chymorth Andy Garside, sy’n arlunydd ac yn ddylunydd, bydd Sophie wedyn yn rhoi blodeugerdd o waith at ei gilydd. Yn rhan o hon bydd cerdd yn cael ei chomisiynu i fynegi arwyddocâd y coed ym Mharc Bute. Bydd hon wedi'i hysbrydoli gan y geiriau, y bobl a'r coed ar ei thaith yn ystod y project.   

Caiff digwyddiad y Straeon a Ddywedent ei gynnal ym Mharc Bute ddydd Sadwrn 28 Hydref y tu allan i’r Ganolfan Addysg, a ddydd Sul 29 Hydref ar bwys stop y Tacsi Dŵr (10am-3pm) - cadwch lygad allan am babell fawr Parc Bute.  

Dim ond wyth o bobl sy’n gallu cymryd rhan yn y gweithdai gwrando’n ofalgar ar goed, a chân nhw eu cynnal am 10.30am ac 1.30pm ar y ddau ddiwrnod.  Cadwch le ymlaen llaw os gallwch drwy anfon e-bost at Sophie: words@sophiemckeand.com. Fel arall, croeso i chi alw heibio unrhyw bryd i sgwrsio a rhannu’ch meddyliau.  

Bydd digwyddiad arddangos ar 25 Tachwedd (10.30am-2.30pm) yn cynnwys taith gerdded i’r teulu drwy’r coed, diodydd poeth a chnau castan pob; seremoni dadorchuddio polyn Siarter Goed a cherdd gan Sophie sy'n cael ei chomisiynu; a darlleniadau o’r flodeugerdd goed.  Bydd y gerdd hirach a’r flodeugerdd yn cael eu harddangos yn Arddangosfa Stori Caerdydd rhwng 2 Rhagfyr a 25 Chwefror.