The sculptures in Fforest Fawr each have a poem written by the artist Simon O’Rourke. Sadly the poems have started to wear over time and they’re quite hard to read.
Simon’s website has an article with information about the sculptures and the text from the poems. It explains, “The English form of the poem is in rhyming couplets which makes it fun and memorable for younger viewers. Translation always proves a challenge though. The Welsh translation isn’t in poetry form, but still conveys the feel, and – most importantly – the message of the story Simon and Liz wrote.”
I recently created some illustrations that try to reproduce the look of the signs.
I also challenged myself to recreate the signs in code with accessible text.
Introduction
Yn nyfnder a gwyrddni Fforest Fawr,
Mae cymaint i’w ddarganfod, cymaint i’w weld:
Pob math o greaduriaid, mawr a bach,
A choed rhyfeddol, tyrog a thal!
In Fforest Fawr, deep, and green,
There’s so much to discover, so much to be seen,
All kinds of creatures, great and small,
And wonderful trees, towering and tall!
A Forest Timeline
Heddiw, ar y llwybr, gwelwn ryfeddodau yn y fforest.
Ond, mae storïau a thrysorau ar hyd y ffordd!
Cewch weld bod creaduriaid yn byw yma yn y gorffennol.
Gadewch inni fynd am dro, yn ôl drwy hanes!
On the path we see wonders in the forest today
But there are stories and treasures along the way!
There were creatures living here in the past, you’ll see,
Let’s take a walk, back through history!
Red Deer
Yn y coetir, gwelwn olygfa urddasol
Gyda ffwr coc llyfn a chynffon mor wen,
Chyrn melfedaidd sy’n cyrraedd i’r awyr.
Carw coch hardd ydyw, â llygaid mawr brown!
In the woodland we see a majestic sight,
With smooth red fur and a tail so white.
Velvety antlers that reach for the skies
It’s a stunning red deer, with big brown eyes!
Devil’s Coach Horse Beetle
Yn ymlusgo mewn dail, a chyn ddued â’r nos,
Gyda choesau main, a genau sy’n brathu, –
Gwell ichi ochel pan gwyd ei chynffon:
Mae’r Chwilen Gnoi yn gadael drewdod yn yr awyr!
Crawling in leaves, and black as night,
With spindly legs, and jaws that bite.
When it raises its tail, you’d better beware,
Devil’s Coach Horse beetle leaves a stink in the air!
Red Squirrel
Amser maith yn ôl, ar ben coed uchel,
Yn neidio a dringo ar ganghennau a dail,
Wele gynffon hir, grychiog, a bysedd traed heini
Wiwer goch fechan, gyda thrwyn bach pinc!
A long time ago, in the tops of tall trees,
Leaping and climbing on branches and leaves,
A long fuzzy tail, and nimble toes,
It’s a little red squirrel, with a little pink nose!
European Lynx
Yng nghwrcwd yn y glaswellt tal, tal mor wyrdd, –
Nas gwelir, – yn dawel ddilyn ei ysglyfaeth,
Y cudynnau ar ei glustiau, a’r llygaid treiddgar
Wele Lyncs Ewropeaidd! A’i lygaid ar y wobr!
Crouching in the tall tall grass so green,
Silently stalking its prey, unseen,
The tufts on its ears, and the piercing eyes
It’s a European lynx! With its eyes on the prize!
Brown Otter
Yn plymio mewn afonydd ac yn hela pysgod,
Cynffon gref, hir sy’n siffrwd, siffrwd, siffrwd!
Yn nofio drwy gorsennau, a phrin dynnu sylw,
Dyfrgi brown llyfn ydyw, a ddiflanna mewn fflach!
Diving in rivers and hunting for fish,
A long, strong tail that goes swish, swish, swish!
Swimming through reeds, and with barely a splash,
It’s a sleek brown otter, that’s gone in a flash!
Pine Marten
Yn cuddio mewn hen goed gwag, allan o’r golwg,
Yn dringo a rhedeg ac yn hela yn ystod y nos,
Gyda ffwr graenus, llyfn, a chrafangau bach miniog…
Wele’r Bele, yn casglu porthiant ar lawr y fforest!
Hiding in old hollow trees, out of sight,
Climbing, and running, and hunting at night,
With soft sleek fur, and sharp little claws,
It’s a pine marten, foraging on the forest floor!
European Wolf
Yn hela mewn cnudoedd ar loriau’r goedlan,
Drwy fforest a chae, ac ar draws y rhosydd,
Wele ffwr blewog, llwyd o’i ben i’w bawennau,
Blaidd Ewropeaidd, gyda genau cryf, cryf.
Hunting in packs, on the woodland floors,
Through forest and field, and across the moors,
Grey shaggy fur from its head to its paws,
It’s a European wolf, with strong strong jaws!
Wildlife Still Present in the Forest
Mae’r creaduriaid hyn wedi mynd o’r fforest ‘nawr,
Ond, gellir dod o hyd i’r rhai sy’n byw yma heddiw!
Clywais fod yna moch daear a phathewod a boncathod,
Gweilch Marthin, tylluanod, ac adar eraill y coetir.
These creatures are gone from the forest now
But the ones who live here today can be found!
There’s badgers and dormice and buzzards I’ve heard,
Goshawks, owls, and other woodland birds!
Thank you Jack for all this information. I wonder if one can apply for a grant via the local Councillors to get the signs replaced.