A new charitable trust has been established to protect the poignant legacy of one of Wales's most celebrated poets, Hedd Wyn. The initiative, launched on what would have been his birthday, aims to preserve his family home and share his powerful story with future generations.
Fulfilling a Family Promise
The Hedd Wyn Ysgwrn Charitable Trust (HWYCT) was officially launched on January 13, founded by members of the poet's own family. Its core mission is to honour a heartfelt promise made to the poet's mother: to keep the door of their family farm, Yr Ysgwrn, open to the public. This ensures people can continue to visit and pay tribute to her eldest son, whose life was tragically cut short during the First World War.
The poet, born Ellis Humphrey Evans, is universally known by his bardic name, Hedd Wyn, meaning 'Blessed Peace'. He was killed at the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917. In a cruel twist of fate, he never learned that he had posthumously won the Welsh National Eisteddfod's Chair, the nation's highest poetic honour. His story is a staple of the National Curriculum, with schoolchildren from across Wales visiting Ysgwrn to learn about his life and work.
A Collaborative Mission for Preservation
The Trust's chair, Elsa Davies, expressed her pride in the project. "It's a great privilege to be associated with Yr Ysgwrn and the history surrounding Hedd Wyn," she said. "We are looking forward to working with all the organisations which hold artefacts related to Hedd Wyn, especially the Snowdonia National Park Authority (SNPA), which now owns the Ysgwrn farm and welcomes visitors from near and far."
The SNPA, which manages the historic site, has welcomed the new Trust. National Park officer Jade Owen stated: "This new Trust is an exciting development as it means that, in working together, we will be able to do the many developments which will make a visit to the Ysgwrn an even more memorable experience."
Future Projects and Public Support
The trustees' first task will be to collaborate with SNPA officers to identify key projects. These initiatives will focus on two main goals:
- Preserving the historic Ysgwrn farmstead and its collection of artefacts.
- Enhancing the overall experience for the many visitors who make the pilgrimage to the site.
A dedicated website for the Hedd Wyn Ysgwrn Charitable Trust is currently in development. In the interim, those wishing to support the cause can send donations to the Trust's treasurer, Mrs S Morris-Roberts, at Mount Pleasant, Talwaenydd, Blaenau Ffestiniog LL41 3NA.
