Based on research conducted as part of the UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Coastal TALES project on the revival of local coastal heritage foods in southwest Wales, with an emphasis on learning how heritage stories can drive sustainable adaptation, this article, by Gareth Thomas, UWTSD UNESCO_MOST BRIDGES, published in Gower 76 - the annual journal, by The Gower Society - is an exploration into the history of laverbread in South Wales.
It’s a blustery Thursday late afternoon when we arrive at the West Pier of Dún Laoghaire Harbour. The wind cuts sharply across the quay, and low, heavy clouds threaten rain at any moment. We glance at each other more than once, wondering whether Ed—the man behind Goat Boat Tours—might call it off. To be fair, we wouldn’t blame him.
"This article by University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Swansea College of Art senior lecturer Catherine Brown, a maker and long‑standing advocate for craft education, offers an intimate insight into the Interwoven project’s process and purpose, capturing how weaving, heritage materials, and interdisciplinary collaboration come together in meaningful and often unexpected ways. Catherine’s perspective not only grounds the project in lived experience but also illuminates why the act of making, and the stories embedded within it, continue to matter in contemporary Wales."
Delighted to share this special film, ‘Gower Cockle Gatherers ’ on Saint David’s Day, filmed by Andy Davies, made in collaboration with Liz Williams, with a special introduction by Gareth Thomas, BRIDGES, UWTSD.
The Interwoven Project explores how the Arts and Humanities can contribute to addressing contemporary ecological and environmental challenges. Supported by the Catalyst Fund, Interwoven brings together researchers from Coastal TALES with staff and students from WISA, working in collaboration with Clare Revera of Welsh Baskets. The project’s central aim is to co-design a sustainable heritage basket for Coastal TALES’ societal partner, Câr-y-Môr, as an environmentally friendly alternative to the plastic bags and baskets currently used for shellfish and seaweed harvesting.
