A pleasing ceremony recently took place at Whitland’s Dyffryn Taf School when Dr. Hywel Ceri Jones unveiled a sculpture titled ‘Y Goeden Erasmus’.

Mr. Petersen is a renowned local Welsh sculptor and artist and Dr. Jones played the leading role in the design, negotiation and management of several EU flagship programmes, notably Erasmus (EU youth exchange programme).

Ysgol Dyffryn Taf has been linked to schools in Finland, Portugal, Melilla and La Reunion since 2016 via the Erasmus+ programme. For their current project, the Erasmus students at Dyffryn Taf sought to work with Mr. Petersen to create a focal point for the school grounds. One that would stimulate thought, whilst tying in with the principles of their current project ‘Towards the Sustainable Development Goals’.

The sculpture aims to focus on all the positive and negative aspects of society. It aims to show students that, by sharing core values and working together as one, they are able to achieve the greatest outcome. This embodies the philosophy of the Erasmus+ programme. Using words in both English and Welsh and by incorporating symbols that indicate good (in the branches and leaves) and bad (in the roots and trunk) the sculpture reflects the students’ ideas. The design also uses recycled scrap in line with the principles of SDG12 Responsible Consumption and Production. The leaves have been painted green on one side to symbolise Spring and the restart of the seasons and bronze on the other side for the Autumn and the end of the Erasmus+ scheme. But with the Welsh Assembly’s pledge to fund future exchanges over the next few years the Autumn now gives way for future Springs.

The sculpture area had been a little under-used over the years so students in Year 12 have been busy transforming the area to ensure ‘Yr Ardd’ is now a beautiful space that is worthy of hosting the sculpture. The space will now be used as a working garden, outdoor teaching space and reflection area for students during break and lunch times.