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Inspired by the story of Sadako Sasaki, St. Mary’s Conwy worked with Pensychnant Conservation Centre and the Creu Conwy Town Teams to create a community art installation of more than 1000 origami peace cranes which were displayed in St. Mary’s Church over the summer of 2024. This installation served as a visual reminder that we still need to work towards peace, particularly at this time of escalating tensions and atrocities in the Middle East, Ukraine, and many other corners of our planet, whilst celebrating the town’s twinning with Himeji in Japan, itself a shining example of international cooperation and friendship.
The installation has been photographed by members of the Conwy Camera Club, who also photographed a visit by officials from Himeji, Conwy’s twinned Japanese town in October 2024, who appreciated very much the efforts of all involved in the project. The Mayor was gifted with a special print of the specially written poem translated into Japanese, along with some of the Cranes used in the exhibition. The photographs taken by the Camera Club will be exhibited in the Conwy Culture Centre in January and February 2025, alongside someo of the original Cranes from the exhibition.
This is a Creu Conwy Town Teams Project run by members of Pensychnant Conservation Centre and St. Mary’s Church, and is funded by the UK Government through the UKSPF Levelling Up Fund.
A recording of the poem ‘The Gift’ written by Alison Lock for this project, set to original composition by local musician Hazel Mary.
Sadako’s Story
On 6th August 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, the first of only two nuclear weapons that have ever been used in active war. The impact was devastating. But, just 2km from the bomb site, 2 year old Sadako miraculously survived, seemingly unscathed despite the deaths of many of her neighbours. Sadly though, Sadako became ill with leukaemia as a result of radiation poisoning when she was 12 years old.
Create
Inspired by Japanese folklore, Sadako started folding origami Peace Cranes. Legend said that if you fold 1000 cranes, one for each year of the mythical bird’s life, then the cranes would grant your wish or prayers. Sadako folded well over 1000 and continued to pray for her health and for an end to nuclear weapons, but sadly died later that year surrounded by her family.
Rise up
Her classmates, who had lost so many friends to the devastating impact of the Atomic Bomb, formed a Unity Club in her honour. Three years after her death, the club had grown in membership and support and had raised enough money to erect a monument to remember her and all those who had died because of the bomb.
Solidarity and Hope
Known as the Children’s Peace Monument, it stands in the Hiroshima Peace Park, close to the spot the bomb was dropped. Today, children all over the world fold cranes and send them to Japan as a symbol of peace and a continued desire for a world without war and nuclear weapons.
Himeji – a tale of friendship and unity
In 2019, the town of Conwy was twinned with Himeji, Japan, in what is considered to be the first pairing of its kind in the UK. Himeji’s historic castle, like Conwy’s iconic one, was built around 1300. The twinning marked the start of a ‘beautiful friendship’ – something this project wants to celebrate. Read more about the twinning at the link.
Since 7th April 2024, public workshops with community groups, charities, and the wider community have been taking place in Pensychnant Conservation Centre , with the aim over folding over 1000 origami peace cranes, which will be strung together and installed for the summer season in St. Mary’s Conwy. This short video is a brief look at what we’ve been up to!
So far, workshops have been run with pupils from Aberconwy, the CREATE project, Conwy Scouts, Clwb yr Efail, Conwy MIND wellbeing group, St. John’s Methodist Church, Conwy, as well as open workshops for the wider community.
In May, workshops will run with the Vision Support Charity with members of their crafting group, the Conwy MIND youth support group, Creative Stitchers, Guides, Menter Iaith who will facilitate 2 Welsh Language sessions, and Amnesty, who are supporting the participation of Ukrainian and Afghan refugees.
Pensychnant is a small charity, conserving and celebrating the wildlife and natural beauty at the top of Sychnant Pass, above Conwy. Pensychnant is managed as a community venue hosting wildlife walks and talks and other events, and the 150 acre nature reserve is managed for its wildlife and for your peaceful enjoyment. It is also a wildlife-friendly farm, aiming to demonstrate that farming and conservation can go hand-in-hand, as they must in a sustainable world.
A Creu Conwy Town Teams Project
This Creu Conwy project has been made possible by the valued contributions of a close team of creatives and organisation representatives, with funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. With our sincere thanks for your time, creativity, and efforts in bringing Karen’s vision to fruition!
Creu Conwy is for everyone who lives in, works in or visits Conwy – our communities and businesses, our youngest and oldest people, and our creative and heritage sectors. As part of the cultural development strategy, a cluster of Cultural Launchpads focusing on the county’s five largest towns; Abergele, Colwyn Bay, Conwy, Llandudno, and Llanrwst; have been created. These creative alliances will feed into the main strategic goal, which is to spark cultural development in order to reconnect and work together to rebuild our economy in a sustainable way. Find out more about the Creu Conwy Cultural Development Strategy here.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
Our Team
Karen Roberts
Project Lead
Karen grew up locally and has lived in Conwy for the last 25 years. She has worked as a complementary therapist, in various roles in local primary schools and as a Beaver Scout leader. She now works as a Warden at Pensychnant Conservation Centre and is responsible for organising a busy and varied programme of events and co-ordinating all volunteers and community involvement.
Karen’s initial idea was to run a single origami peace crane workshop at Pensychnant but her modest idea grew wings of its own after meeting Nic at a Creu Conwy Town Team meeting. The aim of the project is to promote unity, friendship and togetherness both locally and worldwide. Karen, and Pensychnant, are very proud to be part of this inspiring project. We will not change the World but the message is strong and important.
Nic Davies-Nolan
Co-Lead
Nic is Administrator of the Bro Celynnin Ministry Area, to which St. Mary’s Church belongs. Having grown up in nearby Dwygyfylchi, Nic recently returned to Conwy following 15 years in London and a brief stint in Boston, USA. With a background in the Arts and marketing, she was immediately drawn to Karen’s idea, and set to work finding a home for the installation in St. Mary’s Church. “Being invited to join the Creu Conwy Town Team for Conwy has been an amazing experience, I’m so glad to be part of a team that can reach so many people through cultural projects like this. St. Mary’s is the ideal home for a project that promotes peace and international friendship, with its long association with the arts and Christian ethos of peace.”
Nadine Carter-Smith
Creative Lead
Nadine is a freelance artist and community arts project facilitator. Having trained initially in fine art, Nadine started her career as a primary school teacher, but after making the decision to leave teaching, she began working in refuges, giving people a voice and space to express difficult feelings. Nadine leads workshops and projects in care homes, nurseries, festivals, day centres, and schools (as a visiting artist and artist in residence). She has been privileged to work with small groups of teenagers experiencing mental health difficulties for the past 8 years, and now as a freelance artist, works on diverse community-based projects as well as her own work. Her projects focus on inclusivity, with many voices contributing to one central message. “I believe that we can all express ourselves through art, some people just need a little more time and encouragement”. Nadine is the Creative Lead for the Cranes of Peace Project, designing the overall look of the installation and supporting community involvement in the workshops.
Lynn Williams
Origami Instructor and workshop leader
Lynn’s interest in Origami was sparked by folding a Rupert the Bear glider from the eponymous annual at around the age of 7. In adulthood, she has returned to that interest and has been a member of the British Origami Society for over 10 years, attending and teaching at their national conventions and mini-meetings. Lynn also teaches groups locally, for example Stroke survivors, Scout groups, and Library activity sessions. Lynn specialises in folding containers, envelopes, animals and exploring new models, and will lead the Cranes of Peace community workshops. “I am looking forward to engaging new people in the creativity of origami as we explore the theme of peace through our folding of a simple piece of paper into a Japanese Peace Crane.”
Emiko Corney
Cultural Adviser and Translator
Emiko is a Japanese national from Yokohama. Along with her husband Nick Corney, she moved to Betws-y-Coed from London in 2014. During 2015, they purchased Swn-y-Dwr guest house and spent six gruelling months converting and refurbishing the building into a luxury holiday cottage. Having studied tourism for her degree, Emiko is now the Japanese ambassador for North Wales Tourism. In addition to promoting North Wales to Japan, she assists with tours and Japanese delegations, and is the voice over for videos for North Wales Tourism, in which she also makes guest appearances. Emiko is delighted to support the Cranes of Peace project, in which she has acted as cultural advisor and translator for the project.
Alison Lock
Poet and writer
Alison Lock’s writing connects an inner world with a love of nature through poetry, creative non-fiction, and short stories. She has published several books and pamphlets and her poetic sequence of personal transformation Lure was broadcast on the BBC Radio 3 programme ‘Between the Ears’. Her recent publication Thrift is a collection of poems grown out of a ‘communing in slow grief’ for the Earth and its vanishing creatures. A reading, accompanied by harpist Robin Bowles, was launched at the beautiful Pensychnant Nature Reserve. Her poem The Gift is written to celebrate the Cranes of Peace Project for Conwy and its twin town, Himeji. www.alisonlock.com.
Community Groups
Our deepest thanks to the numerous community groups, charities and schools who took part in the many workshops and demonstrations and contributed so freely to this project. Their creations will be on display in St. Mary’s Church, Conwy from 4th June. Eagle eyed visitors will notice a few colourful Cranes in the sea of white. They tell a beautiful story of inclusivity, as they were all created by members of the Vision Support Charity group, all of whom had varying degrees of vision impairment – the colour contrast helped members with limited vision to be able to fold. We’re so grateful for the participation of these and other groups, as well as the wider community who came to open workshops.
CREATE Create is an arts support group for young people which has been running for over 10 years. We run weekly sessions for 12-17yr olds at Create 1 and 18-25yr olds at Create 2. The young people we work with are referred to us due to mental health difficulties. Create is a calm supportive space where we explore individuals creativity and help to build friendship groups as many of our young people feel very isolated.
Vision Support are a charity providing services for people living with a vision impairment. We aim to increase independence, reduce loneliness and isolation and improve wellbeing.
Find us on socials @visionsupportcharity, or visit our website https://visionsupport.org.uk/
MIND Wellbeing
Ysgol Aberconwy, a school that puts learning and individual achievement at the heart of everything it does. We want every student to succeed; to achieve their full potential, be prepared for the future and become confident, thoughtful young people so they leave us ready for the challenges of an exciting and increasingly competitive world. http://www.aberconwy.conwy.sch.uk
Ysgol Porth y Felin, Conwy.
Our Year 5 & 6 pupils have recently been studying tourism in Conwy. We have been learning about Conwy’s twinning with Himeji, focusing on their similarities and differences and expressing these creatively through art. We have listened to Sadako Sasaki’s story of bravery and courage and were honoured to be invited to join the local community project between Pensychnant and St. Mary’s Church. Our paper origami cranes unite as a symbol of hope and peace for all.
Creative Stitchers. A local group of members enthusiastic about creating with stitch and textiles. We represent all skill levels from absolute beginners to the highly experienced and love sharing our skills. It’s about fun, enjoying the creativity experience whilst making lots of new like minded friends. Meet monthly at Parkway Community Centre, Rhos on Sea, LL28 4SE, with many events through the year. For further information please email susan.frier@hotmail.com
Conwy Camera Club is the oldest photographic society in North Wales, established in 1945. It’s now one of the largest in Wales, with over 80 members whose photographic interests and experience cover a wide spectrum.
As a Club, we are delighted to be involved and support in the Cranes of Peace project.
https://conwycameraclub.com/
Clwb yr Efail is a social day club for people over 65 yrs living in the Conwy area. Open five days a week serving morning refreshments, two course lunch and afternoon tea for the members. More info at https://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Resident/Leisure-sport-and-health/Community-Facilities/Conwy/Clwb-Yr-Efail.aspx
St. John’s Methodist Church is part of the Conwy and Prestatyn Circuit, and hosts regular children and family activities, as well as a Ladies’ Circle, Lunch Club, and Meditation service. St. John’s maintains a close relationship with St. Mary’s Conwy, and their contribution to this installation is much appreciated. https://www.conwyprestatynmc.org.uk/churches/church-1.html
Amdani! Conwy is a partnership between Conwy County Borough Council, CVSC (Community Voluntary Support Conwy) and Disability Arts Cymru. Amdani! Conwy is a pilot project which has been generously funded by the Spirit of 2012: Volunteering Cities Fund and Conwy County Borough Council.
Amdani! Conwy is part of the wider Creu Conwy Culture Strategy. Amdani! Conwy is flexible, where people can pick and choose volunteering opportunities that are right for them! Here is the link to the website: https://conwyculture.com/volunteering
Mae Menter Iaith Conwy yn un o’r 22 Menter Iaith sy’n gweithio ar hyd a lled Cymru i hyrwyddo a datblygu’r Gymraeg ar lawr gwlad. Mae gwaith y Mentrau yn amrywio o sir i sir gan ein bod yn canolbwyntio ar wahanol ffyrdd o ddarparu cyfleoedd i’r cyhoedd i ddefnyddio eu Cymraeg, neu i hyrwyddo’r iaith yn lleol.
Menter Iaith Conwy is one of the 22 Menter Iaith working across Wales to promote and develop the Welsh language at the grassroots level. The work of the Mentrau varies from county to county as we focus on different ways of providing opportunities for the public to use their Welsh, or to promote the language locally.
In Guides and Rangers girls take what they do in Guiding with them as they grow up. Everything from working in a team, to taking the lead, to speaking out on issues they care about.
Girl Guiding helps all girls develop the skills and confidence to become the young women they want to be, and to make a difference in the world around them.
Find out more at the link
https://girlguidingcymru.org.uk/
1st Conwy Scouts is a local Scout group that has been part of the community for over 115 years! The group provides a safe and fun learning environment for children from Llanfairfechan to Colwyn Bay, and in the Conwy Valley. The emphasis is on structured development through a mixed programme of outdoor adventure and indoor activities across a broad spectrum.
Find out more at the link.
https://conwyscoutsassociation.org.uk/
News and project updates
The launch event at St. Mary’s Conwy was a great success, with a poetry reading from Alison Lock, whose beautiful poem has become such a firm feature of this exhibition, and a cello recital given by Hazel Mary, who performed one of her own meditative compositions, which beautifully complemented the thoughtful nature of the exhibition and its goals for reflections for peace and unity. Hazel and Alison have since teamed up to create a new recording of Hazel’s composition with Alison’s reading of her poem The Gift incorporated so beautifully with Hazel’s meditative and thoughtful music. Listen to the recording below, in a world premiere of this beautiful piece. Find out more about Hazel’s music here https://soundcloud.com/hazelmary
Have some photos of our exhibition you’d like to share? Email them to Nic at 5churchinfo@gmail.com and we’ll add them to our carousel!
On the move
Our Cranes are on their hols! Workshop leader Lyn has sent this fantastic picture of one of our cranes abroad. Of course, the famous Sadako Sasaki quote has been so central to this project – “I will write ‘peace’ on your wings and you will fly all over the world” – and really encapsulates the message we hope to send. Peace, unity, friendship, community, here in Conwy, and all over the world. We hope to see more pictures of these lovely birds on their travels very soon!
More and more cranes are being made every day by the visitors to St. Mary’s. Packs are now available for anyone who wants to contribute to this exhibition, which will have new features added soon. Please email 5churchinfo@gmail.com if you would like to take a pack home, with paper and an instruction sheet.
Visitors to St. Mary’s will be delighted to see the wonderful bunting made by the North Wales Creative Stitchers group for their latest project. At every gate, the bunting shows some lovely stitch work, with appliqued cranes, Himeji castle, and some really very beautiful Japanese fabrics. Our sincere thanks to the Stitchers for this wonderful contribution to the project- the comments are already flooding in! Find more information on the Creative Stitchers by visiting their Facebook page.
What people are saying
“I wanted to share with you the impact of the Peace Crane installation. Every visitor has made positive comments on the installation, and some had come specifically to see the cranes. I’ve welcomed visitors who were very knowledgeable of the story and knew of Sadako Sasaki – they had come specifically to see the installation. We’ve also had visits from some of the groups involved in making the cranes – a bonus, since I think that most of them would not have visited, being local.
It makes a real impression on casual visitors, and has attracted new visits, from a wide range of folks. A great event!”
John H.
Visitor Welcome Team, St. Mary’s Conwy
Family Open Day 6th August 11am-3pm
Wonderful day at August 6th’s Japanese Day for Peace in St. Mary’s Church, with over 300 people in attendance! Traditional Japanese arts and crafts, language and poetry demonstrations were enjoyed by all.
caruconwy.com 