Grŵp Cynefin
Cymraeg
ApCynefin

Denbigh Friendly Benches

Grŵp Cynefin and Denbighshire Leisure Active Communities are working together on a very special project ‘Denbigh Friendly Benches’.

The partnership involves working with local artists to transform some of the benches in Denbigh. The idea is to create social spaces where people will instantly recognise the benches as somewhere to
connect with each other – encouraging friendship across the generations and reducing loneliness.

Five benches have been or are being transformed as part of the project, with a different local artist working together with various groups or local schools, each bench with a different theme.

Don’t they look spectacular?!

The project is funded by Grŵp Cynefin, Denbighshire Leisure Active Communities and grants were received from DVSC and Denbigh Town Council – we are very grateful for their support.

Bench 1

Artist: Eleri Jones 

Group: 11 primary schools in the Denbigh area

Bench location: Awel y Dyffryn, Denbigh

This is the first bench to be created as part of the project. The artist Eleri Jones worked together with pupils from 11 local primary schools exploring the people, culture and heritage of Denbigh. Images of local heroes of the area such as Twm o’r Nant, Orig Williams and Kate Roberts were created and these were painted on the bench along with their names.The bench was painted on the Urdd Eisteddfod field, Denbigh in 2022 with Eleri also being inspired by people passing whilst she was painting to give the finishing touches. 

Bench 2

Artist: Rhi Moxon

Group: HWB Dinbych Arts for Health group

Bench location: Caledfryn, Smithfield Road, Denbigh

Bench 3

Artist: Tara Dean

Group: Ysgol Twm o’r Nant pupils and Awel y Dyffryn residents 

Bench location: Ffordd Llandyrnog, Dinbych

A brainstorming session was held with artist Tara Dean, pupils from Ysgol Twm o’r Nant and residents of Grŵp Cynefin Extra Care Scheme, Awel y Dyffryn in Denbigh. This was a great way of creating intergenerational activity and seeing both generations working together. 

The artist, Tara Dean said
“We had so many ideas about Denbigh and its place in the Vale of Clwyd. The sun and sunset over the Clwydian hills were such a feature in everyone’s plans. Other ideas included the town houses, the football club, the skate park, Denbigh Castle, rainbows, daffodils, ‘Forget me nots’, Poppies and flags!

When describing Denbigh and its place in the Vale, the final design grew from the idea of working with a base of three colors – yellow, green and blue and fitting everything into the pattern with the hope that people will sit on the bench and discuss the different elements.

It has been a great project to be part of and an inspiration to work with year 6 pupils and everyone at Awel Y Dyffryn”

Bench 4

Artist: Georgina Haf Robertshaw

Group: Forget me not Denbigh Group

Bench location: Brookhouse road, Ystrad, Denbigh

Bench 5

Artist: Chloe Dymond

Group: Ysgol Pendref Pupils

Bench location: Henllan Street next to St Mary’s Church, Denbigh

Chloe the artist worked with the pupils of Ysgol Pendref in Denbigh on this bench which is located at the bottom of Henllan Street near St Mary’s Church, Denbigh.

“It was a real pleasure to work on the Denbigh friendly benches project with Grŵp Cynefin and Ysgol Pendref.

The school students and I spent time together and discussed what they felt Denbigh meant to them and how they wanted the bench to look in the community. The general feeling was that it should be ‘Welsh, ‘Denbigh’ and welcoming’. I hope my design will meet the children’s expectations.

Designing and painting the bench was a great experience, being able to talk to local people while painting proved that a warm and welcoming bench can spark conversation and I hope it will continue to do so.”

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