By Jessica Daly

A sculpture of a Welsh bird landed outside Cardiff Castle yesterday as RSPB Cymru call for the Welsh Government to ensure a greener future for Wales. 

In less than three weeks, voters in Wales will visit the polling stations, RSPB Cymru is calling for the next Welsh Government to show true leadership and implement a Green Recovery that will tackle nature, climate emergency, deliver access to nature for everyone and improve public health and well-being.

“Wales is often imagined to be this really nature rich green land, but we actually have quite a big problem with decline in nature” explained Tabea Wilkes of RSPB, “Over the last few years, the climate emergency has been highlighted and with Wales being so close to the ocean and having so much coastal areas, it will be particularly affected.

“A revival of our ecosystems will also provide things like flood defense and general resilience against that. For that, we need a targeted direction of travel by government action to invest in nature and restore it and tackle the nature and climate crisis.”

The sculpture made of eco-friendly materials represents the revival of our welsh bird the Red Kite which was previously in decline, RSPB say the structure represents the positive changes we can make in our environment and within nature. 

Designed and built by north Wales based artist Sarah Wardlaw it features an augmented reality (AR) projection which will light up the red kite when on display.

Sarah Wardlaw said: “I am delighted to have been commissioned to create this work for RSPB’s Revive Our World campaign. The red kite is a phenomenal conservation success story in Wales, but a stark reminder of just how fragile life is and why we should cherish it.

As an artist, I believe we can collectively help prevent extinction and protect wildlife if we use our individual stories and give our imagination the freedom to unfold and be limitless. If species die, our dreams die with them’

Running alongside the launch of the campaign is Welsh music prize winner Gareth Bonello of The Gentle Good who will be releasing a brand-new single in both welsh and English. The English is titled ‘Revival’ and the Welsh is Adfywio which will be available to download on Spotify from Friday 23 April.

Bonello says it’s vital to make changes and he hopes the song will encourage a greener future for Wales, “The song borrows Celtic goddess Rhiannon and her mystical birds, who can sing people to sleep and, revive the dead.

I didn’t want to hide the fact that we’re in the middle of a climate emergency, and that time is running out to slow down and change the damage we’re creating. We must find a way of being more environmentally friendly and the song emphasises that responsibility.” 

Find out how you can help ensure a greener Wales here: https://www.rspb.org.uk/about-the-rspb/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/rspb-cymru-calls-on-political-parties-for-a-green-recovery-for-the-people-and-nature-of-wales/

‘Revival’ will be released here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6O0bS9u09ej7xuhiziujQU