Major new funding for Anglesey Green Transition Project

58�Թ� is playing a central role in a project to map and support the green transition on the Isle of Anglesey. The initiative has secured a further £3.12 million Green Transition Ecosystem grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), building on the £4.625 million awarded in 2023. The project is led by Cambridge University’s Department of Architecture.

The funding supports the creation of a Public Map Platform – a tool designed to provide communities, local authorities, and policymakers with accessible, dynamic information on the social, cultural, and environmental dimensions of the green transition. Importantly, the maps will grow and adapt over time, co-created and monitored by local communities themselves. The second phase funding will enable to project to build on its impacts and benefits.

58�Թ�’s contribution is central to the project. Under the leadership of Professor Thora Tenbrink, Professor of Linguistics, Bangor is supporting the co-creation process, supervising research assistants, and contributing specialist expertise. A particular focus is placed on the role of the Welsh language in shaping communication, community engagement, and place attachment – vital elements in adapting to climate change.

Bangor researchers have been working closely with schools, community events, and local networks, strengthening links between the University, Anglesey institutions, and businesses. During the first phase, Dr Edward Jones, Senior Lecturer in Economics, provided valuable insights into political and economic concerns. In the new phase, Bangor will further ensure that the Public Map Platform reflects the needs, values, and aspirations of communities across the island.

Thora Tenbrink, Professor of Linguistics at 58�Թ�, who is leading on this aspect, said: “The first phase of the PMP has been incredibly productive in engaging with children and young people, as well as the wider public on Anglesey. When visiting schools and at events like , which engaged visitors creatively in connecting with nature, the essential role of Welsh language and culture was evident. People on the island are deeply connected with the land and natural environment through culture and history; the Welsh language plays a key part in that. It is great to see how awareness of these effects has grown throughout the first phase of PMP, and we are thrilled about the opportunity to extend our understanding further in phase 2.”