It has been a busy period in the university, with students starting or returning for the new academic year. Welcome Week began on 21st September, with plenty of activities and events for those new to the university. A warm welcome to those beginning their academic journey at the university, and welcome back to others continuing with their studies.
The university had a great week at Y Garreg Las National Eisteddfod in Llantwd, Pembrokeshire from the 1st – 8th August. Hundreds visited the stand on the Maes over the eight-day event, and there was plenty to keep everyone entertained.
Throughout the week, university colleagues led on a wide range of discussions, presentations and performances covering topics including Welsh culture and language, history, health, tourism and the creative industries. Highlights included sessions by Dr Hefin Gwilym on cultural policy in Wales and Ireland; Dr Lowri Ann Rees on the Rebecca Rioters; Professor Jason Walford Davies discussing ‘Catrin of Berain: Mother of Wales’ with author Helen Williams-Ellis; Dr Llion Jones in conversation with former Welsh Language Commissioner Meri Huws as part of the celebrations marking Canolfan Bedwyr’s 30th anniversary; a session led by Dr Eifiona Thomas Lane and Dr Elen Bonner on the Rural Wales LPIP project; and Dr Aled Eurig reflecting on the legacy of former Chancellor Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas.
The annual Alumni Reunion once again brought graduates together from across the generations, music students Beca Williams (harp) and Gwawr Evans (soprano) gave a wonderful performance, whilst younger visitors were offered family friendly activities, including sessions hosted by Caffi Babis and the opportunity to dress up in mini caps and gowns. BLAS Pontio’s famous therapy dog, Siôn Telor, also visited the stand!
Away from the stand, M-SParc hosted a range of activities and exhibitions throughout the week in the Science and Technology Village, whilst a new book documenting the history of Undeb Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Bangor (UMCB) was launched on 5th August to mark the organisation’s 50 anniversary. Congratulations go to Dr Gareth Evans-Jones, Lecturer in Philosophy and Religion, who was awarded the Prose Medal, and to Dewi Bryn Jones of Canolfan Bedwyr, who was presented with the White Robe in recognition of his contribution to Welsh cultural life. A busy and successful week and we look forward to the National Eisteddfod in Cemmaes, Powys, next year!
The next meeting of the university’s Community Board takes place on 5th November.
Pontio continues to be a busy hub for the community. Caffi Babis, for babies and their parents, takes place on the first Friday of the month, whilst Dance for Parkinson’s are weekly sessions held on Tuesdays. ‘BLAS’, Pontio’s arts participation initiative, has many projects on the go including a session in Uned Heulwen at Ysbyty Gwynedd, and ‘Chat a Chill’ for young people. RhythmAYE took place on 18th July and offered children and their families with free workshops, live music and circus skills. The Maes-G ShowZone ‘Our Big Variety Show: Step in Time’ took place on 25-26 July.
Looking ahead, a live performance of ‘The Gruffalo’ will entertain children on 9-10 October. BANG! Festival, a partnership between Pontio and FOCUS Wales, is a new music festival in Bangor and takes place on 23-24 October. Pontio will also host the Dawns Cymru Awards on 8th November.
The university’s Symphony Orchestra will perform ‘The Planets’ in Prichard-Jones Hall in the Main Arts Building on 21st November. The next university Open Days for undergraduates take place on 11th and 24th October.
M-SParc also continues to be a hive of exciting developments, activities, and events. Clwb Sparci continues to provide opportunities for local school pupils: recent workshops have focused on Animate Stop-Motion, Sphero Robots and Lego Inventions. M-SParc’s On Tour site also continues to provide opportunities for local people: Stiwdio Sparc are opportunities for people get creative and use 3D printing facilities, graphic design and laser cutting technology on Tuesdays.
On 16th July, M-SParc hosted SparcX, the careers and networking event for students, employers, job seekers, graduates and companies. The Egni Food Festival, a day dedicated to innovation and sustainability in the food and drink industry, took place on 26th September.
Summer and early autumn have been an exciting and busy time at Treborth Botanic Garden, with hundreds of visitors enjoying a programme of events in the warm weather celebrating the Garden’s history, collections, horticulture, and natural heritage.
The summer programme included a popular series of guided walks, with four different themes exploring the Garden from a variety of perspectives. The programme continued with a Moth Morning on 22nd August, when visitors were invited to discover the fascinating world of moths and see what had been caught in Treborth’s overnight moth traps. From 24th – 29th August, the Garden’s Botanical Art Group held their annual exhibition, showcasing work by the local amateur artists led by our artist in residence Doreen Weaver.
One of the highlights of the summer was the ‘Between Two Bridges: Historical Open Day’, held on 5th September to mark the 200th anniversary of the Menai Bridge. The event welcomed more than 300 visitors to Treborth, who enjoyed guided heritage walks, historical displays, and the opportunity to discover more about the Garden and its place in the history of the Menai Strait. The event also formed part of the Garden’s annual National Garden Scheme opening, with a plant sale and homemade refreshments adding to the day.
On 26th September, the Garden hosted its inaugural Harvest Festival, Treborth’s Flower and Craft Show, led by the Friends of Treborth Botanic Garden. The event celebrated the skills, hobbies and creativity of the Friends and wider local community, with visitors entering a wide range of categories covering flowers, vegetables, fruit, floral arrangements, photography, crafts, baking, and other creative entries. Visitors also had the opportunity to take part in judging the exhibits, making the event a lively celebration of horticulture, creativity, and the changing season.
The Garden’s autumn programme will continue with the famous annual Fungus Foray on Saturday 3rd October, offering visitors the chance to explore Treborth’s fascinating fungal diversity and learn more about the more than 500 species recorded at the Garden. This will be followed by an Autumn Flowers Workshop on Saturday 10th October. Taking place in the Treborth glasshouses, the workshop will give participants the opportunity to create a simple autumn vase arrangement using flowers and foliage grown on Ynys Môn.
With its combination of events, guided walks, workshops, exhibitions, heritage, and opportunities to explore its living collections, Treborth Botanic Garden continues to provide a welcoming space for the local community and visitors to discover, learn and enjoy the natural world.
Colleagues from the School of Ocean Sciences took part in the Conwy Seafood Festival on 12th September, with the festival marking the launch of the Conwy Seafood Trail.
The university’s lifelong learning work continues. The next online webinars for the public include ‘Recreational drugs and the brain’ (a psychology webinar on 13th October), and how sport science can turn your passion about sport and exercise into a career (21st October).
The work of the Bangor University Legal Advice Clinic (BULAC) continues. Launched in 2024, BULAC provides free legal advice to members of the public, staff and students. In partnership with Gamlins Law, BULAC is now offering legal advice to farmers. Online appointments can be made by emailing BULAC@bangor.ac.uk
The latest open day in the Brambell Natural History Museum took place on 12th September, providing visitors with an opportunity to see the rare collections and treasures housed at the Brambell building. The open day formed part of the Bangor Nature Fair, which primarily took place in Storiel and was led by the North Wales Wildlife Trust.
The next open day for the North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch takes place on 3rd October. The new arrangement is a partnership between the university and the Royal British Legion in Bangor, and allows the public to visit the Arch once a month to view the memorial room which contains the names of 8,500 soldiers, sailors and airmen from north Wales and Powys who lost their lives during the First World War.
At the Students’ Union, we’re incredibly proud of the contribution our student volunteers have made to the local community so far this year. One of the highlights has been our Big Bangor Litter Pick, which happened in February 2026. It brought together more than thirty students despite the cold and rainy weather. Volunteers met at Pontio before heading out across Bangor to collect litter from areas including Upper Bangor, local roadsides, green spaces and the surroundings of Asda and Morrisons.
We’ve also been working alongside Treborth Botanic Garden staff to replenish the Healing Gardens, while Student Officers Isaac and Danny joined student volunteers for the Mayor’s Clean Up on 6th August. This year has also seen us launch our new Bat Project volunteering group, giving students hands-on experience while helping to collect valuable data to support bat conservation across the UK.
These projects have given students opportunities to meet new people, develop practical skills and, most importantly, make a tangible difference to the community and environment around them. We’d like to say a huge thank you to all of our student volunteers, staff and community partners who have supported our volunteering activity this year. We’re incredibly proud of everything our volunteers have achieved so far and look forward to seeing what the rest of the year brings.
A busy and exciting period between everything, and we will continue to update you regularly on relevant university developments for the community. Best wishes to staff and students for the new academic year!
#YourUniversityYourCommunity
Photo credit: Mandy Jones
