Mount Snowdon is to officially be renamed after thousands of people signed a petition to have it changed.
Snowdonia National Park Authority has confirmed that Wales’ tallest mountain – which stands at an imposing 3,560ft at its highest point – is to now be known by its official Welsh language title, rather than by the English name it has been known as for much of its existence.
The peak will now be known as Yr Wyddfa, which is said to be pronounced like ‘er with-va’.
While the English name ‘Snowdon’ comes from the Old English ‘snaw dun’ meaning “snow hill”, the mountain’s new Welsh name ‘Yr Wyddfa’ means ‘the tumulus’ or ‘the barrow’ – which, according to Arthurian legend, could refer to the cairn which was said to have been thrown over the legendary giant Rhitta Gawr after his defeat by King Arthur.
It’s not only the famous peak that’s got itself a new name either, as the whole of Snowdonia is to be renamed as Eryri National Park too.
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It’s official! At its meeting this morning, Members of the Authority voted to use the Welsh names Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and Eryri (Snowdonia) only from now on.
The confirmation of the new names comes after a motion to ditch the English versions in official usage was put forward by Gwynedd Councillor John Pughe Roberts in April 2021 and a petition urging the National Park to formalise this suggestion was signed by an impressive 5,000 people.
And so, on Wednesday 16 November, officials at the National Park voted in favour of the move to Welsh names “as a mark of respect for our cultural heritage”.
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Speaking on the historic day, Naomi Jones – Head of Cultural Heritage at the Snowdonia National Park Authority – said: “Many public bodies across Wales have moved to use both the Welsh and English names, or the Welsh name only, when referring to Yr Wyddfa and Eryri, as have many of the mainstream English-language press and filming companies.
“This is very encouraging, and gives us confidence that this change in the Authority’s approach will be accepted for the benefit of the Welsh language and as a mark of respect to our cultural heritage.
Mount Snowdon is to officially be renamed after thousands sign a petition to change it / Credit: Flickr
“We have historic names in both languages, but we are eager to consider the message we wish to convey about place names, and the role they have to play in our current cultural heritage by promoting the Welsh language as one of the National Park’s special qualities.
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“By referring to our most renowned landmarks by their Welsh names we give people from all over the world the opportunity to engage with the Welsh language and its rich culture.”
Despite the changes, the National Park will still be legally obliged to use both the Welsh and English names in official documentation.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Emily Sergeant -
17th November 2022 
