Young filmmakers reveal Pembrokeshire’s vulnerable coastal heritage
Young people from some of Pembrokeshire’s most deprived communities have been exploring the risks posed by climate change to our coastal heritage as part of a partnership project between the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (PCNPA) and MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology).
The project Tough Decisions: Communicating Climate Risk and Heritage Loss, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council through MOLA’s Impact Acceleration Account, ran from January to June 2025. Eight day-long workshops were delivered with Futureworks learners aged 16–20, helping them develop skills in digital recording, videography and storytelling while confronting the reality of heritage loss along Pembrokeshire’s coast.
Sites explored included the promontory fort at Caerfai, the cemetery, kiln and rath at St Brides, and the East Blockhouse at West Angle. Each visit was paired with skills sessions, from drone use and 3D modelling to scripting and video editing. Participants worked bilingually in Welsh and English, producing short films that captured their own perspectives on climate risk, heritage and identity.
Kit Ackland, Digital Archaeologist at MOLA, said: “Pembrokeshire’s coastline holds an extraordinary range of archaeological sites, many of which are now at risk from rising seas and erosion. This project was about more than recording what might be lost – it was about equipping young people with the tools to tell those stories in their own voices and opening up new ways for communities to connect with their heritage.”
The final videos are set to be showcased at Archaeology Day in November, where Kit Ackland (MOLA) and Rhowan Alleyne (PCNPA) will discuss the project and its impact.
Tomos Jones, PCNPA Community Archaeologist, added: “Working with Futureworks learners gave us the chance to reach young people who might never have set foot on these sites. By blending archaeology, climate science and digital creativity, we helped them build confidence and transferable skills while making sense of the tough decisions facing our coastline. Their films now provide powerful new resources for schools, communities and policymakers alike.”
The project was delivered with the support of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Futureworks service, which provides skills training and employment pathways for young people.
It was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council through the MOLA Impact Acceleration Account (2022–2026).
The Pembrokeshire Coast Archaeology Day event will take place on Saturday 8 November at Pembrokeshire College. To view the full programme and book tickets, visit: https://events.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/#eventcalendar_115|24019.
