A MATURE student from Killay is offering to Cwtch a mountain this weekend — with a massive hand knitted blanket.

Swansea Metropolitan University student Ann Jordan has spent more than 1,500 hours knitting more than 140,000 stitches from 12 miles of yarn to produce the 20ft diameter blanket, weighing 8kg.

And this weekend she will unveil her Cwtch project, which was two years in the making, when the blanket is laid out on a Bronze Age burial chamber on the Black Mountain in the Brecon Beacons National Park, after first being carried along an old coffin route.

The former midwife says the project explores the relationship between the artist and an earthy landscape — celebrating the cycle of life, death and rebirth.

"This project has been a wonderful experience," she said.

"While exploring my own personal relationship with the Black Mountain I have learned so much about the history, culture and the people who work and live in the area.

"One of the things which I find really fascinating is how this blanket tells such a wonderful story. I have researched the coffin route and there are so many stories attached to it that have moved through generations. This route plays an important role in our Welsh history — it's enchanted me, and I hope that it will enchant others who come and walk along it to see the installation."

The origins of the old coffin route date back hundreds of years to a time when men from the farms around Llanddeusant left the village and walked over the Black Mountain to find work in the quarries and coal mines. When the men died at work their bodies were carried over the Black Mountain and laid to rest in their local churchyard.

Andrea Liggins, Dean of Faculty for Swansea Metropolitan University, Dynevor Centre for Art, Design and Media said: "Ann Jordan is an artist who impacts upon a place, not with a sharpness or a loud crash, but with gentleness and warmth, just as the title of her new work suggests, Cwtch."

"I'm looking forward to seeing the work in situ and the six-mile walk that will be part of the event, which will echo the hard work that Ann has poured into this inspiring piece of contemporary art."

The meeting place for the ceremonial blessing and laying of the blanket will take place at the St Simon and St Jude Church in Llanddeusant, on Mothering Sunday, March 14, after an all night vigil by the artist.

It will be carried along the six- miles coffin route to the burial cairn where it will be on display from until April 25. The blanket will then be exhibited at the Welsh Wool Museum.

nino.williams@swwmedia.co.uk