English: Diolch, Llywydd. This month marks 200 years since the birth of Alfred Russel Wallace, a naturalist whose ideas helped change the world. Born near Usk, he spent much of his early life in England and moved back to Wales to work as a surveyor in Neath. During his spare time, he furthered his scientific pursuits, and, in his autobiography, he referred to the impact his time in Neath had on him, developing his interest in the natural world, saying, 'I cannot call to mind a single valley that in the same extent of country comprises so much beautiful and picturesque scenery, and so many interesting special features, as the Vale of Neath.' Following his time in Neath, he travelled the world, and upon his return published some of his findings. He wrote to one of his heroes, Charles Darwin, and they jointly published articles on their studies. A year later, and likely prompted by Wallace, Darwin would publish On the Origin of Species. Though his work on evolution is what many remember him for, Wallace wrote on many other subjects, including workers' rights, women's suffrage, land ownership and poverty. Today, he continues to be remembered and celebrated. The Alfred Russel Wallace trail in Neath Port Talbot includes many of the places he lived, visited or worked at during his time there, including places like Bryncoch farm, Neath abbey, the Vale of Neath Railway, Melincourt waterfall and Neath mechanics' institute. Recently, Theatr na nÓg, a Neath-based company, commemorated Alfred Russel Wallace by putting on special performances of their award-winning production of Geinor Styles's play You Should Ask Wallace. More than two centuries after his birth, Wallace is rightfully regarded as one of the most influential thinkers who ever lived. Neath and all of Wales are rightfully proud of him.
Welsh: Diolch, Lywydd. Mae'r mis hwn yn nodi 200 mlynedd ers geni Alfred Russel Wallace, naturiaethwr yr helpodd ei syniadau i newid y byd. Fe'i ganwyd ger Brynbuga, a threuliodd lawer o'i fywyd cynnar yn Lloegr cyn symud yn ôl i Gymru i weithio fel syrfëwr yng Nghastell-nedd. Yn ystod ei amser hamdden, canolbwyntiai ar ei ddiddordebau gwyddonol, ac yn ei hunangofiant, cyfeiriodd at yr effaith y cafodd ei amser yng Nghastell-nedd arno, gan ddatblygu ei ddiddordeb ym myd natur, gan ddweud, 'Ni allaf feddwl am unrhyw gwm o'r un maint sy'n cynnwys cymaint o olygfeydd hardd a phrydferth, a chymaint o nodweddion arbennig diddorol, â Chwm Nedd.' Ar ôl ei gyfnod yng Nghastell-nedd, teithiodd y byd, ac ar ôl dychwelyd, cyhoeddodd rai o'i ganfyddiadau. Ysgrifennodd at un o'i arwyr, Charles Darwin, ac aethant ati i gyhoeddi erthyglau ar eu hastudiaethau ar y cyd. Flwyddyn yn ddiweddarach, ac wedi'i annog gan Wallace yn ôl pob tebyg, cyhoeddodd Darwin On the Origin of Species. Er mai am ei waith ar esblygiad y mae llawer yn ei gofio, ysgrifennodd Wallace am lawer o bynciau eraill, gan gynnwys hawliau gweithwyr, y bleidlais i fenywod, perchnogaeth tir a thlodi. Heddiw, mae'n parhau i gael ei gofio a'i ddathlu. Mae llwybr Alfred Russel Wallace yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot yn cynnwys llawer o'r lleoedd lle bu'n byw, yn ymweld â hwy neu'n gweithio ynddynt yn ystod ei gyfnod yno, gan gynnwys lleoedd fel fferm Bryncoch, abaty Nedd, Rheilffordd Cwm Nedd, rhaeadr Melin-cwrt a sefydliad mecaneg Castell-nedd. Yn ddiweddar, cafodd Alfred Russel Wallace ei goffáu gan Theatr na nÓg, cwmni o Gastell-nedd, mewn perfformiadau arbennig o'u cynhyrchiad arobryn o ddrama Geinor Styles, You Should Ask Wallace. Dros ddwy ganrif ar ôl ei eni, ystyrir Wallace, yn gwbl haeddiannol, yn un o'r meddylwyr mwyaf dylanwadol a fu erioed. Mae Castell-nedd a Chymru gyfan yn briodol falch ohono.