We are two neighbours brought together by an interest in healthy eating and became friends over recipes. When Andrea became interested in providing her two girls with a Welsh-language education, she discussed options with Mari, as a Welsh speaker, who also had many friends researching the Welsh language nursery options in Cardiff.
When we looked at options in Cardiff it became apparent that there are currently no organic nurseries available. Andrea feels strongly about setting good eating habits early and not introducing young children to processed food and the addictive qualities of sugar, “We want to return to our grandparents’ generation of eating local, organic and seasonal food, applying old fashioned values to food as it is the fuel that shapes the next generation.”
Getting more passionate about the options available we began our adventure together and embarked on the idea for Meithrinfa Y Pelican. The name, Y Pelican, came from Mari’s childhood home in Trimsaran, Carmartheshire. The 17th century happy home she grew up in had a purely bilingual name and an iconic image. “We were looking for a strong and not clichéd name for the business and Y Pelican felt just right.”
Andrea wanted a logo that was strong yet soft, something that would appeal to young children and so carried out market research on mothers and their children in different groups. And her two girls, Emilia and Nell had the final say. Choosing Mr. Pelican as he is today. Once we found St. Anne’s School in Croft Street we knew the whole idea was meant to be, everything fitted into place and we had the perfect environment to start our Meithrinfa. The School, has been part of thousands of Cardiff people’s lives since 1876 will now continue to shape the lives of local children serving as a link into the local Welsh-language primary schools and the new Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern.