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A 100ft poem on a Snowdonia mountainside designed to be a temporary celebration of the region’s sheep-farming tradition has become little more than “baked on” graffiti, according to a conservationist.

The poem, written in clay pigment on the mountainside, was supposed to wash off in the rain - but a hot September appears to have made it a more permanent feature of one of Wales’ most visited natural attractions.

Penned by Wales’ national poet Gillian Clarke, the work was written to accompany the National Theatre of Wales (NTW) production The Gathering/Yr Helfa, exploring the annual cycle of sheep farming.

The walking performance covered six kilometres and was staged over three days last month on the lower slopes of Snowdon.

Landowners the National Trust gave permission for the poem near Gladstone Rock, a landmark for climbers, believing the rain would wash it away.

NTW has now apologised over the temporary mural that has had a permanence they said they never envisaged.

Elfyn Jones, conservation officer for Wales at the British Mountaineering Council (BMC), told the Independent he appreciated the “artistic endeavours involved, but what is left is no more than graffiti in a semi-wild landscape in a national park. It’s unfortunate to say the least.”

A spokesperson for NTW said: “We are genuinely sorry that it is taking this long, but it is our priority to put things right as soon as possible.”

NTW said their intention was to return the whole site to its original state, but despite detailed research on the non-harmful clay-based paint the removal is “taking longer than anticipated”.

Following the performance most of the paint was removed but some words are still visible.

Based on expert advice, a team has started a second phase of cleaning and NTW said they are reluctant to make any attempts to remove the writing in a way not recommended by ecologists. However they are seeking more advice.

A spokesperson for the National Trust said workers employed by NTW had been trying to lend “nature a hand” in washing away the poet’s words.

“September was dry and it has been baked on a little bit in the sun. It needs rain to wash it off. The theatre have been up there this weekend and typically it’s raining now.”

The rockface is on the National Trust-owned Hafod y Llan estate - a farm on the south flanks of Snowdon that is a national nature reserve and a site of special scientific interest.

The area is home to the remains of tramways and workers’ bunkhouses from the Victorian slate quarries in Cwm Llan. Extensive copper mines also dot the hillsides across the farm.

Snowdonia is one of the UK’s main tourism destinations and attracts around 12 million day visitors every year.